Your children can’t get enough of the latest toys and gadgets, but are you and your spouse to blame for their materialistic desires? It may be time for a reality check this festive season.
When the latest iPad was released in Singapore, Patsy Koh’s nine-year-old daughter begged them for one.
“Her birthday and Christmas were coming up, so she wanted it as an early gift,” shares the 39-year-old private tuition teacher. “She already has an iPad from a couple of years back, so I denied her request.
“But she wouldn’t stop pleading with me, telling me that she needed to have it. After months of whining and begging, she finally got her wish. She wouldn’t let the matter go and I didn’t want to disappoint her.”
Does this sound familiar? Perhaps you, too, have kids who will stop at nothing to get the newest toys and gadgets but, for some parents, the demands just never end.
“My eight-year-old son always wants the latest game or toy that’s out there, while for my preteen daughter, it’s clothes,” says accounts manager Juliet Wong, 39.
“I spend a couple of hundred dollars a month on things they want, but then they get tired of these items after a few weeks and ask me to buy them more.”
Living in a material world
There’s no doubt that kids today are more materialistic than ever. According to financial experts, that’s because they have more choices.
“It really is about having too much to choose from at any one time,” says Keon Chee, who co-authored Bringing Up Money Smart Kids with Adam Khoo.
“It’s not only confusing for kids, but it’s also damaging because they tire easily of what they have as they keep on acquiring and expecting more and more new things.
“When I was growing up, we had chicken once a week and hardly any beef at all. Today, kids have chicken, beef, fish, lamb and prawns, all in the same meal and in unlimited amounts.”
This story is from the December 2016 edition of Young Parents Singapore.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the December 2016 edition of Young Parents Singapore.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Everything You Need To Know About Direct School Admission
If your kid is good at sports, music or has other talents, the DSA programme may be his key to getting into an elite secondary school or specialised school. Here’s what you should know about the process.
What Is The Right CCA For Your Primary School Kid?
Co-curricular activities (CCAs) aren’t just frivolous frills. They teach kids important life skills that can’t be found in a classroom lesson. EVELINE GAN finds out how to select the right one for your child.
Why You Shouldn't Let PSLE Stress Take Over Your Kid's Life
PSLE preparations start in Primary 5, which means a high-pressure two years for your family. Here's how to support your child so they can do their best.
Should Your Kid Skip A Vaccine Shot?
Vaccinations are a rite of passage for every Singaporean child, but what if your kid is sick before an appointment, or misses a booster dose? Find out the answers to these and other pressing questions.
Separation Anxiety, Bullies And Other Preschool Blues
Preschool is rarely a smooth journey for children. Sasha Gonzales asks the experts how to handle the most common dilemmas, from separation anxiety to having trouble making new friends.
Is Your Kid Stressed About Starting School This Year?
School kids in Singapore are more stressed than their peers overseas. If your kid is feeling the pressure, here’s how to find what's triggering his anxiety – and how to help.
Speech Problems In Singapore Kids: When Should You Worry?
How can you help your little one get over his stuttering? Should you worry that your tot doesn’t speak as well or isn’t as talkative as his cousin? Sasha Gonzales polls the experts on the pressing speech and language issues in toddlers and preschoolers here.
The Most Common Learning Difficulties In Singapore Kids
Struggling to read, write or count is a common problem for many children, but how do you know when that struggle is actually a learning difficulty or disability? Sasha Gonzales asked three experts to tell us what signs to look out for and when to know to get help.
Can You Really Un-Spoil Your Child?
Yes, there are ways to turn things around – without losing your temper. Here, the experts share strategies you can use in common bratty situations.
Bottoms Up!
Using cloth nappies helps save the Earth – and your wallet, too, say these mums who choose not to put their babies in disposable diapers.
