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ADVICE RATING |
 4.77 (Highly recommend) from 22 votes (426 Visits) |
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The Gimme Monster and Other Advice For Kids Who Want More, More, More: UPDATED |
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by jenlemen  (November 2006) (rank 22nd) |
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When my daughter Madeleine was a pre-schooler, I'd find myself going slowly insane whenever I needed to bring her along to the store. Every bright and sparkly item had her name on it--as far as she was concerned--and she didn't understand why Mama didn't just give her this or give her that. Over time we came up with a good handful of strategies to address not only the incessant asking, but the underlying forces at play.
- The Gimme Monster. I wanted Madeleine to become aware that her requests were becoming demands, but I didn't want her to feel ashamed or embarrassed for being so drawn to all the glittery, fun things at the store--after all, they make things pretty for a reason. So, the next time her asking was sounding like a broken record, I'd tell her playfully--"Watch out! I think the Gimme Monster is trying to get you!" I explained that the Gimme Monster always says "Give me this!" and "Give me that!" without really thinking about what she truly needed or wanted. This set up the conversation as a playful exchange, and gave Madeleine a chance to do a double-take and decide if she really, really meant what she was saying or not.
- Show me the money! As Madeleine got older and better practiced at dodging the Gimme Monster, our outings became an opportunity for her to honestly consider different items and decide if she needed or wanted them. Instead of saying no on repeat, I decided to bring up the topic of money instead. "Okay," I'd say, eyeing the latest, greatest whatever. "How are you planning to pay for it?" As soon as Madeleine realized that Mom was not able/willing to pick up the tab, she began to understand both the value of the dollar as well as the limitations of personal finances. By debunking me as the family money machine, I was able to help her start to see the strategy and planning involved in making purchases. This decidedly quelled the feeding frenzy around having the hottest new toy/doll on the market.
- Madison Avenue Madness. Like most kids, Madeleine was completely unaware of the marketing campaigns designed to keep her (and every other kid in America) wanting more. We decided to do a little Advertising 101 and start talking about the different ways companies try to get kids hooked on products. Madeleine was surprised to learn that some of the desperate longing for stuff she was experiencing was directly connected to certain approaches to marketing. Now I playfully ask her the million dollar question, "Are you getting tricked by advertising?" Little by little my savvy shopper is learning how to see through a slick campaign to a true blue interest in something new.
- Let's make a deal. In the ice age of life before TiVo, my husband and I agreed to see if we can raise our kids without TV. While this isn't an option for everyone, limiting exposure to television, commercials and the constant barage of advertising has helped us stave off a wave of consumerism that can leave kids feeling like there's never enough. By sheer lack of exposure to all the cool toys available, our kids are figuring out that they can have fun--no batteries included. I'm sure there'll be a day when our kids insist we join the land of the living and get a TV, but so far, so good.
- Don't ask, don't tell. We have more clutter and junk in our house than I know what to do with--noble goals regarding consumerism and materialism aside. That's why I make it a point to shop alone and limit the opportunities for the kids to get the shopping bug. When we do shop together, I let my kids know what they can expect regarding our purchases. If I know that I won't be buying toys or kid stuff, I say so, and ask the kids to refrain from asking since my answer will definitely be "no" no matter what. Knowing that getting something new is not an option helps everyone relax and we can get through the errand that much faster.
- Go off the grid. Almost every fun thing you can think of can involve hard cold cash--especially when you live in a big city. It's important to me that my kids learn that you can have a good time even if nothing is purchased. Getting out in nature, having family dinners, staying home to read books or watch a movie--all these things teach our kids that there's no substitute for meaningful connection. And that's something money can't buy.
- Give your little money monster something to work with. We've noticed that our kids are much less grabby on trips when we start off by giving them a small amount of money for spending and souveniers. Instead of asking every five seconds if we can get this or that, they spend their time comparison shopping and scheming about what is a wise buy. A great strategy when you know you'll want to bring home a little something and don't want to be under constant pressure to continue to feed the gimme monster. We've found this keeps everyone engaged with money in a very positive way. (Added: April 18th, 2007)
In so many ways our family is still in the learning curve when it comes to consumerism and money. How do you curb the Gimme Monster at your house? |
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| ADVICE RATING |
4.77 (Highly recommend) from 22 votes |
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 Related keywords: advertising, cash, consumerism, demanding, education, errand, gifts, grabby, greed, jen, kids, lemen, materialism, money, saving, store, talking, want
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