One way to curb materialism in your children and reinforce the real reason for the season is to teach them to question marketing messages. From the TV commercials during cartoons to the ads on cereal boxes, marketing messages target children of all ages. And to them, everything looks ideal, like something they simply have to have. It all sounds so appealing -- often, so much better than it really is.
The ads children see around the holidays can help foster unrealistic expectations and lead to disappointment. After imagining their "wish list" items all around them, it's hard for reality to measure up when they actually open up their gifts.
Of course, it is nearly impossible to eliminate all exposure to marketing messages. You can certainly turn off the TV or at least limit their screen time, but they'll still see and hear ads for the latest and greatest gizmos and must-haves.
Explain, when your children ask for products they see advertised, that commercials and other ads are designed to make people want things they don't necessarily need. And these ads are often meant to make us think that these products will make us happier somehow. Talking to kids about what things are like in reality can help put things into perspective.
Teach children that not everything they want can always be theirs and that a little "want" here and there isn't all bad. The key is to want things in moderation and to fully appreciate what you're given. Emphasize that the holidays are a special time, when a lot of love and thought is put into gift giving.
