Sounds like a strange solution, but tweens (8-12 year olds) may be materialistic for reasons you had not realized. A tween is naturally inclined to feel uncertain as they lose the confidence that childhood offers. They start wondering about whether they will be accepted. Will they be popular? They might lose self-esteem and self-confidence, This is why a fitness camp might help because a fitness camp may boost their self-esteem. How does this affect materialism?

The Journal of Consumer Research shared a study that linked materialism and self-confidence and how this varies among age groups. The groups were asked to make collages of the things that bring pleasure to their lives. Tweens aged 11-12 placed more pictures of materialistic things on the collages than pictures of family or goals. The younger groups placed more emphasis on family whereas the older teens placed more emphasis on futuristic goals.

In addition, a test group of the tweens were asked to read a positive message about themselves prior to making the collages. These tweens showed less materialism in their collages. This indicates that with more self-confidence comes less materialism.

Material possessions tend to be used to make up for other areas that the tween may feel are lacking. When they don't have the self-confidence to think that they will be popular based on their own merits, things like Gap clothes or iPhones are used to gain popularity. This isn't necessarily 'new' news, but rather is some empirical evidence to support what we all thought to be true.

You can easily see that by boosting your tweens self confidence levels, you'll be giving them the tools they need to place less value on materialistic things. They will feel better about themselves and be more inclined to use their own natural talents and abilities to gain popularity at school. Fitness camps can help you achieve this in a number of ways.

A fitness camp can help an overweight tween start down a healthier road towards ideal body weight. Girls tend to gain weight during puberty and some of this might be avoided if they begin exercising and eating properly. Many overweight children have lower levels of self-confidence, but once they are empowered to make positive changes, their self-confidence levels soar.

Athletic children also benefit from a fitness camp by learning techniques that will enhance their natural talents. When kids do well in sports, this is a great source of self-esteem, and in fact is one of the biggest benefits of children being involved in organized sports.

By spending the money now on a fitness camp, you might be able to avoid some of those materialistic expenses in the future. Sure, your tween might still want that iPhone or pair of $100 Nike's, but they'll be easier to persuade towards less expensive items because they aren't relying so heavily on the materialistic purchase as they will have the self-confidence to build relationships with peers on their own.

Not only that, but teaching your child to incorporate healthy habits now is a gift that will last a lifetime.