Comments on: Children and Consumerism http://www.rainbowsongs.com/mikeblog/2006/10/09/children-and-consumerism/ Exchanging ideas about learning, music, community, and culture. Wed, 19 Nov 2008 12:18:43 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Brent Forsberg http://www.rainbowsongs.com/mikeblog/2006/10/09/children-and-consumerism/#comment-19524 Brent Forsberg Wed, 12 Nov 2008 21:44:27 +0000 http://www.rainbowsongs.com/mikeblog/?p=7#comment-19524 Looks like this guy is setting up an entire site dedicated to the issue of children and consumerism... looks like it might turn out to be pretty good... http://www.consumerismandkids.com Looks like this guy is setting up an entire site dedicated to the issue of children and consumerism… looks like it might turn out to be pretty good…

http://www.consumerismandkids.com

]]> By: Luke VanRooy http://www.rainbowsongs.com/mikeblog/2006/10/09/children-and-consumerism/#comment-5542 Luke VanRooy Sun, 27 May 2007 19:14:49 +0000 http://www.rainbowsongs.com/mikeblog/?p=7#comment-5542 I completely agree Mike. I came across your blog while researching, I'm actually only 17 but I'm writing a paper for one of my classes on children and the media. I chose to do my thesis on children and consumerism. Children are indocerinated to become consumers. young people have a rather incomplete set of moral values and as such are especially susceptible to the idea impressed upon them. That makes them a great target for advertising. They are made to feel insecure unless they have the latest toys. The media suggests to remedy the emptiness with new luxury goods, but it perpetuates itself since there are always new good available for the child to desire. Case and point: Ever hear for the show "Beyblade"? Marketing dream: the entire show is practically based around the main characters playing with imaginative childrens toys. Shows like this prove that hundreds of marketing hours go into trying to get the child to say "Mommy, PLEASE!" From what i read, your son sounds to be doing alright, if they are gifts and he's not demanding to have more toys it's hardly a problem. I completely agree Mike. I came across your blog while researching, I’m actually only 17 but I’m writing a paper for one of my classes on children and the media. I chose to do my thesis on children and consumerism. Children are indocerinated to become consumers. young people have a rather incomplete set of moral values and as such are especially susceptible to the idea impressed upon them. That makes them a great target for advertising. They are made to feel insecure unless they have the latest toys. The media suggests to remedy the emptiness with new luxury goods, but it perpetuates itself since there are always new good available for the child to desire. Case and point: Ever hear for the show “Beyblade”? Marketing dream: the entire show is practically based around the main characters playing with imaginative childrens toys. Shows like this prove that hundreds of marketing hours go into trying to get the child to say “Mommy, PLEASE!”

From what i read, your son sounds to be doing alright, if they are gifts and he’s not demanding to have more toys it’s hardly a problem.

]]> By: Mike Whitla http://www.rainbowsongs.com/mikeblog/2006/10/09/children-and-consumerism/#comment-34 Mike Whitla Thu, 19 Oct 2006 20:56:05 +0000 http://www.rainbowsongs.com/mikeblog/?p=7#comment-34 Ben thanks for putting your 2-cents in. You are right about violence on tv. It can't be good for anybody not just kids. Ben thanks for putting your 2-cents in.
You are right about violence on tv. It can’t be good for anybody not just kids.

]]> By: Ben http://www.rainbowsongs.com/mikeblog/2006/10/09/children-and-consumerism/#comment-33 Ben Thu, 19 Oct 2006 20:38:07 +0000 http://www.rainbowsongs.com/mikeblog/?p=7#comment-33 Media is a youth killer. you are right about that. and it is not only advertising. Some of the kids programs you find on tv like dragon ball z or pokemon, and a lot of others all is about violance. what happend to the type of shows i wathced while still a kid. Heidi, Remmi, and a whole bunch of other shows more aimed at kids. Media is a youth killer. you are right about that. and it is not only advertising. Some of the kids programs you find on tv like dragon ball z or pokemon, and a lot of others all is about violance. what happend to the type of shows i wathced while still a kid. Heidi, Remmi, and a whole bunch of other shows more aimed at kids.

]]> By: Mike Whitla http://www.rainbowsongs.com/mikeblog/2006/10/09/children-and-consumerism/#comment-29 Mike Whitla Wed, 18 Oct 2006 13:47:59 +0000 http://www.rainbowsongs.com/mikeblog/?p=7#comment-29 Thanks for stopping by and posting Becca. Ohh, I got a picture of the cake see this: http://www.rainbowsongs.com/mikeblog/?p=9 Thanks for stopping by and posting Becca.

