Let’s go shopping!
13/02/2018
One thing that parents know is that going shopping with our kids can be exhausting! But sometimes we just can’t avoid it. The thought of kids running through the store, packages falling off the shelves, tantrums and screams...is truly daunting …. mission impossible!
What can we do to survive our shopping experience with our kids? Here is what we suggest.
Firstly, the time must be right. If you go shopping when your child usually has his nap or a meal, there is a very good chance he is going to throw a tantrum. If you decide to go shopping after nursery school, go home first for a quick snack and a nap. If you can’t, take a snack with you: that way your child won’t want all the snacks he sees on the store shelves.
Another thing you want to avoid is your child running through the store at top speed. If your child is small enough, sit him on the seat in the shopping cart. Toddlers who are walking confidently will probably get tired of sitting still in a narrow seat. So you need to teach your child that he must walk next to Mummy and Daddy and that he mustn’t run around the store or shout, but speak normally.
You can also ask your child if he wants to hold your hand or use one of the baby carts provided by the store. By letting him choose, you child will feel like a "big boy or girl"!
To stop him asking for sweets and toys, that may end up in a tantrum in the store, you should tell him before you leave exactly what he can have and what he can’t have. If your child knows that there is something special for him on the shopping list, he probably will not ask to have everything he sees!
Children tend to be naughty when they get bored. So keep them entertained even when you go shopping by giving him simple things to do or playing simple games.
For example, ask your child to take products off the shelf and give them to you or put them in the cart. It is sometimes difficult to stop your child from touching products on the shelves, so you as a parent should always be ready to control and guide him.
Your shopping will take a little longer but if your child is happy, going shopping becomes a happier experience for everyone.