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Question I am asked by moms’
By zaheen | June 17, 2009
Mothers who have young kids, often ask me this question:
“When I go grocery shopping with my toddler and my child wants something, instead of saying ‘I can’t afford it or I don’t have enough money to buy that today’ what else can I say?
My answer:
I have a 4 year old so I completely understand what mothers go through when out shopping. This what I do with my daughter.
There are 2 ways you can deal with this. The first way is prepare your child before going to the grocery and tell them that you are going to buy items for the house that everyone uses and that your child also gets to pick one item only. Remember, young children age 4 or 5 haven’t got a clue about value of goods. I tell my daughter that she only gets to pick one item when we go shopping and it has to be approved by mummy. If she picks two items, I remind her about what we discussed.
A second way to deal with this is to get your child involved in the shopping. Get them to help you create the household shopping list and cut pictures of items from the flyer to make your list. As you make your list explain to your child, the shopping items are for everyone to share in the house. For example, get them to pick out a breakfast item that everyone can eat. Of course, I get asked about kids throwing tantrums whilst shopping and I believe that when you prepare them before going shopping and also get them involved in the task (giving them the power of making choices), there will be less tantrums.
I have used both strategies with my daughter and shopping has been fun rather than a struggle and I haven’t had to use the phrases “we cant afford it” . Some people may now say that I am spoiling my child by giving her everything. Note, I didn’t say give your child what she wants. Do me a favor, put yourself in your child’s shoes. What do you see, hear and feel? I am sure you see great, colorful items and you are just curious to touch everything and feel everything. You are also excited to be in this place to explore and you want everything in the shopping cart!! Do you see where I am going with this? If you prepare your child that he/she only gets one item, approved by you, your child will remember that and this also gives them a sense of independence.
Topics: Law of Attraction |
June 18th, 2009 at 12:10 pm
Great message, Zaheen! I’ll remember that when shopping with kiddies!