Once upon a time, our TV only received three channels, the most watched of which was the blissfully commercial-free PBS. Since I don’t watch much TV myself, not having 100 different channels to pick from was just fine with me. Even better, my daughters had no clue who SpongeBob or other non-PBS-related characters were, and since they never saw commercials, they rarely asked for specific toys or cereal with SpongeBob emblazoned on the box.
Enter the era of my sons, who have had a multitude of channels from which to pick since they can remember. Hello advertisement-ridden Nickelodeon and Disney. Goodbye PBS. Gone are the refreshing commercial-free days of old; now, my children are inundated with ads for anything a kid could ever possibly dream about.
When we go shopping, the boys beg me for Dora macaroni and cheese, Diego toothbrushes and anything adorned with Spiderman. The character stuff always costs a lot more too. I say no to the mac and cheese because not only is it more expensive, with much less in the box than the regular kind to boot, I just don’t buy it on principle.
One day we were at the store and we went past the toilet paper. “Look, Mom,” said then-5-year-old Cody. “That’s Charmin Ultra Strong and that’s Charmin Ultra Soft.” I stared at him, speechless. He was right. I asked him how he knew which was which and he said, “Because I saw it on TV.” Great.
Though I would undoubtedly have a mini-riot on my hands, I’ve been considering pulling the plug on the variety of TV stations we have and going back to the bunny ears. The world is already full of items everywhere that advertisers convince us we need without being bombarded with more advertisements in our own homes. Much of it is so ridiculous and pointless too, and watching my kids coveting a toy dog that “swims” or a doll that wets itself almost makes me ill when I think of all the children in the world who don’t even have a roof over their heads or enough food.
We have so much in our country. So much, we take what we do have for granted every single day. Pointing this out to small children is pretty much fruitless though; all they know is the world around them, and, both fortunately and unfortunately, that knowledge just doesn’t expand to kids who are dying of starvation or disease. Kids who would be thrilled to have the bread crusts my youngest just threw in the trash, let alone a toy dinosaur on which they could ride.
Maybe it’s just time for some giving. I want my kids to grow up to be compassionate, caring, generous adults with a heart for those less fortunate. To help instill those qualities, I think this year I’ll have them use their allowances to put together a Christmas gift for a child who otherwise would not get one. I really want to get them out of this “gotta-have” mindset, as popular and prominent as it is in our society.
How do you help your kids with their toy-lust? Does your family do charity work such as volunteering at a soup kitchen or helping sort clothes and collect food for the needy? What are some ways during this holiday season that your family could focus on others?
Good idea about the bunny ears, except they’re going the way of the dodo — I think if February there will be no more TV that can be picked up via antennae — it’s all digital. 😦
We don’t have a TV at all. We’ve got a DVD player and a pile of DVDs, but I try to limit my kids to watching them only on the weekends. When we go to my mom’s, they watch her cable, but usually it’s Nick, Jr., which doesn’t have many commercials except for its other shows (and usually they watch the DVR, and as soon as the show is over, they holler for a new one, so don’t watch the between-show commercials).
I also try to avoid going down or past the toy aisles at Walmart; and when we do go, and my kids point out the half-a-million toys or books or whatnot with Dora, Thomas, Bugs Bunny, etc., I give a noncommittal, “mm-hmm, that’s nice”; and if they actually ask to get it, I just say no. Since I have almost never bought them anything at the store while they’re there (other than an occasional snack), they’re used to it, and I plan on keeping it that way. I try to get my stuff at yard sales, anyway, so that’s what they’re accustomed to.
But, no, we don’t do anything charitable like you’ve mentioned, but I know we should. Right now, it’s easier to say, “They’re too little — they’d just be in the way” (and they would be!).
Kathy,
That’s right — I forgot about the bunny ears and their upcoming extinction. Guess that’s no longer an option!
I like your DVD only idea. I may have to start something like that too as my kids are way too addicted to screens, whether TV or computer. Of course, I limit their time, but I get tired of the whining about it.
I also avoid toy aisles. They are nothing but trouble! I say no to my kids all the time as it is without the temptations lurking in big sections filled with toys and games.
Actually, now that they are all in school at least part-time, I try to do the majority of my shopping then. It goes MUCH faster, there’s no whining or asking for everything in sight and I get a lot more accomplished.
Thanks for your comment!
Sarah