- Do you think marketers are to blame for kids getting older younger?
Marketers cannot be entirely blamed for the kids getting older younger. Various factors have an impact on the kids that include the impact of friends, siblings and parents that affect the behavior and attitudes of the kids. The exposure of the kids to the commercial television programs, social media and unsuitable adult media also has an impact on the kids. Retail outlets are often to be blamed for the promotion of unsuitable products such as expensive designer brands for boys and padded tops and bras for girls that often lure them to buy these products in order to achieve certain looks . Music and video albums have lyrics and visuals that promote sexuality and violence that have a negative impact on the growth and the development of kids . Children have the risk of being exposed to adult products and marketing campaigns through digital media channels more often than the traditional media such as radio and television .
Marketers cannot be solely blamed for kids getting older, younger, though they do contribute a great deal in influencing the behavior and attitudes of young teenagers through targeted advertising campaigns and products that promote fashion and sexuality in young kids. It is the joint responsibility of the parents and the society as a whole to protect young kids from adult programs and products to ensure that they do not lose the innocence of childhood and adopt adulthood faster. Marketers also need to carefully design products and marketing campaigns that do not mislead the young kids in the name of trendy fashion.
- Give an example of a company that is countering this trend by offering age-appropriate products for children and explain what they are doing.
VTech company has been well-recognized for producing age appropriate and development stage products for electronic learning. The company has been facilitated for its products for infants and pre-schoolers that include Tech's Busy Learners Activity Cube™, Write & Learn Touch Tablet™, Go! Go! Smart Wheels® Airport Playset and Switch & Go Dinos® Turbo T-Rex Launcher . The company has the reputation of producing diverse educational products that both parents and their kids can enjoy together. The company has collaborated with a panel of development experts that play a critical role in the research and development of learning and educational products for kids. The company also advises parents about making informed choices about the kinds of products that may be appropriate for their kids at a particular age.
The efforts of VTech have been instrumental in producing age appropriate products for young children and ensuring a positive impact on the learning and behavioral development of children. In an era when most marketers are targeting young teenagers for marketing campaigns and the impact of provocative, sexual products and fashion products for young kids, the efforts of companies such ass VTech play a constructive role in the development of young kids and provide a positive learning environment that ensures the age appropriate development of young kids.
Works Cited
Fraser, Karen and Josh McBain. "Children and the Commercial World: Exploring the attitudes of children and parents." 2011. http://www.credos.org.uk/write/Documents/Exploring%20the%20attitudes%20of%20children%20and%20parents%20-%20website%20version%20300811.pdf.
VTech. Six VTech® Developmental Learning Toys Awarded The National Parenting Center's Seal of Approval. 22 May 2014. http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/six-vtech-developmental-learning-toys-awarded-the-national-parenting-centers-seal-of-approval-257362301.html. 21 October 2014.
