“Buy Me Busters” Resources

These resources can help counteract the effects of media marketing on children. For a list of suggestions that can be used to reduce or deflect a child’s urges for the latest advertised toy, read about Buy Me Busters Ideas .

Organizations

  • Peace Educators Allied for Children Everywhere (P.E.A.C.E.)
    55 Frost St., Cambridge, MA 02140, (617) 661-8347;
    www.peaceeducators.org or i1peaceeducators@gmail.com
    P.E.A.C.E., which sponsors this sheet, is a network of parents, teachers, and other concerned individuals who are dedicated to creating a safe world for our children, including the removal of the root causes of violence through peace, justice, and economic opportunity
  • TRUCE: Teachers Resisting Unhealthy Children’s Entertainment
    160 Lakeview Ave.
Cambridge, MA 02138;
    www.truceteachers.org
    TRUCE works to raise public awareness of the harmful influence of unhealthy children’s entertainment, and to provide parents and educators with information about toys and activities for healthy play. TRUCE publishes an annual toy action guide and a media action guide.
  • Campaign for a Commercial Free Childhood
    CCFC, Non-Profit Center, 89 South St., #403, Boston, MA 02111, 617-896-9368;
    www.commercialfreechildhood.org
    CCFC is a coalition of organizations that educate and advocate against the exploitation of children by corporate marketers. CCFC conducts an annual summit and demonstration to oppose the continued intrusion of marketers into children’s lives, and publishes an e-newsletter. See Linn, below
  • Center for a New American Dream
    455 2nd Street SE, Suite 101, Charlottesville, VA 22902; 301-891-3683;
    www.newdream.org  or info@newdream.org
    The Center publishes a number of studies and periodicals “to reduce and shift consumption to enhance quality of life and protect the environment”.  The publications include Tips for Parenting in a Commercial Culture, and the More Fun, Less Stuff bumper sticker.  Free subscriptions to the Center’s e-newsletter are available on the website.
  • Commercial Alert
    P.O. Box 19002, Washington, DC 20036; (202) 387-8030;
    www.commercialalert.org
    Commercial Alert is an advocacy organization, spun off from Ralph Nader’s Public Citizen, that tries to restrain the scope of commercial culture, by preventing it from exploiting children and subverting the higher values of family, community, environmental integrity, and democracy.
  • Alliance for Childhood
    P.P.O. Box 19002, Washington, DC 20036; (202) 387-8030
    www.allianceforchildhood.org;
    The Alliance for Childhood advocates to restore play in children’s lives, especially in nature; to reduce the effect of screen media on children; to eliminate high-stakes testing; to reduce the commercialization of childhood; to teach peace to children; and to reduce childhood obesity.

Books

  • Carlsson-Paige, N., Taking Back Childhood:  Helping Your Kids Thrive in a Fast-Paced, Media-Saturated, Violence-Filled World (Hudson St. Press, 2008)
    An offering of many steps we adults can take to restore the essential building blocks of healthy child development.
  • Levin, D., Beyond Remote-Controlled Childhood:  Teaching Young Children in the Media Age (NAEYC, Washington, DC 2013)
    This valuable book helps teachers, parents, and others make informed decisions about the exposure of young children to screen media and other  marketing aimed at them.
  • Taylor, B., What Kids Really Want That Money Can’t Buy: Tips for Parenting in a Commercial World (Warner Books, NY, 2003)
    The Center for a New American Dream asked America’s children: “What do you want that money can’t buy?” This book includes excerpts from over 2,000 responses from children of all ages to that question, and it also provides resources and strategies for parenting wisely in a commercial world.
  • Kasser, T., The High Price of Materialism (MIT Press, 2002)
    Kasser, an Associate Professor of Psychology at Knox College, offers in this book a scientific explanation of how our contemporary culture of consumerism and materialism affects our everyday happiness and psychological health. He also proposes ways we can change ourselves, our families, and society to become less materialistic.
  • Linn, S., Consuming Kids: The Hostile Takeover of Childhood (Anchor, 2005)
    A call to action to protect children from commercial exploitation that’s taking them over.

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