Ten Must Do Tips for Holiday Shopping with Children with ADHD

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Tips for Holiday Shopping with Children with ADHD

By Eileen

For most of us, the holiday season brings a sense of joy. We look forward to

celebrating with family and friends. We spend our free time shopping for the

perfect gift. The hours spent in malls may be exciting to us, or it may be a

chore we dread.

For children, especially those with ADHD, hours in a shopping mall can mean

endless opportunities to get into trouble. There have been numerous occasions

when my son would disappear in a matter of moments, only to have me panicking

before finding him hiding beneath a rack full of clothing. The urge to touch

and feel merchandise in a store may just be too much to resist and you may find

yourself continually correcting your child. Your children may become restless,

fidgety, tired, cranky, and hungry. Shopping trips can become shopping

nightmares quickly, leaving both you and your child frustrated. Even if you

started out looking forward to the joy of purchasing gifts for your family and

friends, you may end up worn out and ready to leave the mall, even if you

haven’t even completed your list of items to buy.

For some people, hiring a babysitter to stay at home with your children while

you wander the malls may be the perfect solution. For others, the holiday budget

may not include such a luxury and you need to make the best of it and shop with

your children in tow. There are some ways that you can help to make your

shopping trips more enjoyable for both you and your children:

1) Break down shopping trips into short excursions, rather than day-long

events. Set a specific time limit that you will be in the mall. Children often

can behave for a short time, especially when they know there is an end in sight.

Let them know how long you will be shopping. If they are old enough, you can

have them wear a watch and they can keep track of how long you have been in the

mall and when it is time to leave. Going to the mall for one to two hours is

usually long enough for young children. Although it may take you several trips

to complete your gift-giving list, the time spent in the mall should be more

pleasant for all.

2) Talk to your child about your expectations before you leave home. Let

them know that they must stay with you or they will need to hold your hand at

all times. Provide them with the rules each time you go shopping. Keep your

directions simple and be sure you have eye contact while discussing the rules.

3) Plan trips after meals. Feeding your children before you head out to

the mall will prevent more crankiness than necessary. Children that are not

hungry are normally better behaved. If possible, let them know that you will

stop for a treat at the mall, maybe an ice cream cone or some other favorite

treat once the shopping has been completed.

4) If you don’t plan to stop for a treat, pack some small snacks and drinks

with you. Bring along a few bottles of water and some pretzels that your

children can eat sometime during the shopping trip. Take a break and sit down

on a bench rather than letting them eat in the stores.

5) Use the internet to do your planning before going to the mall. You might

choose one or two people from your list per shopping trip. Taking some time to

look on the internet for gift ideas will help you use your time in the mall

wisely.

6) If your child is old enough, let them help you decide on a gift. You

might pick out two different items that will work for a specific person and then

they can decide between the two. Involving your children in the gift giving

helps them to feel they are important and teaches them the importance of giving,

rather than always receiving gifts.

7) Plan for time for your child to do something they enjoy during the

shopping trip. This might be a visit to Santa Claus or a trip to look through

the toy store.

8) When shopping for holiday parties, plan your shopping trip ahead of

time. Use your knowledge of your grocery store to plan your list. Divide the

items by the aisles they are in to make the shopping easier and more efficient.

9) Determine rewards and consequences before you head out the door. Let

your child know what will happen if they behave well during the time at the mall

and what will happen if they do not behave correctly. Rewards can be the ice

cream after shopping or staying up late to watch a favorite television show once

you are back home. Consequences may be going to bed early or losing television

privileges. Remind your children throughout the shopping trip of the rewards

and consequences.

10) Be consistent. Use the same strategies each time you go to the mall. These

tips can be used throughout the year, not just during the holiday season.

Once you have begun a routine and are consistent with your child, the entire

family will be able to enjoy shopping together.

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