Explaining boycotting to children

My 5 year old and I were shopping for breakfast cereals today. She wanted Shredded Wheat and I said "NO, it's by Nestle and we don't buy Nestle products". When she asked why I absentmindly blurted out "Because they are baby killers" which i instantly regretted as she looked very shocked and upset

So how do you explain boycotting? And how do you tell your child that they can't have THAT chocolate and THAT icecream, but the other is okay? My Jewish friend would explain unkosher as "dirty" to her children. I'm thinking of explaining to her that Nestle stop mothers from breastfeeding and that makes babies sad, as she could relate to that having a boobie monster of a sister.

What do you do?

I've kept it simpler when questions arise in the supermarket/public, I'll explain more later if they ask when we're at home (which they haven't really). With Nestle I just say that I don't agree with a lot of things that they do and I don't want them having our money to do more of it, or similar. If they want me to go into it more then I'll sit down and explain simply the truth as I see it.

Ahhhhh, yes, I've had to explain this one a few times

I use the fact that a LOT of their products are bad for us to eat anyway, so I project them in the light of being a manufacturer of mainly unhealthy foods. Obviously the foods that are healthy (the good cereals) throws a spanner in the works with that reasoning, so I raise how they have some horrendous practices in developing countries that leads to unnecessary deaths in tragically high numbers

Give DD lots of hugs and I'm sure you're absolutely right that she'll relate to the breastfeeding stuff You're not alone in having blurted out something that conveyed your feelings instead of something LO's can grasp.

Over time I've used such pearlers as:

DS2: mum, can we have some of the cookie crisp cereal?
DS1: No, it's not even real cereal and its Nestle!
DS2: oh yeah, mum, why don't we buy Nestle?
Me: Because they are eviiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiil bad people who want your teeth to rot and fall out, can you put some wheat bisks in the trolley please matey?

Me: (exasperated in supermarket coffee aisle) I can't find the ethically enhanced coffee, I'm surrounded by disgusting nestle aaaaarg...where's the Fairtrade?
DS1: but that says nescafe not nestle mum
Me: ahhhhhh, but they have many guises they sneak behind to trick people!!!!!
DS1: do they!?!
Me: yes, yes they do
DS1: like what?
Me: like pretending to poor people in developing countries that formula milk is better for their babies than breastmilk
DS1: well thats a lie isn't it!
Me: yes, but they tell lies all the time and because of their lying babies die, about 5 million a year actually....
DS1: that's horrible, I don't really like kitkats anymore...

i have never tried to explain boycotting...but explaining kosher i have a LOT of experience of!!!
Taneli is just told that he cannot have something because we dont eat that...why? because we are jewish and HaShem (G-d) says that we are not allowed...why? because there is soemthing in it which would not be good for us, and HaShaem does things to try to look after us...why? ...'ask Daddy when he comes home!' (David always explains everything far better than i ever could!)
I have to say that i would never explain non-kosher things as 'dirty' cos he knows so many people who are not jewish or dont keep kosher, and i wouldn't want him to think that they were doing something icky! He is strating to understand that different people do different things...and thats ok...but in the idea of boycotting...its doesn't make it ok for someone else to do it either!
i supppose that doesn't help really!
hope you find a good way

I have been very honest with my 9 year old who has even turned down a prize of a kitkat at school as it was made by nestle and "educated" her teachers on the boycott.

I started of explaining that the company was run by people who were only concerned about money and this meant they did things that hurt other people, as she got older she asked more questions and now her favourite thing to do is to tut loudly in supermarkets when other people by nestle and say do they not know nestle kill babies mom???

my two younger children seem to have taken it on organically and don't even ask for stuff produced by nestle.

although what i wouldn't give for some mint matchmakers stupid nestle!!!!!

Toni x

My Jewish friend would explain unkosher as "dirty" to her children. I'm thinking of explaining to her that Nestle stop mothers from breastfeeding and that makes babies sad, as she could relate to that having a boobie monster of a sister.

What do you do?

I think you have it it on the head with the explanation of Nestle, I think that is all that is needed if that is the reason you aren't buying it.

I don't like the idea of referring to things as dirty as that makes it seem like others are doing something nasty by eating it and that isn't the case really is it?

My Jewish friend is always embarrassed when her 3 year old demands sausages! It is quite hard for them to understand at such a young age.

Can some one explain to me the nestle thing please, perhaps I have had my head buried in the sand as I don't know anything about this

:oops: Can some one explain to me the nestle thing please, perhaps I have had my head buried in the sand as I don't know anything about this

This explains it perfectly

:oops: Can some one explain to me the nestle thing please, perhaps I have had my head buried in the sand as I don't know anything about this

The were reknowned for promoting formula milk to women in 3rd world countries. Which was a crime when breast milk is free and many of these women didn't have clean water to make up the milk