If you wait on your children hand and foot just because they are small they will come to expect it. You may even be guilty yourself. However, if you threaten and then once a few tears are shed, cave in, you are teaching your child that there are no consequences for their actions. Stick to your guns, they will be better off in the long run. If they repeatedly do something they know is wrong and you threaten no cartoons after dinner, then make it no cartoons after dinner.
Empty threats do nothing for the parent or the child.
The greatest tool your child has to learn self sufficiency, independence and responsibility is by example. You are the best teacher your child has. This means that if you say you are going to do something you should try as hard as possible to live up to what you say. If you show your children that people should live up to their promises, they will keep that lesson for life. The end result will be a wellrounded child.