Buying toys for children is one of the ways parents try to make them happy. However, purchasing toys for your children too frequently can encourage them to have materialistic attitudes. This behavioral tendency can appear from an early age, usually between 6 and 8 years old.

What Is Materialism?

According to Verywell Mind, materialism is a way of thinking and behaving that places material possessions above other values. These possessions can include things such as toys, shoes, clothes, and various other items.

Materialistic people tend to judge someone’s status and position based on what that individual owns. In addition, those who have many toys or other possessions are often viewed as more appealing. As a result, they compete to accumulate as many belongings and as much wealth as possible.

In children, materialistic behavior can develop because of an unsupportive environment and inappropriate parenting. Research shows that children who are overly pampered can grow into adults who are narcissistic and never satisfied. If this attitude continues into later life, materialistic children will struggle to feel content with what they have.

Tips for Raising Children to Avoid Materialistic Behavior

Parents have an important role in teaching children to stray from materialistic behavior. If they are not guided wisely, the habit of giving gifts as rewards can make your children believe that the main goal of their efforts is to obtain those items.

On the other hand, using punishment in the form of taking away or restricting access to their belongings can make children feel unhappy whenever they cannot have those items. This is how the seeds of materialism in children can start to grow and potentially continue into adulthood.

In fact, there is nothing wrong with giving children gifts they want. However, you do not need to provide everything they ask for without any effort on their part. According to Baby Center, there are several tips to prevent materialistic children that you can apply, including:

1. Set a good example

Parents are the primary role models for their children. If you want to teach that there is more to life than owning things, you can take your child to a shoe repair service or an electronics repair shop so they can see that broken items can be fixed and still have value.

Another approach is to invite your child to go window shopping. This shows that simply visiting a shopping mall without making any purchases can still be enjoyable and can serve as quality family time.

2. Teach your child the concept of money

You can introduce the concept of money from a young age. Teach your child to save in a piggy bank, to avoid spending money carelessly, and to use their own savings to buy the toys they want. These practices help them understand how money works and encourage them to appreciate their belongings more.

3. Teach giving and sharing

Through sharing, children learn that the items they currently own can be more useful to other people. Make giving and sharing a regular habit so your child becomes accustomed to letting go of things that are no longer needed, while also nurturing their empathy.

4. Teach your child to appreciate what they already have

You can help your child understand that the value of an object is not always determined by its price. For example, you might explain that the wooden cupboard at home is very meaningful because it is an heirloom from their grandmother. Children may not immediately grasp what you mean, but in time they will learn that the worth of an item is shaped by its quality, function, and story, not just by how expensive it is.

5. Find out why they want a certain item

When your child asks for something, ask them why they want it so much. If the reason is only because the item is trendy and not because of its real function, you can explain that this item is not a top priority in your spending. This helps teach children how to raise children with wiser expectations about what they truly need.

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