The 1000 Hours Outside Podcast 1KHO 599: The Antidote to Entitlement | Kristen Welch, Raising Grateful Kids in an Entitled World
Oct 17, 2025
Kristen Welch, CEO of Mercy House Global and author of Raising Grateful Kids in an Entitled World, shares how a transformative trip to Kenya reshaped her family's approach to gratitude and entitlement. She discusses the dangers of comparison and the importance of parents modeling gratitude. Kristen emphasizes the power of boredom and slowing down in a screen-driven world, along with strategies for limiting tech use and encouraging reading. Her insights on underindulgence help foster appreciation, while letting kids face failure builds resilience for adult life.
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The Kenya Trip That Changed Everything
- Kristen said yes to a Compassion trip to Kenya and it changed her life and family direction.
- That trip exposed her entitlement and led her to start Mercy House Global to help vulnerable families.
Parents Shape Entitlement
- Entitlement in children usually begins with parents modeling entitled behavior.
- Kristen emphasizes parents must examine their own gratitude before expecting it in kids.
Build Boredom Into The Week
- Do protect boredom as a developmental gift by creating unplugged, unplanned hours for kids.
- Encourage imagination with loose materials, outdoor play, and time without scheduled activities.
