They are everywhere – spoiled children who will not stop screaming until they get what they want. All one must do is walk around a local toy store to find kids who are overindulged. Influenced by the media, they are bombarded with images of pampered teens and young adults who drive BMWs. Although parents are facing the largest economic downturn in recent history, kids are living the high life simply because many parents are unable to say no.
The Influence of Children’s Television Programming
In recent years, children and young adults have been inundated with examples of excess. Television shows such as MTV’s The Hills, and My Super Sweet 16 regularly show young people who always have the best; they wear the best clothes, drive the best cars, and attend the best events. There is a constant display of surplus. The media focus on excess has created a “keeping up with the Jones’s” mentality among youth culture. It is no longer sufficient to receive a bicycle for a birthday; kids must receive cars and celebratory events headlined by big name performers.
Where Have the TV Families Gone?
In addition to displaying overindulgent lifestyles, youth entertainment shows have abandoned programming which catalogues middle class family life. In times past, shows such as The Cosby Show, Family Ties, and Growing Pains focused on the everyday family’s dynamic. Now, broadcasts such as Disney’s popular Zack and Cody: The Suite Life on Deck and Nickelodeon’s iCarly focus on children being raised in extravagant situations with no parents even present. Viewers see the characters living on a cruise ship or in a great apartment in Seattle with no parental interaction, and become less inclined to relate to their own families. In addition, children grow up expecting to achieve such levels of extravagance themselves, resulting in excess spending in adulthood, mounting debt, and a general tendency to overindulge whenever possible.
Kids Must Face Reality
Parents are currently tackling the largest economic downturn in recent history. According to Tara Siegel Bernard in the April 3, 2009, New York Times article “Downturn Pushes More Toward Bankruptcy,” 130,793 people filed for bankruptcy in March of this year. Further, Bernard writes that daily filings were up 9 percent since February, and 38 percent since 2008.
In today’s economy, many parents are struggling just to keep food on the table. The desire to shield children from the impact of financial hardship is understandable, yet there is something to be said for teaching kids about the reality of financial strain. Young people can be taught to tighten the belt. Simply put, a dose of real reality, as opposed to the “reality” television youth often see, can be a great tool in countering kids’ propensity toward pampering.
Parents: Just Say No!
Parents must learn to say no without guilt, or fear of rejection and temper tantrums. Simply put, the word “no” should be considered a complete sentence; one which needs no further explanation or justification to a child. Parents must realize that they are not depriving their children by refusing to give them everything they desire. In fact, adults can help kids by teaching them lessons about real life. They will be unable to function in society if they feel that extravagance is an entitlement. A strong work ethic, humility, and a sense of benevolence toward others will take the upcoming generation a long way.
The path of excess displayed by the media, along with parents’ inability to say no, is creating a new society of spoiled, overindulged children. Parents need to change the direction of today’s youth. With a little bit of gumption and a large dose of reality, parents can assist their children in becoming well rounded adults and help them avoid the typical pitfalls that accompany a lifetime of gluttonous behavior.
