Do you ever think twice before leaving for the store with your toddler? Do you try to sneak out of the house so you can go shopping without your little one? Do you pray as you enter the store that you can get through this trip without a meltdown and buying more than you planned? Shopping with a toddler is not an easy task, but keeping them engaged can help.
When entering the store with a toddler your stomach often knots up and you think to yourself, “Please let me get through this store without a meltdown and no extra money spent.” You know your child is going to wiggle all the way through the store. You know they are going to grab things off the shelf if they can reach them. You know they are going to find things they want and will through a fit if you don’t get it. You know they are going to want to hold everything you get especially the things they cannot hold. How do you make it through? This is often a feat for parents to master and each store brings a new challenge.
Tips for Toddlers at the Store
- Try and plan your shopping trips for a time when your child is not tired or hungry: Tired, hungry toddlers cannot focus on anything but their needs not being met which can lead to a meltdown.
- Try to plan your trip for a time when the store is less busy: Busy stores can lead to over stimulated little ones which can also lead to a meltdown.
- Go with a plan: Either have your trip planned so you can get in and out as quickly as possible or plan to spend time and allow your child to engage with you during the trip.
- Take snacks and drinks: You never know when a quick snack or drink can divert a child and save you from a meltdown.
- Give your toddler a job: Any items that are not fragile hand to your child for them to look at and place in the cart. Allow them to hold onto one or two items if they want to. A busy toddler is a happy toddler.
- Make the trip Educational: Shopping is a wonderful time to interact with and engage your child with learning activities.
- For the youngest toddler, point out numbers, shapes and colors throughout the store.
- For older toddlers, have them find and point out numbers, shapes and colors throughout the store.
- Point out letters on signs and packages:
- Start with letters from their name and tell them the letters are in their name.
- Move onto other letters they know.
- Letters at the beginning of words you can help them recognize the sounds they make.
- Show them packages and tell them what it is. This is learning environmental print and is their first form of reading.
- As they get older have them help you find items in the store using their environmental print reading skills.
- Have them help you decide which item to get where there are choices.
- Should we get the red apples or the yellow apples?
- Should we get Honey Nut Cheerios or Cinnamon Cheerios?
- Reward Good Behavior: No, I am not saying buy them something for behaving! A reward can be as simple as verbal praise: “You did such a great job helping mommy shop today.” It can also being allowing them to sit in the special carts at the store. We will go to the park after we put the groceries away is a reward that keeps giving, it is unencumbered time with you. Don’t think of rewards as what else do I have to buy, make it simple, easy, and free is best.
Shopping is an activity your child needs to get used to. Make it as fun and engaging as you can. This should help make it a more pleasant and less dreaded activity for both of you.
