“A new dress doesn’t get you anywhere; it’s the life you’re living in the dress, and the sort of life you had lived before, and what you will do in it later.”
—Diana Vreeland

This video is the 1st in a series about avoiding beliefs or habits that make us unhappy from The Raising Happiness Homestudy. In it, I discuss the causes and consequences of materialism in our children, and what we can do about it. Check out the rest of the Homestudy here. 

Two Tips for Raising Children Who are NOT Materialistic

(1) Identify how you might be communicating materialistic values to your kids and make a plan to stop doing that. What do you want to stop saying in front of them? Then, talk with your kids about materialism and how it makes us unhappy. Ask: Do you think a bigger house would make you happier? Why or why not? Talk about the things that ACTUALLY DO make you happy in life.

(2) Set limits around media. Perhaps you’ll decide that there will be no screen time during the school week, or on Wednesdays, or until homework is done, etc. Then, fill that time with activities that actually can make you or your family happier, such as a family board game.

If you would like to download the audio version of this video to listen to in your car or on the go, click the link below. DOWNLOAD THE AUDIO VERSION HERE.