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Has your child got the 'affluenza'?Today I read a wonderful article that every parent and future parent should read. If you haven't had the experience yourself, then no doubt you've been shopping around Thanksgiving and Christmas time and seen children crying, yelling, scratching, etc., because their parents will not get them that one toy that they HAVE to have. Well I've just learned that there is a name for this sort of behavior - affluenza.The term affluenza is used to describe how our children are growing up in a world where they are constantly bombarded with consumerism. It's not only manifest in advertiser's commercials or on billboards, but on the TV shows our kids watch. The article gives examples like "The Simple Life" or "My Super Sweet 16", but there are plenty more. Think of the way we and our children are subjected to the excesses of celebrities and sports figures on TV shows where they proudly parade their possessions. Or consider that many kids would rather watch reality shows about spoiled rich kids in Orange County than read a book about poverty in the Bronx. These images give children false ideas about work and money. If not checked and taught, they grow up not understanding that they don't need everything that they see or read about. This is where the parent's responsibility to teach is very important. The article outlines some good ways to explain to kids what reality is like. I especially like the point about teaching children that the nature of the media is manipulative; they need to learn media literacy to be able to detect when they're being sold to. There's a lot of other great points too. So maybe the next time your child starts to act overly entitled, tell them that you'll take them to get their affluenza shot if they're not careful. |
Author
Nathan Blair - Salt Lake City, Utah Real Estate RE/MAX Results Salt Lake City, UT Office Phone: (801) 455-0843 More information... Contact Nathan Blair - Salt Lake City, Utah Real Estate |
