Most years, you do your Christmas shopping alone. But suddenly your babysitter has the flu, and your spouse has a work commitment. It’s up to you, then, to both shop for Christmas and keep track of your kids. This is no easy feat, but it can be accomplished with fewer tantrums as possible. Read on to learn more:
Bring a backpack filled with essentials
Christmas shopping can take the whole day, and at some point during that day, your kids may get tired, thirsty, hungry, or bored. This is often where many of the tantrums and outbursts begin. So, make sure you’re prepared by bringing a backpack full of essentials while you’re shopping. This should include the following:
- Snacks
- Water bottles
- Phones, games, toys, and/or video games for your children to play with
Share your expectations
Younger kids may not know the proper rules and etiquette of shopping malls. So, it’s important to lay down some ground rules and share your expectations with your kids. Remind them that they cannot scream, shout, or run around in a shopping mall. Additionally, they need to stay by your side at all times. If they understand this, then they’ll be less likely to act out.
Reward them at the end
Shopping can take a lot out of even the most well-behaved child. So, be sure to reward your kids at the end of the day with a trip to their favorite store or restaurant. You can even tell them in the beginning that if they behave well, then they’ll be rewarded.
As you’re shopping, keep an eye out for what your kids seem interested in, as this can help you shop for them as well! If you notice them wandering towards the stuffed animals, then be sure to get them a lovable, stuffed animal from The Zoo Factory! Look through our shop today to get started.
