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  • Festive pester power...

    Wednesday 8 December 2010

    Categories: Media Influence, Parenting, Technology & the Internet

    Pity the poor parents once again at this time of year when they are presented with long lists of items that their children simply cannot do without this Christmas! How can you tell the technical gizmo that is merely a passing fancy, a cul-de-sac, a detour, from the one that is a genuine advance, a real step forward, a must-have?
    It’s hard to believe it now but when mobile phones, in all their brick-sized magnificence, first came onto the market most people were baffled and bemused. Why would we want to carry a phone with us? What was the use? Who would want to be so instantly available?

    Mobiles are now ubiquitous, ever younger children are provided with their own. So they can immediately contact their parents or vice versa??!! And as they become more and more sophisticated, upgrades are available and become required. As the next generations of personal technology come onto the market, parents are coming under increasing pressure from the pester power of their offspring.
    But how can you tell which, if any, of the latest developments are here to stay, really are a necessity?

    There are Blackberries and Apples, iPods and iPhones……what is a parent to do? Here are some key questions to ask:

    • - What has she got already and how recent is it?
    • - What are the benefits of the “must have” item? How will it help?
    • - If she hasn’t already got one and you truly believe it’s time for her to have her first mobile or laptop then do some research online comparing models within your budget. Should she contribute to the cost?
    • - If she has one: does it still fulfil its purpose i.e. does it really need updating?

    If you believe she needs an improved version again do some research but also think about how your daughter could earn this valuable item. She needs to understand that even at a time of gift-giving there is still a need to get value from items and not constantly spend on upgrading.
    You should help her to understand that technology moves so fast that, just as there is no right (or wrong) time to buy, so trying to keep up with the techie in-crowd is useless as well as expensive.

    And never underestimate the usefulness of your own network – do ask around to check whether she really is “the only one that hasn’t got one”!

    Posted by Alison Morris

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