Researchers report in the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine that children as young as two years old mimic their parents’ smoking and drinking habits. (Forbes, September 6, 2005)

When told to “shop” at a doll grocery store,

  • Children were nearly four times as likely to buy cigarettes if their parents smoked
  • They were three times as likely to choose wine or beer if their parents drank alcohol at least once a month.
  • Kids who were allowed to view PG-13 or R-rated movies were five times as likely to choose wine or beer while shopping than kids restricted to watching G-rated movies.

Since we don’t smoke or drink, I think if Stephen were asked to go shopping, he’d probably buy some cake and gummy candies first. And if it were a store that had non-food items, he’d probably pick up some DVD’s too and maybe a laptop for himself.

What do you think your kids would buy at the pretend store?

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Today foot fashion is big. Toddler shoes come in the same styles as adult styles.  In the 1980’s it was difficult to find an infants shoe in anything besides the traditional strapy white leather shoe.