Parents
can get back-to-school shopping done with the kiddos along — and it can
be an exciting learning experience for them with these tips.
The
mall or department store is a special place for anyone with its sights, sounds,
and smells. There are several things to do with children before, during, and
after the shopping trip to make it more worthwhile for both parent and child.
Just
before leaving for the mall, talk with your children about what they will be
doing. What type of products are you
looking for? Clothing? School supplies? It’s best to take an inventory of your
needs before planning the shopping trip. Why not take a day to clean out
drawers and the closet and plan to donate clothing that no longer fits to the
needy. Work on a shopping budget
so the kiddos know the family’s limits and see how many necessities can be
purchased within these parameters. Who knows? There may be a little extra cash
for a trendy piece!
While
wandering through each department or each small store in a mall, discuss the
noises, colors, smells (especially in the bakery or cosmetic departments), and
textures of things. Pick up free samples so they can be examined at home and
let the children participate in any taste or smell tests offered. Shopping
excursions are terrific opportunities to help children develop their senses and
vocabulary.
While
shopping at the mall, ask your child his/her opinion on things. “Which sweater
do you like the best?” Don’t forget to ask why she prefers one thing to
another. Besides making her feel very grown-up and boosting her self-esteem,
these questions help her develop important thinking skills. Let the child be
responsible for one purchase. Have her pick out the item, take it to the
salesperson, and pay for it. Isn’t this task an ego booster?
Shop ‘Till You Drop Game
Kids
love a challenge when visiting the mall. Play this “shop ’til you drop” game
which is like a basic scavenger hunt where a list of things is found within a specified amount of time (but the kids don’t actually collect them, they list
them). Each child will need a tablet and pencil to write down the name of the
store where each item is found. This shopping list gives ideas to plan this
scavenger hunt, but it has lots of room for variations and creativity. Here are
a few ideas:
Something from Star Wars
Something people wear
“under”
Something that makes music
Something that smells like
coconut
Something dated with the
year
Something rough and hard
A variety of candy
Something with a Disney
character
Where to find a TeenageMutant Ninja Turtle?
Something plaid
The coolest backpack
And back at home…
After
the shopping trip is over, spend some relaxing time at home with a fun project.
Recycle the trip into a collage. Have the kids use parts of boxes, labels,
bags, tissue paper, tags, and ribbon to create a permanent record of this trip.
Glue these pieces of memorabilia onto a large sheet of construction paper or
poster board.
Back
to school shopping doesn’t have to be hard and trying, just use some
imagination and make shopping days fun and exciting. Kids may even learn
something along the way!
When does school start in
your area? What are your best shopping tips to share with this group? Please
tell us in the comment section below.
Happy Parenting,
Tania J
Adapted from my article,
first published on Peku Publications, Your Parenting Info, 8/13/14
