Over on the Vitamin Z blog this video was posted about a documentary called Consuming Kids.  I would encourage any parents to watch the video and seriously think about how this topic is affecting you, your children and your family and what you are going to do about it.  I know that for me, if I am being passive on this topic, it means I am in some way allowing it into my home.  For us as a family, being in the basketball world, I think it is is even more of an issue.  We are surrounded by those who make a good amount of money and enjoy spending it.  We as well have enough money that we can easily spend on extravagances.  The biggest thing for us to realize is that although there is a ton of marketing targeted at our children, the solution needs to start with us a parents.  As mentioned on the Vitamin Z blog, one great way to fight back is to limit the amount of television your children watch.  Here are a few other thoughts I had as I watched the video a few times this morning:

1. Focus on the issue of the heart. Too often it seems like when we have issues with kids, society, culture, etc. we forget that the main problem is inside, not “out there somewhere”.  The problem with kids becoming materialistic is that our hearts are covetous.  Now obviously all the advertising brings that temptation to the surface, but it certainly does not cause it.

2. Set a good example. One way to bring up kids who aren’t consumed with things, is to not be consumed yourself.  I know I need to take a serious look at the example I set for our kids.  Do I get more excited about a purchase I make or serving another person in need?  Am I more concerned about my money and things (either by spending too much or by being obsessed with saving) or time I spend with people?  Do i treat those with “nice things” better than I do people who have very little?  I can’t expect my kids to live a certain way if I am not.

3. Set a budget and talk about how you spend money as a family. Teaching kids the value of money and how you spend it is a life long lesson that will benefit them in the years to come.  Kids that have open freedom to buy whatever their hearts desire are going to be more prone to materialism in the future.  Growing up having no concept of how much money things cost makes you more likely to spend money freely and desire more as an adult.

4. Focus on what brings true satisfaction. Advertising is solely based upon convincing you that you will not be happy without a certain product.  Only those who have found their true satisfaction in Jesus will ever be able to battle the lies of advertisement with a higher joy.  You can’t simply battle false advertisement by saying “no”, you must say “yes” to a greater joy found in God!

This video caused me to pick up a book Joe had purchased called Consuming Kids.  I am going to start reading it and will let you know what I think!