I’VE been shouting at the television again. Why not teach your children to do the same? – espcially before Christmas.

Cash-strapped parents are already worrying how they’re going to pay for their children’s presents this year. Lists are getting longer, money’s getting shorter. Many parents are probably still paying for last year. Bills last a lot longer than the presents.

The Mothers’ Union have already called for a ban on Christmas lists because they teach children to be greedy, allows businesses to be exploitative and get parents into a mess.

But really, there’s nothing wrong with Christmas lists – it’s expecting to get everything on them that’s the killer. A little disappointment is very character-forming.

Pester power is a force to be reckoned with, but easier than you think to deal with. You can bankrupt yourselves again. Not recommended. Or you can explain things carefully to your children about the tricky times we’re living in. Or you can push all the blame on Father Christmas and let your children think Santa is a cheapskate.

Or you can teach them to shout at the television.

From the moment you think they’re happily sleeping in their pram in the corner, until they’re hulking great adolescents, children will see millions of adverts. Not to mention what they encounter on websites, Twitter and peer pressure.

So, it’s time to explain the world to them.

Very early on, I taught mine to yell “Rubbish!” at all adverts, especially those aimed directly at them – as more were in those days. Disillusioned?

Too right. They’d soon learned that the magical toys seen in the ads were quite boring really, that super cartoonish breakfast cereal still goes soggy and that corn is just another vegetable.

Once their inner cynics were alerted, there was no stopping them. All adverts were booed, politicians were barracked, soap opera plots were derided.

Television in our house was an interactive spectator sport that made Friday night at the Glasgow Empire seem positively couth.

Of course, it wasn’t completely foolproof, especially when they were teenagers, but their inner cynic was always there, having his say too.

Some campaigners want children protected from commercial pressure, asking that adverts be banned at certain times or from certain programmes or places.

It’s far better to treat it head on as just yet another problem of modern life and give them strategies to cope.

Shouting “Rubbish!” at the television is a good place to start.

True, it might make them a little cynical. But better that than to be the innocent dupe of big business.

Cheaper, too.

MARKS & Spencer’s profits have fallen by ten per cent, with the biggest problem area being women’s wear. Customers have complained about poor quality, strange designs and inconsistent sizing – precisely what we all were moaning about on this page a few months ago.

They’ve now taken on a new team to turn the clothing division round. They could, of course, have just asked us.

AGLASS of wine a day can help beast breast cancer, says a new report. Other researchers have shown that a decent walk every day can add seven years of your life.

So there you are – a brisk walk to the pub is the perfect healthy regime.