ABSTRACT
Children need many opportunities to build an increasingly sophisticated repertoire of actions they can use to influence their social world; these are represented in the first two situations. In the third situation, however, the bells and whistles of the push-button toy deprive the baby of chances to develop the motivation and skills for connecting with self or others. Vast sums of money are spent every year selling products to children and their parents. The products are usually created to make money, not necessarily to promote the well-being of children. The media and commercial cultures make children’s interactions with objects and people more rote and programmed. In the past, children had more opportunities for social interactions through which they could the feel and observe the effects of their behaviour on others. The marketing to girls of sexualized appearance also influences their behaviour and relationships. Aggressive commercial culture makes the process of parenting and enabling secure attachments with children difficult.
