Parents How Often Do You Find Yourself Saying, "I Wish I Knew How to Eliminate Checkstand Meltdowns"

Parents Who Never Thought They Could, Eliminate Checkstand Meltdowns With These 5 Steps Why must they put candy at the checkout stand? All Eyes Focused on You Parents faced with the checkout stand crisis never forget the times when all eyes are suddenly on them.
This experience repeats itself in stores across the nation. What does your child see? Let us look at what is happening through your child's eyes.

Imagine sitting in the grocery cart as your parent goes to the produce section and grabs those beautiful red apples or strawberries.

In the next isle, there are brightly colored boxes with pretty pictures and this repeats for maybe 30 minutes.
Like mother like daughter The message to your child is that when you go to a store, you reach out and grab pretty things and put them in the cart. So when you reach the checkout stand and items are within your child's reach, what does your child do? Your child imitates your behaviors. This is part of your child's natural development.

When you say no and get upset with your child, your child cannot make sense of this.
Normally you respond with excitement when your child imitates you. You laugh and giggle along with your child who feels proud that they can replicate your actions. If you are dancing to music and your child imitates your movements, you are gleeful.

To your child all of a sudden you are saying DO NOT IMITATE ME. The answer starts before you leave home You can prepare your child for shopping. You can create a shopping story to tell your child Use your excited words as there are always feelings associated with stories Make a list at home when you are out of something and say to your child, "Uh Oh, we need more..
.
" Go to your list and write it down and show your child what you are doing.
Tell your child "I put crackers on the list for when I go to the store".
Before you go to the store, tell your child, "we are going to the store to get the things I wrote on our list.

" Where's my list Always look at your list BEFORE you pick up an item and say, "Six apples, we need six apples, 2 red apples, 2 green apples, and 2 yellow apples".
Your child will begin to learn that you only buy what is on the list.

If they pick up something, calmly look at the list and say, ".

..
is not on today's list" and have your child put it back. It is important that your child maintain control by putting the item back.
Do not be in a hurry and grab the item yourself to put it back.
At the checkout stand...

almost out of there Preparing your child at home and talking with them as you shop helps at the checkout stand.
As you arrive at the checkout, celebrate with your child, "We did such a good job, we got everything that we had on our list".
If the checker asks, "Did you find everything", this is another opportunity to reinforce the purpose of your trip.

You can point to your list and say, "Yes, thank you we found everything that was on our list!" You might high-five your child.
It is taking too long - I need one more distraction Bring a special marker and ask your child to mark through the list while you are at the checkout stand.

This keeps them focused on doing something rather than reaching for the candy. Success You have succeeded in all 5 steps of the system: Step 1.
Connect.

Involve and engage you child in the shopping experience Step 2.
Calm.

You are relaxed and referring to the list Step 3.

Listen. Listening requires us to put ourselves in our child's shoes, i.e. like mother like daughter Step 4.
Limits.
Buy only what is on the list Step 5.
Fresh Start.

Once your child puts something back that was not on the list, no lectures, just move on with a Fresh Start What do you think happens when we reward children with the promise of candy or toys for good behavior, or if you are good at the supermarket I will buy you...
?