These days Kids have access to media and they observe all kinds of lucrative advertisements. Hence, the importance of educating our kids to be happy with available resources and to be non-materialistic has increased. In this article, we will try to decode why we should focus on raising a happy and non-materialistic kid and how to do it in simple ways.
Why Focus on Nurturing Non-Materialistic Kid?
Imagine yourself walking through the shopping mall along with your kid. How often do they stop to insist on you purchasing something? How many times does this situation end up with him throwing a tantrum in the store? What do owning things become for your child?
With ads aimed at children everywhere — the Internet, magazines, the TV, etc., kids are developing a misguided notion of entitlement. As the result, they want to purchase what they see in commercials whether it’s clothing, gadgets, or toys. The message that they’re receiving from these advertisements is spending money and having things boosts self-esteem and happiness. Further, they have a belief that happiness is possible to purchase.
As parents, we wish for our children to understand the value of the people they meet and their experiences. Things are replaceable, but memories and friendships aren’t. Help your child develop a sense to feel the real value of “stuff” all around.
How to Raise a Happy and Non-Materialistic Kid
Here are some simple yet effective and fun-loving practices that you can start with for raising a happy and non-materialistic kid.
1. Enjoy Without Spending a Lot
Let your children know that they can enjoy themselves (alone and with you). Even without toys or lots of money they can enjoy themselves. There is no cost to having a play date with your children at home. Moreover, you can throw an event in your living room. Introduce her to activities that aren’t expensive. In addition, it will help her to develop skills such as painting or gardening.
2. Instill Gratitude – A Must for Being a Non-Materialistic Kid
If we don’t have gratitude, we can easily be disappointed and angry about our life. Being grateful keeps us content and satisfied. One way to learn gratitude with children is to identify three things that they’re thankful for every single day.
Materialism occurs when someone seeks happiness outside. Things that are easily purchased come from a feeling of dissatisfaction and discontent. “If we are focused on creating a child who is happy and content, then he/she will become a non-materialistic kid.”
3. Role Model
When it comes to the parenting of our children, they learn a lot from the way we conduct ourselves. Monkeys see, monkeys do. If you want your child not to develop an irresistible urge to buy the most recent iPhone, you must avoid doing it also. Be sure not to transmit the incorrect message.
Small things are important as well. Don’t make snide comments about your neighbor’s latest sports car or friend’s expensive clothes too.
4. Reward with Memories and Experience
For their hard work and accomplishments, instead of offering your child a visit to the toy store, give them some sort of activity. This can be a trip to a museum, a picnic with the family, or even a fun day out with her most loved cousin. Your child will be taught to appreciate interactions with family members and develop an interest in trying new things.
5. Discuss the Truth Behind Advertisements
Marketing tactics are not a choice and are part of the modern world we live in now. So, arm children with the tools that assist them in understanding. Explain to them the way ads and commercials function and how they’re created to want things. Explain that they’re designed to promote products.
6. Teaching Children the Value of ‘Share is Caring’
It isn’t easy for children to share and give regardless of whether it’s food or toys. At the age of 3, kids have only one reality: them.
Though, thinking about the needs of others and doing something for others make them understand about sharing is caring. Moreover, helping classmates prepare for an exam will aid in helping your child develop an empathetic and compassionate person. Even it will aid in preventing him from living a purely materialistic lifestyle.
7. Help Children to appreciate the Beauty of Nature
Show children, blooming flowers, greenery, trees loaded with fruits, chirping sound of birds, movement of butterflies all around, and many more. Seeing natural beauty, they will realize the real beauty comes from these, not from the market.
Author’s Point – Becoming a Happy Non-Materialistic Kid
Hope these simple but effective practices will help you in raising a happy and non-materialistic kid. The above points are broad guidelines but not limited to. Comment and share what you think about it. Share your ideas too. The best ones will be included here with your credentials.
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