Christmas shopping with young kids

The Christmas season has swept upon us unsuspecting folk once again, and my usually clutter-free humble abode is suddenly home to a multitude of glitzy decorations rescued from the local skip by my thoughtful eldest son. Amidst the chaos, an alarming array of sickly green twigs and twinkling lights (referred to by some as a Christmas tree) lurks inconspicuously in a solitary corner, and does its utmost to trip me up at every opportunity. As I try to master some dignity from the depths of aggravation, my other half promptly presents me with possibly the longest gift-shopping list on earth, and sneaks off before I can utter a single word. So should I simply toss the offending item in the nearest litter bin, or is there a way to shop for Christmas gifts successfully with my two young tantrum prone off-spring?

There are doubtlessly many mothers out there who wistfully shy away from shopping outlets during the Christmas season, due to upcoming crankiness by their young ones. I am not one of them! I enjoy shopping for gifts with my off-spring, and actually regard such occasions as highly educational. The key to positive experiences is simply "strategic planning". But never fear if the mere mention of these two words sends shivers of dread down your spine. There are certain preparation steps to follow which are set to guarantee success.

An essential rule to great gift shopping with your kids is focusing on the type of items you want to purchase, and pinpointing the outlets you intend to visit. This is not as easy as it actually appears, especially for yours truly, who usually focuses on any objective with difficulty and has on occasions literally indulged in purchasing a whole heap of useless stuff that just happened to catch her fancy. In order to prevent such a crisis, compile a list to use as a guideline. At this point, make a rough calculation of the costs involved. Then, inform your kids about the shopping trip a few hours in advance. This ensures that they have ample time to prepare themselves, and will not find the event confusing.

The way you organise a shopping trip may have an impact on how your kids view the occasion. If you convince them that it is an exhilarating experience, most children will willingly transform themselves as your little helpers in a mere whiff. One does not have to go overboard with fantastic Christmassy hocus-pocus to get their attention, and instil a magical atmosphere. Just confiding with great conspiracy that you are buying all these gifts on Santa's orders should do the trick. Make sure to tell your off-spring that when you visit different outlets you will see many wonderful Christmas decorations, and might even encounter the great man himself (that is, Santa) in the process!

Young kids may easily persuade you to purchase anything they covet by literally howling the place down if their wishes are not carried out. Therefore, prevent such behaviour in advance by warning them about your budget. Explain that you cannot buy other items, such as toys, since these are not on the Christmas list (of course you must show them the list at this point, so be sure to have it at hand). If you intend to treat your kids for good behaviour at the end of the shopping spree, advise them about this beforehand, and make sure to point out that unruliness will not be tolerated. Such preparation might seem like hard work. However, it will ensure that children recognise the importance of organisation and budgeting. Engaging your kids in dialogue will also aid their language development, while reference to fantasy (that is, Santa Claus) will develop their imagination and creativity.

Before your little bundles of joy are all geared up for one of the gift shopping trips of the season ensure that their basic needs are met, since quite frankly, nothing spells disaster as quickly as a hungry, grumpy child in urgent need of bathroom facilities. Adequate clothing is also essential for comfort. Therefore, make sure that your kids are dressed in layers that may be taken off in a jiffy on visiting heated stores.

Young children have a short attention span, so set a limited time-frame for your shopping spree. Be sure not to exceed it, since fancy knick-knacks and fashionable clothing may actually crush your reasoning ability to a mere pulp. You must also be prepared to be flexible, so cut your shopping trip short if your children show signs of irritation or boredom. Ignoring them will only ensure the steady downfall of your plans.

If your shopping binge is simply too long, break it down into smaller sprees. Combining the trip with activities enjoyed by your children such as visiting a DVD rental outlet will motivate your children and give them something to look forward to. Show your off-spring that you genuinely care by putting their needs first. You will find that your attitude will be modelled by them in the near future. Within this perspective, a child who is treated with care and respect by his/her parents will develop into a young adult who is genuinely concerned about others.

Kids learn by example, so while you are browsing through shops mind your manners, since a highly stressed parent who snaps constantly at shop assistants will not encourage kids to develop into thoughtful, courteous adults. You may involve your children by highlighting what various items on display are called, and what they are used for. Hold their interest by asking them questions, and by taking the time to listen to their answers.

This will aid them to build up their vocabulary, and comprehend the function of specific objects. Counting together purchased gifts and the stores visited will also develop young kids' numeracy skills.

Nothing can illustrate the value of developing constructive experiences with our young ones as much as Dorothy Law Nolte's poem Children Learn What They Live. Within this perspective, the 'parent-child' relationship nurtured during activities can mould our off-spring's perception of life forever. Therefore, if in the following weeks you are suddenly assailed by a sudden urge to pop to your favourite shop to buy a Christmas gift for a loved one, there is no need to guiltily saddle your kids with a carer while you tiptoe furtively out of your home.