How to Raise Non-Materialistic Children in Today’s World

Raising non-materialistic children in today’s consumer-driven world is challenging but achievable with mindful parenting.

Materialism among children has been on the rise. Are you worried about your kids and materialism and the constant desire for more?

Discuss the downsides of consumer culture and encourage your children to set non-material goals. Learn how to raise non-materialistic children in today’s world.

Updated on April 25, 2025.

How to raise non-materialistic children

How to Raise a Non-Materialistic Child: 8 Ways to Reduce Materialism in Children

Raising non-materialistic children means fostering values that prioritize experiences, relationships, and personal growth over material possessions. It's about teaching children to appreciate non-tangible things like kindness, gratitude, empathy, and the joy of giving. Children learn to derive happiness from connections, creativity, and meaningful activities rather than consumerism.

To raise a non-materialistic child, focus on fostering gratitude, modeling disciplined spending, and prioritizing experiences over possessions. Limit exposure to advertising, avoid using material goods as rewards or punishments, and teach your child about needs vs. wants. Encourage self-esteem through non-material ways and invest in experiences that create lasting memories.

Let's learn how to raise non-materialistic children in today's tech-driven world. Here are 8 effective ways to reduce materialism in children.

Materialist vs. Non-materialist: What's the Difference?

A materialist is a person who believes that matter is a fundamental substance in nature and that all things, including consciousness and mental aspects, are the results of physical interactions. In idealism, consciousness and mind are the first-class realities to which matter is subordinated. 

In materialism, consciousness and mind are secondary, epiphenomena or sub-products of material processes without which they cannot exist. According to this principle, the material creates consciousness and determines, not vice versa. 

A materialist is highly concerned with the acquisition of wealth or physical comfort and material possessions, rather than with intellectual, spiritual, or cultural values. He considers that matter and physical laws are the most reliable evidence of the nature of consciousness and mind. 

A non-materialist is a person, who is not the main focus on material or physical objects and does not make them his primary pursuit of happiness, only uses the materials and physical things. 

We live in a physical and material world; we have no way of avoiding the "material" assumption and whether everything that exists is “physical” or not. To prove that our pre-hypothesis is true or false, we have to predict it to be done; we have to put it in a logical circular loop just like a confirmed bias.

So we have no choice but to use different things in our daily lives. Perhaps the word "use" rather than "love" should be emphasized. In the case of people, maybe we should try and "love" material objects and be careful not to "use" them. 

To describe oneself as a "non-materialist" can easily seem like taken to others who are well closed. We are all fairly materialists, but most of us will willingly sacrifice any material thing we own to ensure the survival of a family member and the safety without any hesitation.

What Makes Children Materialistic?

There are two things that affect materialistic children. The first is clear: intentionally or not, we socialize adults to be materialists.

When children find their parents, peers, and celebrities-models with materialism, they have more tendencies to be seduced by wealth and luxury. So when parents are materialistic, children are likely to follow the suit. The same thing is watching television regularly: the more TVs they watch, the more likely they are to be materialists.

The less obvious factor behind materialism is to do with the degree to which our needs are being met.

When people feel unfulfilled or insecure - due to poverty or because of basic psychological necessities like safety, qualifications, engagement, or autonomy that is not being fulfilled - they often try their best to make money and to remove the fear of insecurities by trying for wealth and many fancy things.

Because of this, relatively poor teenagers are more materialistic than ironically rich ones. And there are more materialistic children in low nutrition and more emotionally cool moms.

Therefore, materialism that leads to collecting brand-name cloth and luxury items can cause symptoms of insecurity and rival strategy used to reduce the feelings of self-doubt or to remove poor self-image. 

But if children are really demanding then there is more happiness and fulfillment, materialism is a terrible combat method. Best of all, it will provide only short-term relief; for a long time, it can really deepen the feelings of insecurity.

If you are a parent, you may be worried that materialism is increasing among your children.

According to research, materialism has different mental health problems, such as dealing with anxiety and depression, as well as selfish behavior and attitude. 

Social media influence on materialism

Materialism is not new suspense but can be increasingly difficult. These days children would covet games and toys as they see their friends playing with or were advertised on TV.

Now, children have to face ongoing restrictions and a constant barrage of advertising on the Internet, from social media to web advertisements and even YouTube videos of other children playing with new toys and games. And if your children use Smartphones, tablets or laptops, many games, and apps in the form of advertisements are appearing on the screen for engagement. 

The negative effect of a high materialist child can be far-reaching - it can be a distraction from studies, financial stress on parents, and more important social and developmental activities in children, and can set unrealistic expectations for adulthood.

So how can we overcome the power of continuous advertising in the digital age, and how can we prevent materialism in our children?

