Shopping with kids always seems to have some challenges, but some tips can help you get through holiday shopping!
Shopping with kids is hard, but it’s not impossible. If the idea of shopping with your kids makes you tired before you start, you just need to decide what you’re going to do before you head out. Consider these tips to keep everything under control.
Make a List
You need a list of what to get before you head out to the store. This will help you get the items you want or need relatively quickly. Shop earlier in the season to make sure the item you want is in stock. If you’re going to shop later in the season, you need to make a list of alternate gifts to get.
Multiple Trips
You don’t want to shop for hours on end. That’s a recipe for disaster. Give yourself an hour and a half tops. Kids tend to have a meltdown quickly after this point. Shop in trips that are planned out ahead of time. Space out your trips because kids can get burned out quickly.
Internet Shopping
Internet shopping was invented for parents. Just kidding. However, it does make the process of getting gifts a lot easier. Arrange to have them shipped to your home, or pick them up in the store. This is useful in hiding the gifts you get your kids too.
Get Naps In
Don’t shop when your kids are due for a nap or will shortly need one after you start shopping. You might think they can sleep in the car, but this doesn’t always work out. Take them to the store when they’re well rested or when you have a few hours until their naptime. The last thing you want to do is try to load your cart and unload your cart at the checkout while you try to keep a three-year-old calm.
Treats and Playtime
You can arrange this tip in a couple of ways. You can either tell your kids that they’ll each get a treat at the end of your shopping trip if they fully behave, or you can take them to play before you go shopping. Let them know exactly what you need from them while you shop. For instance, they can’t run off or ask you to buy things. However, if they need something, they need to gently touch you on the arm until they have your attention. They might need to use the restroom or otherwise need help.
Bring Food and Drinks
At some point during your shopping trip, your kids might ask for something to eat or drink. This will happen because they know you’re out and are more likely to stop for fast food. Head them off at the pass with some scrumptious, yet healthy, treats and drinks. Even if you give them something like cookies, it’s far better than a day’s worth of calories, sodium and fat from the nearest fast food place. This will help you as you peruse endless aisles either online or offline.
Alternate Kids
If you have multiple kids, you might want to do your shopping in shifts. You need a safe place for one or more of your kids to be while you’re shopping. This greatly depends on their ages. If you have an older teenager, they can watch a younger child. Some malls offer a place for kids to play while they are watched by professionals. You could have someone watch your kids at home, or you could find a place for them to hangout if they’re old enough.
Shopping for One Kid
If you’re shopping for one, you don’t have a sitter and they’re too young to leave alone, you’re not out of options. You can arrange to take tote bags with you while shopping. Check with your store first. Have your child close their eyes while you put things in your tote bags. Have them close their eyes while they’re being scanned. Let the cashier know what’s going on so they can be discreet about your purchases and put the items back in your tote bags discreetly.
With these tips, you should be able to get all your shopping done relatively easy. Wrapping presents comes after this. Maybe you can open a bottle of wine or put on some good music for that.
