Last year R’ Birnbaum had an article riffing on Dennis Prager’s “excitement detoxification” theory (he gave credit to him). No one’s saying to throw out all your toys and let the kids have the fridge box, but there’s a middle ground between the two posters so far. Sometimes everyone really IS doing it. (And don’t hesitate to call everyone to confirm.) But parents can put their feet down, either out of practicality or hashkafa. Under the circumstances there has to be some sort of alternative; or at least, a really good, strong, upbeat family ethos that will make it easy for the child to mekabel.
I’m very curious what the outing is.