do you (or will you) raise your children to not follow the trends?

Question

we do not have kids yet, but that is my point of view. i consider myself to be one that does not base all my buying decisions or my style on what i see other people buy, wear, etc.

in fact, if everyone is wearing a certain style or buying a certain new gizmo, i would likely not want it for that reason.

i want my kids to be individuals and see the value of being unique and not just going with the crowd or buying the newest thing out just to have it and be cool.

anyone already experienced this with their kids? how's it working out? just curious if my thinking has been "test proven" already.

Answer 1

I want my kids to be like Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were. They were the only ones, and they were merely teens, who did not bow down to the false god under penalty of death. They knew who God is, they knew His reality, and were willing to die for truth. I want my kids to be learners and lovers of truth. I want them to be willing to forgo all that is fake and false, all the silly surface crap kids get into, in order to have solid truth in their lives.

All that matters is what they do with Jesus. The rest is just stuff. I know some do succeed at learning that - the Bible proves it time and time again.

Answer 2

I don't think you can teach your child to "avoid" trends. (Then you merely get a kid who rejects anything that the majority of people considers popular... which means he's still not thinking for himself.)

But you can treat your kids like individuals, respect and ask for their opinions, and show them the things you value and consider "real" and meaningful in life.

If you teach your kids how to see beyond the moment and to find lasting things to treasure rather than constantly having to rush out and see the latest movie or buy the latest clothes/technology yourself or have to always eat at the most popular restaurants and so forth (i.e., set a good example by not being "trendy" yourself), they will be less interested in trends as they get older.

Not all trends are inherently bad, and some are even fun in a kitsch-y sort of way.

Anyway, I think it's a matter of being "pro-meaning" rather than "anti-trend." Empower your kids to express themselves, to make choices based on their own preferences (rather than other people's) no matter whether they end up agreeing or disagreeing with the crowd, and to see beyond the current moment.

Answer 3

I tell you the greatest gift you can get your child. This is something that can last them a life time. And that is your time. It is okay to buy nice clothes. In fact you should buy them the best that you can AFFORD. If you have money to buy them something nice and it doesn't mean you and you spouse are working to pay it off instead of spending time with them then go ahead. If you need to look at close out sales than go ahead. PLUS you must think about what is in style. The cloths for youth are becoming revieling and showing low self respect. So ask yourself this. What do you want me to think about you child when I see them. Wow, that girl is wearing nest to nothing and must put out, or do you want some one to know who your daughter or son really is instead of what color thong is. Come on man think this is your child. YOUR GREATEST investment. What ever you are willing to make them appear as just imagine what that appearance would do to your business.

Answer 4

I encourage my children to question everything. We mute the ads during the TV ad breaks, and I always make comments to them about things I see and outwardly criticise fads and trends. I have told them that the origin of the word 'brand' is from when the owner's mark was burnt onto an animal's skin, and so when you wear brands you are stating that you are owned by the company! So far it's working! My kids are 12 and 8. Good luck. We need more parents like you.

Answer 5

I don't have any kids myself, but I'm one of 17 kids in my family.
I personally would try to teach my child to think about what it is they want, not what everyone else is buying or wearing.
the child might respond to my teachings differently depending one how I address the issue and on what they see me doing every day throughout their life. "Example setting".
I believe that if the child truly respects the parent, then they will think more on how the parent might react. They should be allowed to "be themselves".
I would try to teach them that trends are just that "trends"
and may just be a way for some one else to make money off of the trends.
good luck.

Answer 6

Well my kids are 4 and 5 so they just want to be like me right now. I think if you encourage your kids and make a big deal about the small things they do, then you will instill a pride in them. Hopefully they will have enough pride to start trends instead of following them. That's my plan.

Answer 7

I agree with you that is the way I was raised. I have to say I would not want it any other way. If my kids try to i will be really disapointed in them. That is when i have them some day. If everyone was the same the world would really suck and be not special about the habitants.

Answer 8

I encourage my son to think for himself. He doesn't choose something simply because it is trendy. Sometimes he does happend to choose somethin trendy but most of the time he just goes with what he likes.

He doensn't care what other people think about him and that leaves room to deal with the other problems that kids face these days.

Life is not easy for kids these days.

Answer 9

i will teach my kids to be unique becaus sometimes if kids follow the crowd with the latest fashions etc, then they can also be bullied for not having the 'right' stuff

Answer 10

I already experienced it. If you do not want to be "worldly" or your children to be, then you may want to live in a remote area where all you have around you is natural things, beauty, nature......