How to Keep Children from Throwing Tantrums in a Supermarket

Supermarkets are full of items that appeal to toddlers and young children. These include sweets, chocolates, snacks, favorite foods and toys. The checkout area is normally loaded with tempting treats as well. In their book, Adproofing Your Kids (Finch Publishing, 2009) Tania Andrusiak and Daniel Donahoo give some suggestions for solving the tantrums that may arise when young children don't get their own way.

Plan a Shopping Trip Around Young Children

Planning a trip in advance and making simple preparations can greatly reduce the likelihood of tantrums. Here are some suggestions of how to plan wisely:

• Visit the supermarket at a time when a child is not likely to be tired or overwrought.
• Feed toddlers before a shopping trip and take snacks and a bottle of water along.
• Include children in writing up the shopping list and talk about what is allowed and what is not allowed.
• Allow the child to add one small item to the list such as a favorite cereal or fruit juice.

Controlling Children's Behavior in the Supermarket

Once in the supermarket it is inevitable that a child will see some appealing item and ask for it. What the parent does next sets the pattern for future shopping trips. Although it is never too late to make changes, it is essential that the adult be consistent and firm when responding to a child's demands. Here are the steps to follow:

• Deal with the request. This includes acknowledging what the child has asked for and giving a reason why he cannot have it. Possible reasons include cost, unhealthy foods and not for a special occasion such as a birthday.
• Acknowledge the child's disappointment. Do this by recognizing his feelings but at the same time reinforcing that he cannot have the item.

What to Do When a Child Throws a Tantrum in the Supermarket

When a child has requested an item and the parent has said no, the result may be a tantrum. In a typical scenario the child lets loose with screams of "I want" and lies on the floor, kicking, screaming and wiggling around. There are several ways to respond to this type of behavior:

• Stay calm and don't react in anger.
• Make eye contact with the child and tell him if he doesn't stop shouting and kicking, he will be taken out of the supermarket.
• Walk a short distance away and look at something else. The tantrum often stops when the child sees his parent's attention is somewhere else.
• Pick the child up and take him to the car or somewhere quiet to calm down.
• Once the tantrum is over, lay down some rules about that type of behavior.
• Never give in and buy the item.

Although supermarkets are packed with food items and toys that are attractive to children, it is possible to set rules and boundaries in place to ensure peaceful shopping trips. Repetition and reinforcement of the rules are important and once the child realizes the parent means business, future shopping trips should be more enjoyable for all concerned.