The Triumphant Child - Monday, July 20, 2009
The following ideas will hopefully make your next grocery store trip will be alittle easier.
- Avoid shopping if your young children are tired and hungry. In fact, try to avoid shopping if YOU are tired and hungry.
- If it is available and you like the idea use internet shopping, have your groceries delivered.
- Create a list and be organized so that you are not in the store any longer than you need to be.
- Give
yourself enough time. Children feel stressed when they are rushed, and
this is when the behavior starts to go downhill. I used to try to rush
up and down the aisle with my 1-year old trying to break the shopping
world record. One day I asked myself, "What are you doing?" CHILL! I
decided to slow down. If that meant letting her having a 'turn' at
pushing the cart, or stopping to look at the doggies and kitties on the
packets in the pet food isle, then that is what we did. We were both
less stressed and happier at the end.
- Let them play
-okay- I can hear you thinking, "What is she talking about?" What I
mean is that children are more likely to be cooperative if what they
are doing is fun. I remember spending one whole shopping trip with my
two-year old daughter and her friend crawling behind the cart as cats.
As long as I stayed in character ("Here kitties."), they would do what
ever I wanted.
- Shopping is filled with great learning
opportunities. Try these phrases out: "Could you get the yellow packet,
please?" or "See the one that starts with 'B'?" or "We need the square
box."
- Tell your child ahead of time what type of
behavior you expect. Children cannot read your mind. Spell it out for
them. Will you be buying them a snack or taking one? Let them know
before hand. Do you want your children to take turns at putting items
in the cart? Let them know.
- Involve your child in
shopping by helping to look for certain items, placing items in the
cart, and crossing off items from the list. Children love to help. This
tip can also help the fussy eater. If a child has helped to choose a
food, then she is more likely to eat it.
- Take snacks
and drinks to avoid the inevitable hunger pangs at the sight of all
that food. I always took snacks for my daughter when we went shopping
because I never wanted her to get into the habit of expecting something
every time we went to the store. I do now occasionally get her a treat,
but she doesn't expect one every time.
- To keep your
child safe, stay with them at all times. Keep them seated when in the
cart. If they are young enough, or keep standing in the seat, use the
restraint.
- Visit the toilet or do a diaper change
before you get in to the store. Now I know this does not always
work. If your little one needs a change or to go to the toilet, then
just leave the cart near a check out, and tell a staff member you will
be back. Don't get angry - as frustrating as it is because, as the
saying goes - when you've got to go, you've got to go. I could not
begin to tell you the amount of times this has happened to me.
- Remember to praise your child for good behavior. For example "I really liked the way you are staying close to the cart today".
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