Comments on: Daddy, I Want Shrek!!

By: Todd Helmkamp

Todd Helmkamp — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 20:36:20 +0000

And by the way, I drive the car that I do because it makes good economic sense for me to drive this car, even though I would prefer something nicer, newer, and with less miles.

By: Todd Helmkamp

Todd Helmkamp — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 20:35:03 +0000

Thanks, Kelly!

Welcome, Shoshana! I did, in fact tell him no. I think you are missing my point. Did you read the articles I linked to? My point is that I am concerned about the effect such marketing will have on my children, i.e. that (as numerous studies have shown) such marketing imparts a consumeristic, materialistic world-view. This is something I definitely want to avoid.

And yes, I do plan on shielding my children from everything that I find upsetting until they are old enough to understand, process, and deal with it. In my opinion, that’s simply good parenting. Thanks for posting!

By: Shoshana

Shoshana — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 20:22:33 +0000

Geeze!! They are kids for crying out loud. if they want a can of pasta that is more expensive just because of a certain character, or whatever, JUST SAY NO. After all, you are the parent. There is nothing you can do about the marketing, it’s going to be there whether you like it or not. Are you planning on shielding your kids from everything that you find “upsetting”? Marketing is everywhere. Why did you buy the specific car that you drive? I am sure there is a different kind of car that you could have bought instead that cost less. Essentially it’s the same with your kids’ spaghettio’s.

By: Kelly

Kelly — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 20:20:30 +0000

I’m not disagreeing with you. I don’t think that companies should target children in their marketing either, but I don’t think it’s a new concept. I think we were marketed to as kids, too-probably not to the extent kids today are, but we were nonetheless. My point is that with decent parenting and maturity in life, we learned that those things aren’t really important. Luke will too. He’s got good parents.

By: toddhelmkamp

toddhelmkamp — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 19:52:20 +0000

I’m not saying that all of this is bad; my major issue is that companies are marketing directly at children. Luke doesn’t understand that the can of pasta with Shrek on it is exactly the same as the can without Shrek; all he knows is that Daddy won’t buy him the Shrek can that he wants (for example). Without commercialization, it wouldn’t make a difference.

By: Kelly

Kelly — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 19:35:20 +0000

I will limit my kid’s exposure to commercialization as much as possible, but I think it’s in a kid’s nature to want what someone else has. Didn’t we all want the coolest new toy, or the Thundercats lunch box? Sure we did, but I think we turned out okay.