Materialism dominating U.K. family

[sadie1263]

The report by Unicef, the UN children's agency, warns that materialism has come to dominate family life in Britain as parents "pointlessly" amass goods for their children to compensate for their long working hours.

While parents said they felt compelled into buying more, the children themselves said spending time with their families made them happier.
Unicef UK said the obsession was one of the underlying causes of the riots and widespread looting which gripped the UK last month, as teenagers targeted shops for the designer clothes and goods.

The study, which was jointly funded by the Department for Education, was commissioned after an earlier Unicef report ranked Britain as the worst country in the industrialised world to be a child.

It prompted David Cameron to coin the expression “broken Britain” and fuelled calls for a raft of new family friendly policies.

In its latest study Unicef commissioned researchers from Ipsos Mori interviewed hundreds of children in Britain, Sweden and Spain, asking them about their ideas of happiness and success.

Researchers found that consumerism was less deeply embedded in Sweden and Spain, which rank significantly higher for the wellbeing of children.

British parents work longer hours and are simply “too tired” to play with their children whom in turn they can no longer control.
Families across the country, irrespective of social class or race, are less likely to spend time, eat or play games together, with children often left to their own devices.

In British households television is increasingly used as a "babysitter”, while children's bedrooms have become “media bedsits” with computers, games consoles and widescreen TVs taking the place of dolls houses or model airplanes.

The report found that children from poorer families were also less likely to take part in outdoor activities than those in the other countries, opting for a “sedentary” lifestyle in front of the television or computer games. The trend was more marked in teenagers.

Among the more startling examples of obsessive consumerism uncovered by the report was a mother fretting over whether to buy a Nintendo DS games system for her three- year-old son conviced that he would be bullied if she did not get him one.

for more go to

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/8760558/Cycle-of-compulsive-consumerism-leaves-British-family-life-in-crisis-Unicef-study-finds.html

[Big Lin]

It's very true - and very sad.

I've tried to raise my kids with values and make them play and socialise and do things that don't necessarily cost a lot of money.

Christ, why does everything have to be about consumption?

We've been recycling stuff long before it was fashionable; we wear our clothes till they fall apart and then use them as rags; we've got a TV that's 15 years old; and so on.

If it ain't broke why spend money to replace it?

[maggie]

Cameron has announced that he will ban advertising aimed at under 16s. But he announces lots of things that come to nothing. We will see.

[DAS (formerly BushAdmirer)]

I don't believe materialism is always bad or good. It is interesting to observe people who are suddenly wealthy to see what they do with their money. I would approve of materialism when it is channeled in ways that I think make good sense. I would disapprove when not so sensible.

Examples of good materialism would be spending money on world travel, buying a really nice and comfortable home, getting your kids a great education, attending the Cordon Bleu cooking school short course in London, hiring a personal trainer to get in shape.

Examples of bad materialism would include buying expensive jewelry, a Bentley, or other 'status symbols.' How about going on a big game hunting trip in Africa. Or perhaps funding your 14 year old daughter's attempt to sail around the world on her own.

[Big Lin]

I guess like so many things it doesn't have to be all good or all bad.

We all like to have nice things and to be able to do more and let's face it you can do more with money than without it.

Greed is maybe a different matter.

[Deleted]

Too many parents use expensive electronic toys and games as a babysitter for their kids, while they are out working or socializing or whatever.

A decade ago these same parents might have used the television in the same way but now it's something else. Really they are robbing their kids of a proper childhood, of fresh air, outings and playing with friends out side.

And it's not just one or two kids, it seems to be a whole generation that has fallen for this and those that are not 'into' the on-line games are left playing outside alone.