How to deal with your kid's meltown when you're shopping

Whether pleading (not helpful), screaming back (really not helpful), or ignoring the scene entirely (really, really not helpful), most parents will tell you that they live in fear of this moment. No one wants to be the parent of that kid or inconvenience other shoppers. That said, the solutions non-parents come up with aren't usually feasible. Leave the little ones at home every time you go to the store? Can't arrange it or afford it. Don't go into stores, period? Perfect. Can you get me some toilet paper on your way home for the next ten years?

So what can a store-bound parent do? The video below offers some help. Given, it still won't help the mom whose baby hates the supermarket, but just listening to the calm delivery of these basic tips makes me feel a little better about venturing out.



Here are my top three tips that actually seem to work:

1) Arrange to go shopping when your kids are not tired or hungry.

Yes, we adults have learned to ignore the urge to eat when faced with a sale at the GAP, but our kids? They're not so hungry for that great sweater deal.

2) Set expectations

As in: "We will not be buying you the entire toy store and a hot fudge sundae on this trip, Jimmy." (We will not be buying them on the next trip either, but Jimmy doesn't need to get all the bad news at one time.)

3) If they are old enough, have your kids "help" you

Overwhelmed by the dazzling lights and the smell of too many other people? Imagine being half your size. When the hustle and bustle get to be too much, bring the mission back down to size by giving your little one a task. "I'm looking for something blue on this aisle, do you see anything blue?" can go a long way toward keeping tempers in check.