The educators at Penn State Extension offer key tips and strategies to help children become educated and empowered consumers.
Young children today are exposed to a high volume of advertising and marketing—not only on television but also via online platforms like YouTube. To help children navigate the consumer landscape and grow into savvy consumers, experts offer these helpful tips:
Tip 1: Limit screen time.
Passive screen time—including watching commercials on smartphones, tablets and other devices—can be detrimental to young children’s development. No screen time is recommended for babies. And children aged 18 to 36 months should engage in screen viewing for no more than an hour each day. To reduce exposure to commercialised content, adults can also fast forward through advertisements.
Tip 2: Talk about advertisements.
When children do watch advertisements, explain that advertisers want to make money and do not always tell the truth. To support children in thinking critically about commercials, ask them questions like “What did you notice first when you saw this advertisement?”, “What is being sold in this advertisement?” and “Do you think that product really looks, tastes, or works the same way as it seems to in the advertisement?”
Tip 3: Give children an allowance.
Having an allowance allows children to practise saving and using money to buy things they want. Even children under age 5 can be given a small allowance. When children want to buy candy or a toy, ask them if they have enough money. Adults can say, “It will take three allowances for you to buy this. When you have enough money, you can buy it.”
Tip 4: Read books about money management to young children.
Books like The Berenstain Bears Get the Gimmies, The Berenstain Bears: Trouble with Money, and Benny’s Pennies provide children with information about budgeting and saving money.
Tip 5: Think before you buy.
Before you buy any toys for pre-schoolers, ask yourself questions like “Can a child use this toy in more than one way?”, “Is the toy sturdy so it will not break easily during play?” and “Will this toy help children develop skills that are important for further learning?” In this way, you model being a thoughtful and savvy consumer to young children.
For more information on early childhood education and consumer culture, click here.
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