Your kids vs marketing tactics. Who’s smarter?

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‍It’s out there.

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It’s always out there.

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Waiting. Look outside when you're driving.

In the lift.

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On TV.

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Advertising really IS everywhere - and it’s even right there, in your pocket. Ready for you to consume at anytime of the day or night.

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Now we may know (or at least think we know) how advertising works on our human minds, but what about when it comes to kids?

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Now there is an easy target audience if there every was one.

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Whether its turning on the puppy eyes or sulking over dinner, mini people know just how to convince you they NEED whatever they want. With or without the charm offensive.

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So let’s started - it’s time to get your kids advertising wise!

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‍Notice your own behaviour

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‍Do you ever fall into the advertising trap or does your brain usually sound the alarm?

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Can you recognise the hard and soft sell commercial approach behind each and every advert?

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(Spoiler alert: It’s actually hard to not get influenced advertising - its everywhere, constant and is designed to hit you straight in the emotional)

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You see, the advertising game is played with a multitude of clever tactics from stupid jokes to ads designed to guilt you into buying things. Having so many adverts on your phone, only increases the challenge.

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Is your IG feed, LinkedIn feed or FB wall full of regular posts or advertisements designed to look unsponsored posts?

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Do you think twice before “accepting cookies”?

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Questioning your own behaviours towards advertising is a great first step towards helping your kids get to grip with the good, the bad, and the ugly when it comes to consumer marketing.

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‍Advertising knows how to influence your child.

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‍Young people up to the age of 16 regularly fall into the trap of advertisers, especially on social media.

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Adverisiting works well on kids because of one main factor. Peer pressure. Kids want to fit in, be like their friends.

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The result of peer pressure often sounds a little bit like this -

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”Mamaaa, papaaa, my classmates are all getting this, why can’t I have it?”

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Sounds familiar to you?

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Mean though it may sound, advertising has only one goal, to sell, and sometimes, they definitely cross the line when it comes to morals.

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So it is important that you talk about it with your child.

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‍Talking works.

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‍Yes, it’s a cliché, but clichés are only clichés because they carry a hell of a lot of truth to them.

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No idea where to start? When they really want that new backpack, skateboard or anything else your kid might want - talk their want through with them step-by-step.

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Give it a try with these questions:

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→ Why do you like it?

→ How long have you wanted something like this for?

→ What do you think this advert is trying to say?

→ I wonder if this will be cool next month?

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‍Hold up.

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‍We certainly don't want to sound too negative.

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Everyone likes to try something new.

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Sometimes advertising can lead to some great purchases that really do improve our lives, whether that’s adding efficiency, comfort or a healthy big dose of fun to our days.

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Some adverts are works of creative art.

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So go on, appreciate them, question them and teach your kids to do just the same. 👍🚀