- Narrator: How do you teach your kids to sort through the claims that advertisers make? 
- The basket is still ten feet high. The free throw line is still 15 feet away. 
- Hey, those are the ones Matt has! 
- Narrator: For kids, some products can have near magical powers. 
- But now I'm faster. 
- Matt's got those? 
(mutes TV)
 
- Hey, the sound! 
- Just a minute. So, do you think those shoes make you faster? Did they make Matt faster? 
- I don't know. Maybe? 
- You know, just because it says so in a commercial, doesn't mean that it's true. 
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- Hi, my name is... 
- Narrator: Catchy slogans, famous people, special effects and animation add excitement to TV ads, and a magnetism that may have nothing to do with the product's value. 
§ §
 
- Wha--? Sorry, Coke. 
§ §
 
- Narrator: You can help your kids understand how this works. 
- Okay, so what do you think about this one? 
- It's kinda cool. 
- And what do they want us to buy? 
- I don't know. Oh! There's water bottles! 
- So if I drink that brand, I can do those tricks? 
- Mom! 
- Narrator: Like adults, kids take for granted all sorts of fantastic situations seen in commercials. But though incredible, this advertising magic can create strong connections to brand name products. 
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If you help them critically analyze commercials, kids can become smarter about craving certain products. For example, how believable is the action? What kind of music is used, and what would it be like if you turned it off? Do celebrities use the product? And does that really matter? Will this product make you more popular or happier? Do you really even need this product? 
§ §
 
- It's on me to be faster than the game. 
- Tell me something, Alec. No, seriously, are there any really cool kids in your class? 
- Well, yeah, like Matt. 
- And some who aren't so cool, right? 
- Uh-huh. 
- So if an uncool kids put on those shoes, would he all of a sudden be really, really cool? 
- No way. 
- Narrator: By pointing out some of these advertising tricks, parents can help kids realize that they are being sold. And once they better understand what's happening in commercials, kids have the capacity to become smarter consumers, who can save money, both for you and themselves.