How it works
An ad is a message made so that you want something and buy it.
A paid presenter is still an ad. The tag says ad, sponsored, paid or partner, but it can be tiny.
Ads show the best bits and use tricks to make a want grow.
Wanting is normal. A want only needs a pause.
Worked examples
Captain Zip
- Captain Zip said, With Spring shoes you can jump over a house!
- A tiny tag in the corner said ad, so a company paid him.
- Hugo and Lena jumped about as high as a cushion in their old shoes.
- An ad shows the best bits and leaves out the cushion hop.
Two tricks
- A hurry trick says only today, to rush you before you can think.
- A crowd trick says everyone has one, so you feel left out.
- A want can be real, so give it a few days.
Three days
- On day one Hugo still wanted the shoes.
- On day two he still did, but a little less.
- On day three he built a fort with Lena and forgot them, so the fizzy feeling was gone.
A taste of the worksheets
These are some of the questions on the sets. The printable sheets have more and an answer key.
- A banner says: 'Everyone has one! Get yours!' Which trick is that? ⏰ A hurry trick / 🎁 A kind surprise / 👥 A crowd trick
- An ad is made so that you want something and ___ it.
- Which one is NOT made to sell? 🎟️ A video that says use my code / 🏷️ A sign for a shoe sale / 📚 Tortoise facts from a library book
- Fix the mistake. Hugo says: 'The presenter loves the shoes, so they must be the best.' What is better? 🛒 Buy them today / ⏸️ He may be paid, so pause and ask a grown-up / 📣 Tell friends they are the best
- Stretch. Why was buying new shoes later different from wanting the Spring shoes? ✨ The new shoes glowed / 📺 An ad told him to / 👴 His old shoe had a hole, and he compared pairs with Opa
Words to know
- ad
- A message made to sell something.
- sponsored
- Paid for by someone, so it is made to sell.
- influencer
- Someone many people follow. Some are paid to show things.
- crowd trick
- Saying everyone has one.
Watch out for
- A happy face, lots of likes or a friendly voice do not tell you whether something is an ad.
- Do not buy at once or tap a buy button. Pause and ask a grown-up.
- Do not type in the family card yourself. Ask a grown-up.
- Ads are not all bad. They can tell you a good thing exists. You are never in trouble for asking about a want.
Try it
A video has a tag that says ad. What does that tell you?
Someone paid for it. An ad is made to sell.
A banner says Only today! Which trick?
A hurry trick. It rushes you before you can think.
Which is NOT made to sell: a shoe sale sign or tortoise facts in a library book?
The library book. A book of facts is for reading.
What is a good plan when an ad makes you want something?
Spot it, pause, wait a day, ask a grown-up. Many wants get smaller.
For grown-ups
Ask a grown-up to watch a video or show with you, spot every ad you can find, and say how each one tries to make you want things.
Watch one video together and spot every ad. Say how each one tries to make a want grow, and use a wait-a-day rule for things they ask for.