How to Avoid Raising a Materialistic Child?

How to raise non-materialistic children

Avoiding raising a materialistic child involves instilling values that emphasize experiences and relationships over possessions.

Lead by example by prioritizing meaningful connections rather than material acquisitions. Encourage gratitude by teaching children to appreciate what they already have.

Limit exposure to advertisements and media that promote consumerism. Focus on rewarding effort and personal growth with praise rather than gifts.

Introduce the joy of giving through acts of charity and volunteering. Share the importance of experiences, such as family activities and creative pursuits, over buying new items.

Open conversations about needs versus wants, helping them develop thoughtful consumption habits and grounded values.

New Study Finds Gratitude-Based Parenting Can Reduce Materialism in Teens

A groundbreaking study published in the Journal of Positive Psychology reveals that certain parenting techniques can help reduce materialistic tendencies in children. Conducted by researchers from the University of Illinois at Chicago and other institutions, the study highlights how fostering gratitude can have a powerful impact on adolescent values and behavior.

The research involved over 900 adolescents aged 11 to 17 from across the United States. Scientists discovered a strong connection between gratitude and lower levels of materialism, suggesting that encouraging expressions of gratitude may not only reduce a focus on material possessions but also promote generosity among teenagers.

In the study, 870 teens were first surveyed using an eight-item questionnaire to measure materialism, along with a four-item scale assessing their sense of gratitude. To further explore the findings, an experiment was conducted with a group of 61 adolescents. These participants were randomly divided into two groups for a two-week journaling exercise.

One group kept a daily gratitude journal, recording who and what they were thankful for each day. The control group, on the other hand, kept a daily activity journal, simply noting their daily routines without focusing on gratitude. After the two-week period, both groups completed the same materialism and gratitude assessments.

Participants were then given ten $1 bills and asked whether they would like to donate any portion to charity or keep the money for personal use. The results were telling: the teens who kept gratitude journals showed a significant increase in gratitude and a noticeable decrease in materialism. This group also donated more than two-thirds of their money to charity. In contrast, the control group showed little to no change in attitude and donated less than half of their earnings.

Researchers concluded that simple gratitude practices, such as keeping a gratitude journal or engaging in daily reflection, can positively shape a child’s mindset. They recommend integrating these habits into family life through activities like gratitude reflections during dinner, creating “gratitude posters,” or using “gratitude jars” to inspire consistent thankfulness and combat materialism in kids and teens.

This study provides valuable insights for parents seeking effective ways to nurture generous, grounded, and emotionally healthy children.

8 Ways to Reduce Materialism in Children

Reducing materialism in children involves fostering values that prioritize experiences, relationships, and gratitude over possessions. Here are some suggestions for raising less materialistic children:

1. Give children a regular allowance, and a place to keep it. Divide the money into three categories - giving, saving and spending,
2. Make a clear distinction between needs and wants.
3. Teach your children to recognize that they get the wishes of advertising like material things.
4. Discuss family financial situations - Your children need to understand how your expenses and income affect them, and how their expenses and waste spending affect your family.
5. Continue the conversation of money - their income, expenditure, and physical interests will change over the years, so it will also be needed along with their views.
6. Find a consultant - The person who has a financial memorial and manages to maintain a good balance between need, desire, and expense.
7. Spend more time on your children than money - Try to be careful to spend time with those things for which there is no cost: go to the park and museum, ride the bike.
8. Be careful of TV commercials and other media programs. Fortunately, now it is easier than ever to avoid ads because seeing things is more standard than in the past. You can also establish a culture in your family that there is a privilege of TV, computer, phone, game, etc., is not correct, and you retain the right to control access to children and look at things like text history. As an added bonus, there is more time for talking without many media families, and parents learn better what is going on in the developing minds of their children.

So if you think that your children are getting slightly upset with physical assets, then try these eight strategies.

Final Thoughts

Raising non-materialistic children in today’s world requires intentional parenting that emphasizes values over possessions.

By modeling non-materialistic behavior and encouraging gratitude, parents can help children appreciate the importance of relationships and experiences.

Limiting exposure to consumer-driven media, prioritizing shared activities, and fostering the joy of giving through charity or volunteering instill a deeper sense of fulfillment beyond material gain.

Teaching financial responsibility and encouraging thoughtful decision-making about needs versus wants further develops a grounded perspective.

Ultimately, guiding children to focus on intrinsic happiness and personal growth equips them to resist the allure of consumerism. Such an approach prepares them to lead balanced, meaningful lives, centered on connections and contributions rather than possessions.

In nurturing these values, parents help their children navigate the complexities of modern society while remaining grounded and inspired by what truly matters. The result is emotionally resilient and mindful individuals who find joy in life's deeper aspects.