I was getting complaints about spoiling my 6 year old daughter, from my wife. And rightly so.
Never a shopping trip goes by without a tug on the arm, in a direction I was not going. You see my daughter caught on early, that daddy says yes & mummy says no.
Something had to change, not only me, US, both me & my daughter. The first thing I did to change the situation, is refuse to continue shopping if any tears started to flow. You know the one's them "crocodile tears".
The "I can not live without this plastic toy eye's"
When these tears came, I walked my daughter outside the shop (& still do), until she stops crying and demanding things.
The second part of the new deal we made, was inspired by a trip to the local orphanage. We turned up with bags full of toys and clean outgrown clothes. I have done this everywhere I have lived from Thailand to the UK.
We hatched a cunning plan my wife & I. That my daughter agreed to without question. Within reason she could have a new toy every week, or if it was small like a kinder egg, almost daily. The clause in the contract is, for every new toy she has, she has to put one in a gift bag to give to the orphans & orphanage.
Now trust me on this one, when a child has to give up a favourite toy, they really do think twice before asking for a new one. Win win situation. I now get asked a lot less for a new toy, and the orphanage still gets a visit every month or two and some clothes and a few toys.
This helped in more ways than you could imagine, as it has saved on tantrums, saved on buying new toys, And made my daughter appreciate there are children a lot worse off. That do not even have a mummy & daddy to put them to bed, let alone read them a bed time story.
The orphanage had suggested clothes were more in need than toys on the very first visit, so between us with have made that happen. While increasing our own happiness. Plus making shopping trips more bearable also.
Anything is possible, if we just set a few ground rules, while remaining flexible.
Hope this helps anyone with a "tantrum shopping child".
Peace & love, steem on and stay awesome! ❤ emojis here