Teaching kids to measure their self worth with materialism
November 24th 2010 05:03
It's that time of year, Toys for Tots is looking for donations of gifts. It's a shame that kids are taught their self worth is tied to whether or not they get gifts during holidays. I'm not saying Toys for Tots is a bad thing, only that it's a shame that they are needed.
Kids with parents that can spend lots of money and give them lots of gifts are assumed to love their kids more than parents that can't afford to give much or anything at all, and it's even worse for foster kids. How can kids help but feel they are worth nothing when they go back to school after the holidays and the more well off kids are bragging about what they got. Once more enforcing that the more things they have, the more they are worth, the more they are cared about.
With families, friends, the media and retailers enforcing this idea, is it any wonder they grow up to think money and material things are everything. Thinking the more they have, the more important they are.
I would love to see people start having giftless holidays. Teaching their kids that there are a lot more important things then having people give you things. Having more time to spend with their families instead of in the malls. Not have to go into debt because they are expected to buy things for everyone when they can't afford it.
There are a number of Native American traditions where children are encouraged to share or give away prized possessions. There was a small study done which tested the generosity of Native American boys raised within this tradition with Caucasian boys. Each group was given two lollipops and both started to immediately eat one. The Native American boys then gave away the second one to others that didn't get any, while the Caucasian boys kept the second one for themselves. Wouldn't it be great if we could teach all children to share and give things away rather then always be expecting things to be given to them. To show them that their self worth is not measured in things.
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