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Category: Challenging and Timely Issues
Age range: all ages
A challenge facing today’s parents is raising children in a materialistic society. Regardless of economic standing or cultural background, children are besieged with messages from the popular culture that happiness comes from having the right things. This two session series helps parents clarify and express their values about material possessions. It also offers specific strategies for determining how much is enough, setting appropriate limits on spending, and communicating with children about materialism and media influence.
How Much is Enough? consists of 2 sessions:
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Values Clarification
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Issues and Strategies
Note: How Much is Enough? can be scheduled as a 1 or 2 session workshop.
1. How Much Is Enough? Values Clarification
Families still play the most critical role in teaching children about values. While it is impossible not to be influenced by marketing and media messages that make children feel they too need to have the latest gadget or product, parents can set the tone for how their family will participate in this materialism. This session explores the ways in which parents’ beliefs and ideas about materialism affect their children. The session provides an opportunity for parents to clarify their own values related to materialism and discusses ways to convey these values to children.
2. How Much Is Enough? Issues and Strategies Advertisers are targeting children with billions of advertising dollars. Research shows that advertising creates needs in children. There is great power in the messages that teach your children that they must have the right clothes, toys, food, electronics, etc. Children’s friends also influence the ideas children have about spending and materialism. While this is true, children’s attitudes towards materialism is influenced first and foremost by parents. Taking the time to look at the materialistic influences on children and then strategizing to minimize these influences is an effective way to raise children in today’s society. This session introduces numerous strategies to help parents take an active role in combating the influences of our powerful society.
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