Who doesn’t like this traditional Christmas song?
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas
Everywhere you go
Take a look at the five and ten, it’s glistening once again
With candy canes and silver lanes that glow
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas
Toys in every store…
For parents, it’s a reminder of “shopping”. The five and ten stores may no longer exist, but children begging and having tantrums do. I only wish I had had these tips when my children were little. They have proven to be essential when shopping with my grandchildren.
Tips:
- Leave them at home if at all possible. Don’t believe for one minute that children enjoy “looking”. They enjoy “shopping”. That means “getting stuff”.
- When they ask for something tell them you will add it to the list. Write it down on your phone or take a picture or have your child take a picture of it. Most children never remember there is a list, what’s on it, and they forget about the object as soon as they get home from the store.
- Distraction is a wonderful tool when they start playing with a toy or something, i.e. Lego or toy store; remove them by distracting them to something outside of the store or use the timer on your phone to give them 5 more minutes to look/play.
- Toddlers are cute and parents are tempted to let them out of their stroller. DON’T DO IT! Once they are out for the first time, they never want to ride in it again. Resist the temptation.
- Teach them that after October 1, no toys will be purchased until after Christmas and stick to it every year! They will learn early on that there is no need in asking.