normal store behavior?

Jodi - posted on 12/07/2010

My daughter is 21 months and we too get SOOO many comments on her excellent behavior! She doesn't have to stay in the cart, we let her walk, but she has to stay really close and very rarely wonders off. She knows not to touch anything on the shelves and doesn't grab anything (ok, not NEVER, but 98% of the time, she keeps her hands to herself.) We also have continuous dialogue and if she's getting really bored she'll sit in the basket of the cart and build towers with the canned goods or boxed goods and count them, point to letters and identify colors etc etc.
She has had ONE tantrum in Walmart, she was tired, the lines were long and it was getting close to lunchtime. Thankfully, I had my husband wtih that day so he checked out while i took her out ot the car.
Obviously, at 21 months, she's not perfect, but after having observed countless children in retail (I worked at K-mart for 2 years and a large gas station for 4 years) I can tell you, my daughter is better behaved at 21 months than many many many 3 or 4 or even some 5 year olds! But, I think a huge difference is that I make it a point to engage my child in shopping instead of just ignoring her and hoping she behaves well! lol

Amanda - posted on 12/07/2010

I have a son who turns 3 in March and a 14 month old daughter. If we go to a shopping centre I usually try and do it around a time where I know they will sleep so I can get alot of it done during a nap. If they don't sleep I will give them something to snack on and play games like I spy along the way. Grocery shopping they are pretty good, again I make sure I have snacks for them but my son likes to "help" I will run through shopping list with him and as we get to the ailse we need I will ask him to find me a loaf of bread or get me the milk or show me where something is. He likes to help me count out pieces of fruit too.
If my son in particular took something off the shelf and was told to put it back 9 times out of 10 he would occassionally he will cause a scene but I will either walk away and he comes running or he gets put back in the seat of the trolley for not listening. My little one wants to copy everything her brother does but at the moment she has to stay in the trolley or the pushchair coz shes too little to walk round the shops

Ruchi - posted on 12/07/2010

my child is 4 but let me say that you child is an angel.
my daughter would now like to help me grocery shopping she hated going to the store when she was 3. but she has got a new found interest in cooking and everything related to it. Sine i live in hongkong she is unable to strike a conversation with the store ladies due to language problem. but i discuss the shopping list with her before going to the store and she helps me put things in the cart. i have also started making her pay money just so she understands the importance of money for buying food and imp. things.