Christmas shopping survival
In the countdown to Christmas all families shopping at supermarkets, department stores and shops all over the country with children, especially young children, know the experience can sometimes be trying and highly stressful.
However here are our own top tips and views that can change a potential misery into relatively sane shopping trip with the kids.
The Top Tip
Always Always Plan Ahead...
Check Out your Child
On the way clearly explain your rules
At The Shops
Give children some choices
Give your child a responsibility
Always Praise your child for good behaviour
"You are being so helpful. Well done" A hug can be reassuring and say more than words at times.
Remember: children will be children they are not perfect, and of course, neither are we, but we are the adults....
However here are our own top tips and views that can change a potential misery into relatively sane shopping trip with the kids.
The Top Tip
Always Always Plan Ahead...
Check Out your Child
- Is your child too tired, hungry or bad tempered to shop? and more importantly Are you? If yes, postpone your trip!
- Go when you are rested, and when your child is rested. Don't wait until the end of a tiring day, preferably try to make a fresh early start....
On the way clearly explain your rules
- Make your expectations clear to your child eg "Stay close and hold my hand at all times"
- "Please don't shout while we are in the shops" "No pestering for sweets/toys"
- However do agree on a reward for good behaviour Keep the reward simple eg favourite sweets, a stop at the park, a new toy.
- Remember to pack a nutritious snack
- Bring a story book for the child to look at, and keep a supply of little action figures or small manipulative toys handy.
- Bring a favourite blanket, toy or book from home to help make the child feel secure. For a small child, tie a soft toy to the handle of the shopping trolley of push chair.
At The Shops
- Make a game out of shopping - Who can see the bananas? Who can see the potatoes first? Let's count all the people with umbrellas? Let's see how many B's you can find on signs. Let's guess how much something is going to cost?
- Make up a silly song or poem
- Play "I see something" - Then ask your what it is. Give hints to challenge the imagination.
- Discuss the pictures on the package
- Find five things that start with the letter B, are red, are for eating, etc.
- Count how many steps it takes to get from one aisle/shop to the next
- All of these can act as distractions, so as to hopefully get the shopping down quicker
Give children some choices
- When possible, allow your them to make some decisions. Blue or red socks? Chocolate or vanilla ice cream?
- However always be prepared to bargain or compromise!
Give your child a responsibility
- Help select the hardest apples, find the cheapest green beans, match the coupons with the labels.
- If the child is old enough, let him or her check the list or decide see which fruit, cheese, socks pens etc. are the best bargain.
Always Praise your child for good behaviour
"You are being so helpful. Well done" A hug can be reassuring and say more than words at times.
Remember: children will be children they are not perfect, and of course, neither are we, but we are the adults....
- Ignore inappropriate behaviour unless it becomes dangerous, destructive, annoying to others, or truly embarrassing. Don't let the child think that you will allow him or her to misbehave in public.
- Remove a child who is out of control. Take him or her out of the store. Tell the child quietly, eye-to-eye that the behaviour is absolutely unacceptable.
- Wait, saying nothing at all, for the child to calm down. Then ask if he or she is ready to try again.
- Go home if the child cannot calm down. If the shopping cannot wait, find a sitter and return alone.
- Tell the child you will have to leave him or her at home next time-then do it.
- Don't ever buy the child a treat when he or she has thrown a fit and misbehaved