I want to go shopping without arguments and bad behaviour in the supermarket aisle

Here are a few tips from Miriam on how to make sure your shopping trips are an enjoyable experience not an embarrassment.

• Shopping can be a bore. Plan ahead to make them part of the experience: look after the list, push the trolley, find all the red things, choose the cereal.
• Don't expect too much. A few shops are enough for a child's limited patience.
• Talk about it. Before you go, ask how they think they should behave.
• Make it a special you-and-me time. Let them choose what you talk about.
• Don't draw attention to bad behaviour. If you talk about it to others in your child’s hearing, this simply rewards attention seeking.
• Praise them. Tell them exactly what they are doing right and make sure that’s when they get your attention.