It is startling how our culture is affecting our children. When we talk about culture, we include different facets of life exerting influence on society’s members. Religion, art, traditions, and family habits and hobbies should create an environment where children grow in a culture of values. Today the greatest value that influences our children’s development may be consumerism stemming from the influence of TV & technology. This has been recently outlined in the book “Born to Buy: The Commercialized Child and the New Consumer Culture” by Juliet Schor. In this book, Ms. Schor dissects the effects of marketing to children. She shows how powerfully our children have been commercialized and what negative outcomes result. Ms. Schor points out that in our consumer culture, our children are suffering more depression, anxiety, low self esteem and psychosomatic complaints. These troubling conclusions are based on Ms. Schor’s own study of 300 fifth and sixth graders.
Other books also confirm our society’s effects on children as consumers. In his book, Seven Habits of Highly Effective Families, Steven Covey points out that there are many differences in our culture now compared to forty to fifty years ago. Fifty years ago, family life consisted of one parent working outside the home, extended family nearby, religion a part of their lives, low incidence of violent crime, safe schools without discipline problems, and a low influence of TV and technology. Today we have a high divorce rate, 60% need of daycare, both parents working out of the home by necessity, increased violent crime, discipline problems in schools, distant extended families, decreased influence of religion, and an overwhelming influence of TV and technology. This change in our culture is overwhelming! The key question is how can families bring back their own culture while staving off the harmful effects of our culture.
Here are some ideas.
- Establish continuous family traditions. We all may get together as a family on Christmas and Thanksgiving. But what about repetitive traditions like family meals together around a table or a Sunday afternoon outing together as a family. Family traditions establish a base from which our kids can establish an identity. It is definitely time for families to reestablish some foundation of traditions that aren’t just once or twice a year.
- Increase time for personal interaction within the family. Turn off the TV. Play games. Kids can learn a lot from you but only if they are interacting
- Decrease use of technology at home. Technology is taking over our culture. Limit its use so it doesn’t interfere with family time.
- Discuss and think about religion. Every culture has religion playing a role. Be open to discuss your views and to hear your kid’s views on religion. However, even if they are entitled to their opinion, you still have a right to expose them to your religious beliefs.
- Practice art and art appreciation. No matter if you are good or bad in art, kids need exposure to different forms of art – and many programs are cut from schools. Many museums have programs for kids and have open times for families with kids. You don’t have to be good in art to foster an interest and appreciation of art.
- Play music. Listen to different types of music. Seek out plays and drama. Or in the least, appreciate some classic good movies together.
- Enjoy our nature. Our natural surroundings are beautiful and contribute greatly to our culture. Let your kids know how our seaside setting has contributed to how we lived in the past and how we live today.
- Decrease emphasis on consumerism. Don’t focus only on certain brand names. And recognize that advertising is having a tremendous effect on kids. Decrease their exposure to it. Throw out those catalogs quickly and tune out those commercials. With an increase in consciousness toward the deluge of marketing towards our kids, perhaps more parents can work to decrease its effect on the culture in which our kids are growing.