Taking children to grocery, discount, department stores, and restaurants can be both enjoyable and educational for the child. In order to make trips to these public places more enjoyable, begin by taking numerous “training trips.”

These are best described as short (15 minutes or less) trips made for the purpose of teaching appropriate store behaviors, not for shopping or eating.

Training Trips

• Trips should be no longer than 15 minutes

• Choose a time when the store or restaurant is not very busy.

• Trips should be for teaching, not for shopping or eating.

• Rules should be stated prior to leaving the house or apartment, as matter-of-factly as possible, and restated immediately prior to entering the “training area.” Some suggestions for rules include:

• Praise your child often (at least once every minute or two) for appropriate behaviors. (Example: “Mike, you sure are being good.” “You’re staying right next to mommy.” “Thank you for not picking up any candy.” “It’s easier to shop when you don’t pick up things.”)

•  Maintain frequent physical contact with your child (Every minute or two). Touch him gently on the back, rough up his hair, or briefly give him a hug, pulling him up next to you.

• Involve your child in the activity as much as possible. Have him get groceries for you or place groceries in the cart for you. Give him educational instructions, such as “Get me the green can, please.” or “Bring me the bag of pretzels, please.” Don’t forget to say “please” and “thank you” when appropriate.

• Include your child in pleasant conversation regarding what you’re doing. (Example: “Mommy’s going to make sloppy joes with this hamburger meat. You really like sloppy joes, don’t you?”)

• This is also a good time to teach your child about his world. (Example: “Bananas grow on trees. What else can you think of that grows on trees?” “All fruits have a skin or cover on them to protect them from rain and from bugs.”)

• By your frequent praise, teaching, and pleasant conversation, your child will remain much more interested in the trip. By actually helping you, he will learn that stores are a fun place to visit.

• If your child breaks one of your rules, immediately make him sit in “time-out.” This can be any place that is generally out of the normal flow of foot traffic. In a grocery store you can just point to one of the tile floor squares and firmly tell your child to sit on that square because he walked away from you. In a restaurant, you can simply turn your child’s chair around or if the restaurant is not very crowded, place him on another chair about three to four feet away from you. As soon as your child is quiet for about one-half to one minute, tell him that it is okay to get up, or to turn his chair back to the table.

• Remember, praise and attention, coupled with firm discipline, are the tools you have with which to teach your child. Discipline alone will not work. Using the two together will work to make your trips to stores and restaurants much more enjoyable for both of you!