Linda & Richard Eyre: Ideas on how to 'unspoil' your children

There are some great nonprofit groups that operate locally and specialize in sending families on well-organized humanitarian expeditions. Some that we have personally had great experiences with are choicehumanitarian.org, ascendalliance.org, risingstaroutreach.org, hopearising.org and careforlife.org. (There are probably many others as well, but these are the five we know best.)

But while it is surprisingly affordable to do some of these "foreign" humanitarian trips, particularly the ones to Mexico, you don't have to leave home to have a beneficial family experience of serving and cultural exchange.

Local soup kitchens, homeless shelters, family service centers, women's shelters, elderly homes and homes for the disabled always need volunteers. To dive right in with your kids can provide many of the same perspective- and empathy-giving opportunities that the more extensive international trips offer.

The Eyres' next book is "The Entitlement Trap: How to rescue your child with a new family system of choosing, earning, and ownership" (see www.EntitlementTrap.com). Richard and Linda are New York Times No. 1 best-selling authors who lecture throughout the world on family-related topics. Visit the Eyres anytime at www.TheEyres.com or www.valuesparenting.com.