ConsumerWatch: Afterschool Program Teaches Savvy Shopping Skills

SAN FRANCISCO (CBS 5) - A new program in the East Bay is teaching kids how to become savvy shoppers at an early age.

Consumer reporter Jeff Blyskal is responsible for the afterschool program.

"The title of the class is how to be smart a consumer kid," Blyskal said. "It's intended to give the kids the skills that they need to learn how to not get ripped-off."

According to Blyskal, industry studies find tweens between the ages of 8 and 14 spend on average $2,047 a-year totaling $43 billion in total sales.

"Advertisers are trying to get that money from your kids and their also trying to get that child to influence you the parent," he said.

The class involves math games and dissecting TV commercials in attempt to identify untruths in advertising.

A recent activity involved comparing strawberry ice cream and a yogurt that claims to taste like a Sunday. According to the children, the commercial was less than accurate.

Currently the program is not part of a regular curriculum. It's an afterschool enrichment program that's making the rounds at some East Bay schools.

(Copyright 2011 by CBSSan Francisco. All Rights Reserved.)