Framing
A friend recently shared a story about a rack of bracelets that were for sale in a gift shop. The bracelets, while beautiful, weren’t high-end, so they had been priced reasonably, and were expected to fly off the shelves. They didn’t. Just out of curiosity, the merchant doubled the price. The bracelets sold like crazy!
While this is clearly an issue of pricing, it is also one of framing, or influencing perceptions. The exact same bracelet was perceived as being more desirable because of a higher price tag!
As a parent, I regard framing as one of the most important tools in my kit:
Broccoli? Those aren’t vegetables, they are trees! Who can eat their forest first?
Or
That isn’t a monster on your wall; it’s a fairy princess. You’re so lucky! Not every girl is special enough to have her very own fairy princess watch over her each night.
Unfortunately, my children are not only on to me, but teaching me a few tricks of their own. Here’s a recent conversation with Kitten:
Kitten (to a 3-year-old friend who was riding with us): “That’s a baby car seat!”
Me: “Kitten, I need you to talk to your friends with kindness.”
Kitten (looking at her friend): “I’m not saying you are ugly, I’m just saying that seat is a baby car seat.”
Clearly, this is a girl who knows how to frame a conversation. Did I mention she’s only 3?
November 6, 2010 at 10:14 pm
I do that too! My kids wouldn’t touch sloppy joes until I told them they were eating “dirt.” Shredded carrots became “worms.”
November 7, 2010 at 3:51 pm
Ha! Dirt and worms – I love it!