Christmas Toys: Overindulgence or an Opportunity for Effective Parenting

Every Christmas, advertising creates a shortage for the latest toy rage. Remember the year it was Furbys? That was the “good old days, when a popular toy was less expensive. Now they are iPads, xBoxes,  or iPhones—items that cost hundreds of dollars. And what do parents do? Anything they can to make sure their little darling is not deprived. They get up at 4:00 a.m. to stand in line at a toy store with a limited supply, or they pay 10 times the retail price to scalpers who advertise on Internet auctions.

Parents to stop and think about the long-term results of what they do. What happens when they want and all-terrain bike or a new sports car convertible? When parents are indulgent and satisfy every demand, what are they teaching their children?

1. If you want it, you should have it — now.
2. Let materialism control your life.
3. Don’t evaluate advertising commercials. Just do whatever they suggest.
4. You can’t deal with disappointment in life — and I’ll make sure you don’t have to.