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More, more, more! You're not really happy unless you own this, and this, and this, and a couple of these too! Don't be the only one on the block without one of these! Look how happy they look playing with this, don't you want to be happy like them too!? Don't worry, it's "educational"!

Like Madonna said "We are living in a material world". The pressure to buy more, spend more, have more comes at us from our TV sets, from glassy magazine articles, and from 50 foot billboards over head. As parents we not only feel the pressure to buy the new car and the latest fashions, we also get wrangled into buying every toy created. A million cheap, plastic toys complete with flashing lights and whirring noises are flashed in front of us and our children each and every day. All with the same message: "You will be happier when you have this."

But as any parent can attest to the happiness only lasts a few days then the child is bored and looking for the next "must have" toy being waved in front of their eyes. So what can a parent do to stop the cycle?

There is a saying "When you give a child a toy you prevent her from creating her own." Children have played happily for hundreds of thousands of years with toys of their own making. Sticks become everything from pirate swords to magic wands to dolls wrapped in dresses made of leaves. Rocks can become houses, stages, furniture, food, and much more. When we give children the ability to use their natural creativity and let them find ways to entertain themselves whole new worlds open up for them.

Here are a few ways you can begin to stop the "gimmie gimmie gimmie" cycle of toys. First, remove the advertising. It seems much more complicated than it really is. You can make a huge difference just by turning off the TV. Without the constant stream of media advertising you child will not even notice half of the new toys being marketed every day. Next validate their want without saying yes. If you child begins talking about a new toys that they want take the time to talk about and share their excitement. Don't focus on the wanting of the toy, but just on the excitement of the toy. Say things like "Yes that is pretty cool". and "You really like that it is red, don't you." Sometimes just being able to get out the feelings that the toy brings to a child is enough of a release to be able to move on. If that does not work then take time to talk with your child about why he or she wants the toy. Ask him if he thinks he will be as happy as the children in the commercial if he has it. Or talk to her about previous toys that she though she needed and lost interest in quickly. Do not be judgmental or harsh, just calmly talk to your child about why they want the toy. Lastly get creative! Help your child find a way to create their own version of the toy. Making it themselves not only gives them a sense of pride it also helps them to appreciate the toy itself. And it can be a great way to spend time together with your child.

Many parents complain about how many toys their children have and do not play with. Though marketing is a major influence on children, it is ultimately the parents who choose to buy the toys for their children. Finding ways to curb the pressure to buy more and more and more now is a great lesson that will help your child throughout his or her lifetime.

Learn more about this author, Summer Minor.
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