Ohh, I got a picture of the cake see this:
http://www.rainbowsongs.com/mikeblog/?p=9

]]> By: Becca http://www.rainbowsongs.com/mikeblog/2006/10/09/children-and-consumerism/#comment-26 Becca Wed, 18 Oct 2006 13:34:35 +0000 http://www.rainbowsongs.com/mikeblog/?p=7#comment-26 Hey - where's the photo of the Thomas cake? It took at least an hour to decorate it! Becca Hey - where’s the photo of the Thomas cake? It took at least an hour to decorate it! Becca

]]> By: Amy Stephen http://www.rainbowsongs.com/mikeblog/2006/10/09/children-and-consumerism/#comment-23 Amy Stephen Wed, 18 Oct 2006 01:28:18 +0000 http://www.rainbowsongs.com/mikeblog/?p=7#comment-23 You two are COOL! You both are thinking about what is right and good and healthy and appropriate for your children but *still* trying to stay grounded in the reality of their world. Your kids are so blessed. And, to share this intimate moment -- we are so blessed! Mike - tell Lisa about the young man you were trying to help with the top menu tonight. Me laughed and laughed! lol... Amy You two are COOL! You both are thinking about what is right and good and healthy and appropriate for your children but *still* trying to stay grounded in the reality of their world. Your kids are so blessed. And, to share this intimate moment — we are so blessed!

Mike - tell Lisa about the young man you were trying to help with the top menu tonight. Me laughed and laughed! lol…

Amy

]]> By: Mike Whitla’s Blog » Thomas Rant: Kids (adults) and Consumerism http://www.rainbowsongs.com/mikeblog/2006/10/09/children-and-consumerism/#comment-21 Mike Whitla’s Blog » Thomas Rant: Kids (adults) and Consumerism Tue, 17 Oct 2006 21:29:10 +0000 http://www.rainbowsongs.com/mikeblog/?p=7#comment-21 [...] This is a continuation of the Children and Consumerism. Ok my kid is obsessed with trains and by default Thomas the Tank Engine. We wonder how kids get so into consuming things so quickly? We do it to them. Case and point: Jake’s 4th birthday party last weekend. We had a train themed birthday party because it seemed like the right thing to do. Anyway we did have a great time!! [...] [...] This is a continuation of the Children and Consumerism. Ok my kid is obsessed with trains and by default Thomas the Tank Engine. We wonder how kids get so into consuming things so quickly? We do it to them. Case and point: Jake’s 4th birthday party last weekend. We had a train themed birthday party because it seemed like the right thing to do. Anyway we did have a great time!! [...]

]]> By: Mike Whitla http://www.rainbowsongs.com/mikeblog/2006/10/09/children-and-consumerism/#comment-16 Mike Whitla Sun, 15 Oct 2006 20:08:50 +0000 http://www.rainbowsongs.com/mikeblog/?p=7#comment-16 You are right Lisa. Jake is a sweet and gentle boy who cares for all those around him. Thanks for the extra thomas stuff but the socks don't count he just got them yesterday!! I post the complete list in a new thomas rant. You are right Lisa. Jake is a sweet and gentle boy who cares for all those around him.
Thanks for the extra thomas stuff but the socks don’t count he just got them yesterday!!
I post the complete list in a new thomas rant.

]]> By: Lisa http://www.rainbowsongs.com/mikeblog/2006/10/09/children-and-consumerism/#comment-15 Lisa Sun, 15 Oct 2006 18:14:37 +0000 http://www.rainbowsongs.com/mikeblog/?p=7#comment-15 Mike, We'll keep trying to protect our kids from all the stuff out there. Although Jake has tons of Thomas stuff, he is innocent about much consumerism and product pushing out there. For example, Santa was a big fat man until last year when he learned about him at daycare. As well, Jake has does not like violence. Other kids his age have no problem watching violence on tv, in ads, etc... Jake can't handle anything with more conflict than Max and Ruby ("You know Mama," Jake says, "Ruby is a little but bossy.") I think managing his tv watching has had a positive impact on his life. Thankfully, trains are a way in which he has done much learning, both concrete (colours, numbers) and imaginative (story telling). An aside, we have much more Thomas stuff than listed above. Here's what else I can think of: thermos socks stickers tatoos colouring books paints halloween costume pjs plastic roundhouse the wooden roundhouse is not Thomas (and therefore was cheap) Lisa Mike,
We’ll keep trying to protect our kids from all the stuff out there. Although Jake has tons of Thomas stuff, he is innocent about much consumerism and product pushing out there. For example, Santa was a big fat man until last year when he learned about him at daycare. As well, Jake has does not like violence. Other kids his age have no problem watching violence on tv, in ads, etc… Jake can’t handle anything with more conflict than Max and Ruby (”You know Mama,” Jake says, “Ruby is a little but bossy.”) I think managing his tv watching has had a positive impact on his life. Thankfully, trains are a way in which he has done much learning, both concrete (colours, numbers) and imaginative (story telling).

An aside, we have much more Thomas stuff than listed above. Here’s what else I can think of:
thermos
socks
stickers
tatoos
colouring books
paints
halloween costume
pjs
plastic roundhouse
the wooden roundhouse is not Thomas (and therefore was cheap)

Lisa

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