Countering Materialism in Children

As per Suzanna Opree, the lead researcher of this study, the main reason for materialism in unhappy children is the way in which advertisements try to sell their products. The message conveyed by advertising companies is that buying a particular product will make the children happy or more popular in their peer group. This message is no doubt appealing to those kids who believe that if only they possessed more expensive clothes, sneakers, or gadgets, they would also have more friends.

Parents should try to watch TV shows with their children and have healthy discussions with their children and try to critically evaluate the message conveyed by the television commercial.

Parents play a vital role in creating a life that will lead to satisfaction and overall happiness of their children. Children, who have a well balanced life, in which parents spend enough quality time with their kids, will eventually, on the whole, turn out to be satisfied and happy individuals. Parents who are not emotionally supportive of their children are highly likely to have materialistic children. If the parents are supportive, it goes a long way in boosting the child’s self-esteem. Children with a high degree of self-esteem are less likely to look for alternatives to bring them happiness. Such children do not go about looking for materialistic things to bring them a sense of worth. On the contrary, they seek self-worth from their relationships.

Other factors that influence the materialistic leanings of children include the attitude of the parents and friends. Materialistic parents are likely to have materialistic children. Children have impressionable minds and want to have the things that other children or their friends have.

Some tips for parents to counter materialism in their children are listed below:

1.     Be a role model for your child

Parents should set an example for their children by showing restraint while buying things. A simple example would be to get a broken study table repaired rather than buying a new one instantly. If children insist on going to their favorite shopping mall, encourage them to do some window shopping rather than purchasing everything.

2.     Refrain from fulfilling their demands all the time

You should not form a habit of fulfilling all the demands of your child, at all times. Teach them the importance of prioritizing their requirements. They might throw tantrums in the beginning but will eventually learn to handle their disappointment. They will also realize that everything cannot be bought at once and that they should only insist on purchasing the things that are a must and are actually required. You can always buy the less important things as a reward for celebrating your child’s achievement in any field.

3.     Teach your children the value of money

Another valuable tip to counter materialism in children is by teaching them the value of money. You must try to explain to them how difficult it is to earn money and therefore it must be spent wisely.

4.     Limit the TV time of your children

Television is one of the biggest culprits responsible for spreading materialism. Children are gullible and advertisers, well-aware of this fact, exploit them. It is therefore, very important to limit the exposure of your children to television. You can either specify a time slot during which your children can watch TV or control the number of cartoons/TV programs that they can watch per day. This will also help in curbing their exposure to commercials.

Following these simple tips would go a long way in making your children happy and satisfied. They would derive confidence from the fact that they are loved by their parents instead of finding solace in the company of material goods.