Tag Archives: shopping with kids

Do’s and Dont’s: Holiday Shopping with Preschoolers

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Although we’d all probably like to leave our young children at home when we go shopping, this is not always possible.  So what can we do to make sure our holiday shopping trips with preschoolers go as smoothly and safely as possible.  Many of the following tips are from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and they are valuable to remember all year-long, not just during the holiday season.

DO’S FOR HOLIDAY SHOPPING WITH PRESCHOOLERS

  • Do keep children with you at all times.
  • Do accompany and supervise children in public restrooms.
  • Do have a plan in case you become separated…just like a fire safety plan which should be discussed at home and practiced routinely.
  • Do teach your child to look for people who can help…a uniformed security officer, salesperson with a name badge or another mother with children.
  • Do remind children to remain in the area where they became separated…there is a wonderful picture book story that addresses this issue…DON’T WORRY, I’LL FIND YOU by Anna Grossnickle Hines.  When Sarah and her mother go the mall to buy Sarah some clothes, Sarah insists on taking her doll.  When Sarah realizes she has left her doll at one of the stores, she runs to find it.  Now, however, she doesn’t know where her mother is.  Sarah remembers her mother’s instructions to “stay put” and so she remains  at the toy store and soon mother and child are reunited.  Read this story with your preschooler before your shopping trip and discuss the plan of action in case you become separated.

DON’TS FOR HOLIDAY SHOPPING WITH PRESCHOOLERS

  • Don’t dress children in clothing that displays their first or last name…this may give strangers an opportunity to start a conversation with your child.
  • Don’t leave children in the toy area of a store expecting store personnel to supervise your child while you shop in another area of the store.
  • Don’t allow young children to shop on their own to purchase gifts for friends or family members.
  • Don’t shop with your child if you feel you will be distracted.  Try to make other childcare arrangements…perhaps you and a friend who also has young children can take turns watching the children while the other goes shopping for a morning or afternoon.
  • Don’t allow children to push the shopping cart if there is a younger sibling in it…and don’t allow children to hang on the cart, even if it is empty…too many accidents occur when shopping carts tip over.

For busy parents, online shopping can be wonderful option this holiday season.  You can do it in the evening when the children are sleeping and avoid the crowds and parking hassles.  If you do go out shopping with your children, keep these tips in mind.  You’ll be glad you did!  If you need a gift for a parent, grandparent, teacher or babysitter of a preschooler, I’d like to suggest my newly published book, SHOW ME HOW! BUILD YOUR CHILD’S SLEF-ESTEEM THROUGH READING, CRAFTING AND COOKING.  This great resource pinpoints 100 picture books every young child should hear and provides a story summary, parenting tip, eco-friendly craft project and child-friendly healthful cooking activity for each recommended title.   If you are looking for fun-filled, educational, self-esteem building activities, check it out. http://amzn.to/9taz9u

5 skills every preschooler should learn

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I noticed an article on MSN’s home page about skills teenagers should master as they approach the age when they will leave home to go away to school or out on their own to work.  I think it is a big mistake to wait till our children are teenagers to teach them these important life skills.  Except for car maintenance, every single skill can and should be introduced and taught to our preschoolers.  I think back to my own childhood and am saddened to realize that my mother did not  expect me or my sister to help clean the house (although she did suggest it once or twice) and we were not taught to balance a checkbook or keep to a budget.  She cooked all of the meals and did not teach us to cook, plan menus or shop for ingredients. 

What are those life skills that every child should begin to master at an early age?

  • CLEANING THE HOUSE: show your child what to do and let him help…of course, if you are using toxic cleansers, perhaps you can switch to more eco-friendly (and child-friendly) green cleaning solutions.  Check out one of my earlier posts for some simple suggestions.
  • DOING THE LAUNDRY: even a toddler can help sort items for the laundry…darks and lights for example…putting dirty clothes in the hamper…folding towels…matching socks…what great opportunities for science and math experiences!
  • COOKING: little ones LOVE to help in the kitchen…measuring, mixing, learning about what ingredients go into making various meals and accompanying you to the store to discover that green bananas should be yellow with spots if we want them to taste sweet and what a ripe melon smells like.
  • MANAGING MONEY: every young child should have a piggy bank where allowances (if your family does that) and money earned or received as gifts are kept…it’s easy for kids to “want” everything…but life is about making choices and that is a part of money management that little ones can be taught…if Johnny wants something that costs $1.00 and he only has 50 cents in his piggy bank, he will have to “earn” the rest or wait until he has enough by saving allowance or gift money.  Older children should learn to balance a checkbook!
  • MAKING APPOINTMENTS AND MANAGING A DAILY SCHEDULE: you can make a chart that shows the daily schedule…breakfast time, lunch time, doctor’s appt, playdate, bedtime…use pictures cut from magazines to help your child identify what is happening during the day…young children feel less stressed when they know what to expect and what is expected from them…for children who have trouble settling down and getting ready for bed, this might be a life-saver!

