Kids
and Commercialism: Some General Tips
Is it possible to raise
independent-minded kids in this highly commercialized culture? The New
American Dream thinks so and offers these general tips.
Get rid of the TV.
Expose kids to other
media - surrealist films, conceptual art exhibits (carefully selected),
gatherings of interesting adult friends with non-mainstream stories to
tell.
Remove the logos from
clothes, theirs and yours. Talk with kids about why you're doing this.
Suggest to kids to design their own, personal logos.
Parents who resist
consumerism for themselves are the ones who teach their children to
resist it.
Teach children to be
doers and creators rather than shoppers and buyers.
Supply them with sidewalk
chalk, old cardboard boxes and other makings of creative play.
Grow your own food.
Involve the kids. Teach your child of the connections within the
natural world. Experience their beauty together. Talk about where
things come from, who made them, what they are made of.
Teach by example and
conviction a set of values that allow kids to make their own choices.
Teach kids empathy for
others. Instead of buying toys, suggest they spend the money bringing
some groceries to the local food bank.
This article is reprinted
with permission from the Center for
a New American Dream 877.68.DREAM.
New Dream helps Americans get more of what matters by living
consciously, buying wisely and making a difference.
Why not discuss TV,
advertising, and kids with your friends and with your kids.
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