Take it from me. Parenting is an adventure full of peaks and valleys. Shopping need not always be a valley.

When we talk about brave parents, we know that some of the bravest of parents are those shopping with kids.

List making, shopping, finding the treasures on your list in the store – all these things teach practical living skills.

Parents Who Shop With Kids Are Brave

If you absolutely, positively hate to take your kids with you to shop OR if you love taking your kids shopping, here are some tips to make it an adventure.

*Let the ones who can print help with the list. You may have to put the translation on the back, but they will proudly carry the list through the store as you shop.

*If they can’t print, take a picture of a product, for instance, a box of cereal, and let your child find the matching box on the shelf as you slowly go through the cereal aisle. (I hear you, slowly shopping is like stepping on Legos – again and again.)

*Come prepared with a snack from home for the child so they don’t want to rip open everything in the cart.

*As they get older, help them choose between two products based on price to teach economy. Or based on ingredients for those smarter-than-you teens to teach them to read labels. Of the 16 kids I parented, most of them are still avid label readers. Some aren’t, but they did learn the skill.

*Don’t plan a trip to the grocery store when your child is tired or hungry. The stress of exhibiting so much self-control when they want to touch everything is like putting them in straight jackets. (You very young moms may not know that is a very limiting overcoat.) A tired or hungry child can quickly turn into a crying or angry child.

One More Tip About Parenting Children When Shopping

To wrap up our shopping adventure, give yourself a break, mommy, and take something for your child to do if you are only running to the store for a quick trip and you can’t get them involved.

If you haven’t downloaded our FREE 5 Things Your Kids Don’t Want You to Know About Their Tantrums cheat sheet, you can do that here.

Let’s Talk

Would you like to speak with me directly? Why not schedule a FREE 45 minute “The Stress- Free Parenting Project” Strategy Session with me to discuss your child’s most troublesome behavior – tantrums, bullying, disrespect.

This call is normally $249, but I am offering it free to people who come in through the Reconnecting With Your Kids website – you!

On this fast-paced call we’ll look at your current situation, and we’ll look at what you’re doing now to find out what’s working and what’s not. We will identify the one thing that might be at the root of the behavior and map out a plan to enable you to help your child replace that behavior with more acceptable responses.

You’ll leave the call feeling clear, confident and excited about finally finding the peace in your home that you have wanted.

To schedule a FREE 45 minute “Stress-Free Parenting Project (In Just 6 Weeks)” Session with me, simply click here to schedule. Don’t wait for my calendar to fill up.

And be sure to watch for more tips from Lily’s Mommy!

(Girl shopping image by: david-veksler-2zl0b3NbSjU-unsplash)