It is a fact that today, where consumption and shopping have become passions, this issue also affects children. The consumption habits of the society they live in cause their children to form habits in this direction. Being a consumer is a process that children learn as they live. The important point in this process is not that children become individuals who consume constantly and unnecessarily, but that they become conscious individuals who know what and how much they consume and the harm their consumption causes to the environment. It is important for children to be socialized as environmentally conscious consumers.
Everyone's consumption habits are different. For example, cosmetics may be an essential consumer item for one of us, but not at all for the other. For children, the needs are generally the same. Toys, chocolate, candy, clothes and game-related materials are the most demanded. Children are persistent in their wishes. They have not yet learned to postpone their desires like an adult. At this sensitive point, families have a lot of work to do. First of all, not every request of the child should be met immediately. If it is met, the child may become irritable if something he wants is not met at that moment. Every unmet desire can lead to anger and unhappiness in the child. When he reaches adulthood, he may experience problems in his relationships. A child who cannot learn to wait may also have difficulties in his academic life and social relationships. It can be difficult for these children to study and wait their turn while playing. Apart from this, the sources of happiness cannot be internalized for the child and he must consume, buy and shop in order to be happy. And this carries over into adult behavior.
Mothers, knowingly or unknowingly, have a significant impact on the socialization processes of children as consumers, and they influence the behavior of their children with their behaviors and the reactions they give to their children. It is learned to postpone desires. Family support is absolutely necessary for children to learn and apply this. In order for the family to support the child and help him/her acquire conscious consumption habits, it is important that they become conscious consumers themselves.
Before going shopping, you need to tell your child exactly what he can buy and comply with your decision. This is a good opportunity to take the next step. If you're not planning to buy him something he wants, it's important to tell him upfront and explain why you can't. Saying "we don't need money" instead of "we don't have money" allows you to establish the basic logic of conscious consumption in your child. If your child has an extra desire, telling him that he needs to save money for it will be a good example for him to gain conscious consumption habits. Although every material desire that is met makes children happy for the moment, in the long run it is not the things that are received, but the establishment of healthy relationships with their families that ensure happiness. Children who feel valued and important within the family adopt conscious consumption habits much more easily. You can teach your children about your experiences in using money, purchasing quality products, and price-quality relationships. In order for this teaching to be effective, it will be useful to discuss with the children the consequences (whether positive or negative) of the decisions they make, together with the reasons.
Conscious consumption is consumption in which the consumer is aware of his rights, feels a sense of responsibility towards the environment and society, and avoids extravagance and waste. As adults of the future, our children are candidates to become consumers. In order to raise children who consume consciously, it is our responsibility, both as individuals and as a society, to instill conscious consumption in our children during the socialization process.
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