How to Stop the “I Wants” at the Store

My son always wanted something from every store we went into. He would ask for his favorite cereal or crackers at the grocery store. When at Target or Walmart it was a toy or book. When we would go to the mall it never failed that he would find something he wanted. I almost never gave into his I wants, but they were frequent and I would get angry at times. He almost sounded greedy and I know that was not how we had raised him. I had to do something.

Shopping with your older child can bring on a case of, what I call, the “I wants”. It gets aggravating and can cause children to pout and even throw a fit. Can this be avoided? Why yes it can, there are several things you can do to help your child get through the store without the I wants. Keep reading for several ideas to help.

Getting Rid of the “I Want”

1. Scavenger Hunt: There are 2 ways to do a scavenger hunt for your first grader.
   • My favorite is to give them the coupons and they are on the lookout for those items. This will keep them very focused on what they are looking for. and they are in charge of holding and keeping the coupons for the cashier.
   • Another is to develop a scavenger hunt with things for them to find, read, add, subtract around the store. Sample Scavenger Hunt. Keep a clipboard and pencil in the car so you always have one ready. Kids love to use clipboards (Holding a clipboard means it is harder to pick things up and say I want this.).
2. Guiding you Through the Store: 
   • This takes a little planning before leaving the house. Make a list of the items you need at the store. This can be any for any store.  Then have them tell you which areas or isles you need to go in to get the items on the list. Have them tell you why you are going to that area, what makes them think the item will be there. Give your child the list of things you need to get while at the store. Give them the clipboard so they can mark off the items as you get them off the shelf. With all that thinking and problem solving going on the “I wants” will be few and far between.
3. Using and Helping with Money: 
   • I way to do this takes a little planning and making sure you have some cash (preferably ones and coins for the first grader). Plan the items they need to buy at the store. have them put them in the hand held basket. When they get to the counter they have to buy those items with the money you gave them. They need to count the money to give to the cashier and pay for them as well as make sure they get the correct change. If there is enough left over, once in a while allow them to get a treat with the left over money, don’t make it a habit or it is defeating the purpose of stopping the “I wants”.
   • Using their clipboard, have a paper on it and have them add the cost of two or three item. Have them tell you the bills and coins that would be needed to purchase those items.
4. Reward Good Behavior:
   • If your child doesn’t descend into the “I wants” reward their behavior. NO I am not saying buy them anything. Once in a while allow them to use their extra money for a treat from the store, but do this very minimally. Offer to play a game with them after you get home. Go to the park to play with them. Allow a friend to come over for a play date. maybe allow an extra 10 minutes of screen time. Think of things your child likes to do and use it.