Looking for Logos

by Sharon Broder

FACT! Counting all the logos, labels, and signs, about 16,000 ads flash into our lives every day. (The Sponsored Life, by Leslie Savan)

Are your kids aware how many people wear advertising products on their clothes?

ACT! The scenario: You and your children are in a public place, surrounded by people wearing everything from Levis to [Ralph] Lauren. The strategy: Ask the kids to see how many logos and labels they can spot on shirts, jackets, hats, shoes, and bags.

The steps

1. Which logos are the biggest and most obvious? Which ones are hard to find? Who can find the most logos on one piece of clothing?
2. Are there logos that you see again and again? Which ones?
3. Try to find people wearing clothes that don't have obvious messages on them. Is it hard to find clothes without logos?
4. If you are wearing something with a logo, talk about how you made that decision. (If you didn't consciously make a decision, explain that, too.) Ask your children questions like these: "Why do you think people like to wear logos? Which logos do you think are the coolest? Are there some that aren't cool? Are there any you wouldn't be caught dead wearing? Do you think companies like the fact that people are walking around advertising their products?"

When your children notice that each logo is essentially a mini ad, they'll be more attuned to those subtle signals that most people never bother to analyze.

More on: Media Literacy