So, don’t wait to start teaching your child these important life skills…begin when he is a preschooler and life may be much smoother in your home as your child grows up.  He or she will definitely thank you…self-sufficiency and mastering tasks and skills are cornerstones in the foundation of high self-esteem.

Tips, tactics and tools for shopping with preschoolers

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Do you dread going shopping with your preschooler?  It doesn’t have to be a nightmare…although it does take some planning and prep work.  Here are some ideas that may help you and your child enjoy future trips to the market and beyond!

  1. Talk with your child beforehand about where you will be going and what you will be doing.  If your child helps you with meal preparation (which is an awesome way to build self-esteem: mixing, pouring, and measuring ingredients develops confidence and competence), you can discuss what items you will need to purchase.  If your child feels involved in the process, he/she will be more likely to enjoy helping you find what is needed.
  2. Talk to your child while shopping, pointing out colors (how many different color apples do you see?), shapes (do you see the big round sign? what shape is the cereal box?), and other items of interest.  Elicit responses from your child (how many pumpkins are on the shelf?). 
  3. Prepare a small backpack or drawstring or canvas bag with: a small bag of a favorite dry cereal or homemade trail mix to munch on; a non-spill cup of water or juice; a few crayons and a notebook of blank paper; a small board book or small game with moving parts…but not removable pieces that might get lost.  I don’t know why a lot of parents think a small child should be happy just sitting in the shopping cart, doing NOTHING, for a few minutes or, sometimes, a few hours.
  4. Oh yes, and on the subject of SHOPPING CARTS: if you are using one of the shopping carts provided by the store, please don’t forget to clean it out before putting your child in it.  Many times a previous shopper has left used tissues or other items that you would not want your child touching.
  5. Carry some of those anti-bacterial wipes with you…although many stores are now providing them near the carts…so that you can wipe down the surfaces of the cart where your child might put his mouth or hands.  You can purchase a ready-made shopping cart cover that fits into the seat area and covers all the surfaces and can be tossed in your washing machine.
  6. Make sure your child is seated securely and belted in.
  7. Please, please don’t allow an older brother or sister to pull or climb on the cart while the younger child (or baby) is in it…or even when it is empty.  It is scary and dangerous for all concerned when a shopping cart tumbles over.
  8. It is hard to believe that I feel I have to mention this…but since I see it all the time in grocery and department stores, I guess I will have to:  NEVER LEAVE YOUR CHILDREN UNATTENDED EVEN FOR ONE SECOND…BECAUSE THAT IS ALL THE TIME IT TAKES FOR THEM TO DISAPPEAR.  The other day I was shopping and a little girl about 4 years old was wandering around, looking for her mother.  I brought her to the service desk and they called the mother’s name over the intercom…no response!  I asked the child what her mother was wearing and located the woman who was talking to her shopping companion and hadn’t even noticed that her child had disappeared for over five minutes.  She thought someone else was watching her…the other person thought she was.  So, even if your little one does not like to sit in the cart, unless you will constantly hold his/her hand, the cart is the safest place.

I hope with all those warnings, I haven’t made the thought of shopping with your preschooler even more onerous.  It really can be a great fun-filled learning experience for your child…treasure every moment you have with him or her…even while shopping!

Here is a great trail mix recipe you can prepare with your child to keep on hand.  Having a little bag of nutritious munchies may help keep your child from requesting the sugary candy bars and salty chips most stores display near the checkout counters.

CHILD-FRIENDLY TRAIL MIX

You will need: 1 cup unsalted peanuts or other nuts, 1 cup hulled sunflower seeds, 1 cup coconut flakes, 1 cup raisins, 1 cup dried fruit cut into small pieces, a large bowl and a package of zip-lock plastic bags.

  1. Mix together all ingredients in a large bowl.
  2. Store in an airtight container or large glass jar with a lid. 
  3. Scoop out a small zip-lock bagful for your child when needed. 
  4. Makes about 5 cups of trail mix.
  5. TIP: You can make an alternative trail mix for very young children who are not old enough to manage nuts and seeds or for those who have allergies.  Combine several different types of dry cereals, rounds of Melba toast, and pieces of zwieback.  Your little ones will enjoy the different shapes and tastes and will be occupied while you shop.

Amanda Rock, the parenting preschoolers guide at about.com, has a lot more suggestions on this topic: http://preschoolers.about.com/od/foodnutrition/a/grocerystore.htm?nl=1