Raising Screen-Smart Spenders: Helping Kids Handle Ads, Influencers, and “Buy Now” Buttons
- Tyler Lavoie
- Jan 26
- 5 min read
When we were kids, you had to walk into a store to feel tempted.
Now the store walks into your living room.
On the tablet.
On the TV.
In the game.
Your child might be watching a cartoon or playing a simple game.
And suddenly a bright button pops up.
“Buy now.”
“Only today.”
“Unlock more.”
Most young kids cannot tell the difference between a show and an ad.
To them, it all feels the same.
Fun.
Fast.
Exciting.
That is why they need more than “No, we are not buying that.”
They need tools to understand what they are seeing.
You do not have to be perfect with screens.
You just have to stay present and teach as you go.
Screens Are the New Toy Aisle
For kids, a screen is not just a screen.
It is a:
Show, game, friend, and toy aisle.
All in one place.
They see:
Toys inside videos
Influencers showing “what I got”
Characters asking them to click
The message is often the same.
“If you had this, you would be happier.”
You cannot stop every ad from reaching them.
But you can help them learn to recognize what an ad is and what it is trying to do.
What Kids Do Not See Yet
Young kids do not know:
That companies pay to put things in front of them
That creators sometimes get money to talk about certain toys
That “Only today” is often just a trick to get them to act fast
They just feel:
“I want that.”
Your job is to gently pull back the curtain.
Not to scare them.
Just to let them see a little more of how it works.
Three Simple Skills For Screen-Smart Spenders
You do not need a full media course.
Three simple habits can make a big difference.
1. Pause
Teach your child that you do not buy from a screen in the moment.
You might say:
“We saw a buy button. Our first step is to pause.”
“We do not tap buy without talking together.”
Even very young kids can learn that pause comes before purchase.
2. Ask
Invite questions and curiosity.
You can say:
“Do you think this is part of the show, or an ad trying to sell us something”
“What do you think this ad wants you to feel”
You can teach a simple phrase:
“This is an ad. Ads are trying to sell us something.”
Over time, your child will start to point out ads on their own.
That is media awareness beginning to grow.
3. Plan
If they still want the item after you pause and ask, move it into a plan.
“If you still want this later, we can put it on your wish list.”
“We can talk about whether this should be a Sweet choice or a Smart choice.”
Now you have moved from impulse to intention.
You are showing them that wants can be written down and revisited, not always satisfied right away.
Using Real-Time Teaching Moments
You do not have to create pretend examples.
You can use what is already on the screen in front of you.
When an ad pops up, you might say:
“This is an ad. See how it is super bright and fast? That is on purpose.”
“They are trying to make this look even more amazing than it might really be.”
“What part of this ad is trying to make you feel like you need it right now?”
If a video shows a child opening toy after toy, you can ask:
“Do you think they bought all of these, or did a company send some to them to show on camera?”
“They are showing toys to make other kids want them. That is part of their job.”
You are not judging the creator.
You are giving your child context.
They start to see that not everything on a screen is simply play.
Some of it is selling.
Setting Simple Screen Money Rules
You do not need a long list of rules.
Just a few clear ones you can keep.
For example:
“We never buy from an app without talking together first.”
“Only grown ups type the password.”
“If you see something you want, tell us. We can write it on your list.”
You might keep a small “Screen Wish List” on paper or on the fridge.
When they say, “I want that,” you can reply:
“Okay. Let us add it to your list.”
Most of the time, the intensity fades.
The list gives their want a place to go, without turning everything into a yes or no battle.
Helping Kids Name Screen Feelings
Screens move fast.
So do feelings.
You can slow things down by naming what they feel:
“That ad made it look really exciting, right?"
“It is hard when you really want something and we say not right now.”
“Sometimes I see things online I want too.”
You are not only teaching about money.
You are teaching them how to:
Sit with wanting
Handle “not yet”
See that not every feeling needs an action
Money and emotion are always connected.
You are helping them connect both in a healthy way.
Making Room For a Few Yes Moments
If every screen moment ends in “no,” kids may push harder.
You can build trust by having some yes moments too, on your terms.
For example:
Choose one day a month where they can use Sweet money on something small from their wish list.
Let them pick a low cost in game item using their own crumbs, with a clear limit.
When kids know there are real times they can say yes with you, it becomes easier to accept “not now” the rest of the time.
You Do Not Have To Be Tech Perfect
You might feel behind.
Like your child can tap, swipe, and click faster than you can keep up.
That is okay.
You do not have to know every app and platform.
You just have to:
Stay curious
Stay involved
Keep talking
Ask them to show you their favorite game or channel.
Watch with them sometimes, even for five minutes.
Use what you see together as your teaching material.
One Screen At a Time, One Conversation At a Time
Screens are not going away.
Ads, influencers, and “buy now” buttons are not going away.
But with your help, your child can grow up seeing screens with clear eyes.
They can learn to:
Pause.
Ask.
Plan.
Instead of:
“I saw it so I need it,”
they can move toward:
“I saw it, I felt it, and I thought about it.”
That is what a screen smart spender looks like.
Not perfect.
Just aware.
One ad at a time.
One “buy now” button at a time.
One conversation at a time.
Remember,
