In my English class, we were given the assignment to look over a cartoon, and answer questions about it. The cartoon showed a child, with a pile of junk food all around him, while he's holding a giant soda. There is a person in a suit with a clipboard, telling the child that his vital signs are all great. In the background, it shows the child's vitals, and they are all over the place.
The questions we were asked to answer are as follows:
What is your perception of how children are targeted by advertisers today? Have brand awareness and demand for branded products increased since you were a child? Explain your answer.
In your opinion, what limits, if any, should be imposed on advertising for the children’s market? Explain.
What is this cartoon’s claim about the trend toward marketing to children? What is the cartoonist trying to achieve?
I was shocked at how many of my classmates responded that advertisers are targeting children more, because the parents just buy the children anything they want. One classmate said that parents feel guilty that their children can't have everything, so they buy it for them anyway. Another stated that children will always be begging for new toys, and the parents will always give in. They also went on to say that parents will buy their children name brands, because that's what they are begging for.
Does anyone else see something wrong with this? Aren't the parents supposed to be the parents, and the children be the children? Are we really raising the next spoiled generation? Why do parents give in to their children's whinings and begging?
I get that my children will beg for things, but I'm the mother, for heaven's sake. I'm not going to just give her our debit card and say, "Here Emily. You saw commercials for things you want, so go ahead and just go buy it. You have control over our finances."
I have to wonder if these classmates are the one that agrees with the new-ish law to take the toys out of kids meals, unless it's under a certain amount of calories, because the toys appeal to the kids too much. (Again, I am the parent. I will decide where and what we eat. Please don't take the toy out for my own sanity!!)
I think parents need to gain a backbone, and stop raising children that are overly spoiled and pampered. It's no wonder why children are growing up wanting everything handed to them on a silver platter.
I agree. I used to be a cashier at Target, and oh the horror of children crying for toys in the checkout aisle! That crying is a learned behavior - they learn that if they cry every time, they will get the toy at least 50% of the time, so it's worth a try. If you never give them a toy when they cry, then they will learn to accept that they aren't getting the toy for crying about it. It's the same with any item advertised for kids. Kids watch too much TV anyway.
ReplyDeleteI used to think that too, Jessica. Now I have four children and one of them is VERY persistent. He's a wonderfully hopeful child. He will either be a salesman or a lawyer I'm sure. I could tell him, "No," every time, and he would still try.
ReplyDeleteI agree completely with Yannie's post. No matter how many times my son begs and throws a fit, I am still the parent. I can say, "No." No matter how "cool" everyone else is, I'm okay with my kid being a "dork" if that's the what a child who has to do chores every day and is only allowed to watch TV a couple times a week is called.