Comments on: Helping Kids See Past Commercialism

By: Heather

Heather — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 17:34:14 +0000

Do you have a post on what to do when you can homeschool?
I worry about My Daughter (who starts school next fall) I dont want her to be part of the consumer “flock”…Yet I am not confident in my ability to teach my children…

Thank you for this wonderful Post, I cant wait to read more of your articals.

By: Katherine

Katherine — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 17:15:11 +0000

We hooked up the antenna for the election. That’s the first time in 2 years that the TV was hooked up to any signal. I really haven’t missed it much.

My harder fight is “disposable.” I hate that. Of course you can throw anything “away” after one use. But where is “away?” When I was in 4th grade we took a field trip to a landfill with my GT class. That smell…the piles of garbage…something about it hit me really hard. The area we’ve moved to, though, makes it difficult to reduce your waste. I’ve finally convinced my grocery store just not to bag my groceries at all, and I bag them myself at the car, because they got so hopelessly confused about cloth bags. Consuming even something like a plastic bag needs to be something to think about.

By: Steve

Steve — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 00:57:04 +0000

I was thinking – try not to leave it too late with kids in getting them interested in more than just TV. Kids tend to like to copy parents, so if you play a sport, your kids will love being able to join in. Kids often like stuff they can do with you more than stuff on their own – sharing is cool. So take them out on bike rides, play football, whatever, but keep trying if necessary until you find something they love. Because in reality, TV sucks compared to fun outdoor stuff, or fun indoor stuff like cooking, crafts etc. Our kids seem not to be interested in becoming consumers. I give most credit to my wife as she does loads of fun stuff with them – some of which they find cool just because it’s with Mum. If I take them out somewhere when I have time, they seem really to appreciate it, whereas time infront of the TV doesn’t satisfy them, it’s just ‘easy’. My son has obviously picked up on the fact that life isn’t about constantly getting stuff – he will often look at the price of things if we offer to pay for something & pick the cheapest. He’ll say, “no the other one’s too expensive”.
So, be firm, but be encouraged that kids love to ‘do’ more than they love to ‘get’. They just need some help finding stuff to do sometimes.

By: Mama Luxe

Mama Luxe — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 02:11:19 +0000

I admit I enjoy shopping–but we also keep the TV off while baby is awake (and if she sees it on somewhere, she likes to turn it off, which can be a guilty pleasure when someone is trying to watch the last minutes of a game) and I try to always show her farms and crafts fairs and talk to people in front of her about how they make the food and the items and the art.

What amazes me is the grief I catch for it and the attempts at sabotaging it. I get remarks like, “You’re depriving her.” (Of what, she doesn’t even know what the TV is?)

I don’t criticize other people’s choices–so it drives me nuts when others try to justify their decisions by belittling mine.

You have a great list here and some wonderful ideas.

Mama Luxes last blog post..Taking the Plunge

By: rebmoti

rebmoti — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 16:35:33 +0000

Excellent post! I would also recommend Center for a New American Dream (newdream.org/kids), which is an excellent organization and has a lot of material on this – simplifying the holidays, doing things during the summer, etc.

We’re mostly power-of-example people (we don’t watch commercial TV, we buy very little in the way of “name” or “designer” brands) but I’ve been thinking we need to be a little bit more proactive explaining our philosophy to the kids, for when they get sneered at for wearing clothes from Target.

rebmotis last blog post..Kids and commercialism

By: that girl

that girl — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 14:07:41 +0000

These are great tips. The tv subject really rings true with me. Growing up I spent my summers with my grandmother and she and I would garden and explore and grocery shop (people raised in the depression era do a WHOLE different kind of grocery shopping than most of us) and I just had more fun with her. We had quality time and experiences. I look back on my childhood and I vividly remember these experiences – I do not, however, remember all the episodes of cartoons that I watched over the years.

At our house we don’t limit tv either – we just turn it off when it’s time to get up and go outside.. Aside from a new movie or something, my children would much rather go outside than sit in front of the tv. I truly believe exercise (not the sit-ups kind – the fun, running through the sprinkler kind) is the key to solving childhood obesity..and probably many other health issues. I’ve read that sun exposure (a little here and there) boosts your immune system. Anyway, love your site – and thanks for the good tips.

that girls last blog post..What’s the point?… Really?

By: Shannon

Shannon — Fri, 30 May 2008 05:15:07 +0000

I just Stumbled your site (thumbs up) and had to comment on this picture. Really fabulous. I can't wait to really dive in to your posts! Shannons last blog post..Schedules, Stress and Babies

By: Aleksandar healthy man :)

Aleksandar healthy man :) — Tue, 27 May 2008 14:08:42 +0000

“Teach by example.” is a great and a must tip, I would say.

Aleksandar healthy man s last blog post..How to treat an electrical disorder of the heart

By: Jane

Jane — Tue, 27 May 2008 10:40:06 +0000

A worthy cause and great tips. One of the reasons we moved to Mozambique when Esme was 6 weeks old . . . The photo you used was great! Janes last blog post..Causes

By: Kristen's Raw

Kristen's Raw — Tue, 27 May 2008 09:11:45 +0000

I can’t wait to homeschool and travel the world with my kids.