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Skill BuildingSocial Emotional/BehavioralRelationships/Communication

Dr. Mary Ann Little

How to NOT Raise a Narcissist in an All-About-Me World

Virtual Event

Program Takeaways

Narcissism exists on a developmental spectrum, beginning with normal self-focus in childhood. If left unchecked or reinforced, it can evolve into pathological narcissism in adulthood.

Healthy narcissism is essential—it fosters confidence, goal-setting, and optimism. The issue arises when children are overpraised or taught they are “special” in ways that disconnect them from reality and others.

Parental overvaluation and lack of limits contribute to narcissism. Children need age-appropriate demands, realistic praise, and opportunities to experience frustration and imperfection.

Empathy, realistic self-concept, and emotional regulation are the antidotes to narcissism. These traits must be intentionally nurtured through balanced parenting and modeling.

The long game matters most—focus on raising emotionally secure, self-aware, kind 35-year-olds, not just high-achieving children.

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Without meaning to, parents can raise demanding children who do not see themselves realistically and who struggle to build and sustain relationships. Raising empathetic and unselfish young people in today’s all-about-me world might seem daunting, but parents can insulate children from these harmful influences by recognizing narcissistic tendencies and reversing them before they become entrenched.

Written by a psychologist with decades of clinical experience, “Childhood Narcissism: Strategies to Raise Unselfish, Unentitled and Empathetic Children” explains how selfish, entitled behavior can take root in a child and shows parents how to stop it. Learn the real-world tools to nurture a child’s healthy, realistic self-concept and create a positive model of love and relationships. Join us and discover a parenting style shown to be of key importance in raising empathetic and caring children.

Dr. Mary Ann Little is a clinical psychologist who has been in private practice for over four decades. She is currently an adjunct professor at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas. Little has authored several books including “Loving Your Children Better: Matching Parenting Styles to the Age” and “Childhood Narcissism.” Little has been a consultant to many educational and psychiatric facilities, and she frequently lectures to both lay and professional audiences.

Speaker Resources

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