Do You Buy The Children all the Gadgets They Want?

Mums and Dads have become ‘Give-In’ parents whereby they buy their children gifts whenever they ask for them, rather than making them wait until they have ‘earned’ the right to have the gift. Are you such parents? Do you agree with this style of parenting?

Research by Skipton Building Society shows that parents spend almost £500 a year making sure their children ‘fit in’ at school, feeling compelled to buy them exactly the same toys, clothes and gadgets as their friends.

A staggering 60% of parents buy the latest trends and collectables as soon as they are asked for, deserved or not. Some 17% say they do this to avoid their children being disappointed that they can’t keep up with the friends and have what they perceive to be the best of everything.

Another reason for splashing out on gifts is that parents feel guilty for working long hours. They also do so as bribery and encouragement for doing homework.

Tracy Fletcher, Head of Corporate Communications, said: “Parents are naturally concerned about their children having strong friendships, and feeling part of their peer group both in and out of school.

“And if they think they can help the child become more popular, they will.

“Unfortunately, this seems to mean spending endless amounts of money on playground crazes, collectables, latest trends in fashion and gadgets.

“This instant gratification could have consequences in the future, though, as children will grow up without grasping the real value of money, or learning how to manage it effectively.”

According to the research, the top ‘Give In’ purchases, split by age, are

AGE 5-9                                    AGE 10-12                                AGE 13-15

Ben 10 toys                             Clothes                                    iPhone

Nike trainers                          iPhone                                     Mobile phone

Moshi monsters                       Xbox games                          All computer games

Lego                                    Football boots                        DVDs

Magazines                               iPod                                       iPad

Football stickers                      Books                                      Mobile phone apps

Adidas trainers                      Gadgets                                   Blackberry

Nintendo DS games              PS3 games                              Nike trainers

Computer games                    Dr Who toys                           Clothes

Sweets                                  Magazines                              Adidas trainers

Over half of mums and dads claim their child is much more spoilt than they were at their age and, in the past, their parents would only have treated them to new toys and games for birthdays and Christmas.

Many believe their children must have televisions in their bedroom, handheld games consoles, laptops and smart phones.

It’s not just abut buying gifts though. Parents are also forking out hundreds of pounds on pocket money with children as young as five are receiving more than £2.50 a week, and just under a fiver for teenagers.

Tracy continued: “We’ve been living through a credit crunch for four years now which, although difficult, could also result in youngsters better understanding how important it is to spend and save money wisely.

“As with many things in life, however, while a quick fix like buying a gift or treat might provide a temporary solution to an issue, it could also give rise to greater problems in the future.

“Although saying no can be really hard, it’s an important lesson in life which could help ensure our children are prepared for when they’re older and have to make ends meet for themselves.”

Page 1 of 2 | Next page