Smart Shopping: Kids Shop Along

WSVN -- The women from Sex in the City are well known for their shopping sprees. But in reality, for parents who have to take their kids shopping is a far cry from a getaway.

Priscilla Cardentey: "It's very difficult because nine out of 10 times, he's always going to look at something. He's always going to want it. He's always going to start pressuring me to buy it for him."

Priscilla Cardentey has no choice but to shop along with her 5-year-old son and says it can be a battlefield.

Priscilla Cardentey: "Maybe he'll see a carousel, and he'll want to jump in there, and I want to go to the store, and he wants to go to the carousel."

Our Parent to Parent expert, Dr. Valerie Goode, says to make it work, take time before you leave to make sure they know the purpose of the shopping trip.

Dr. Valerie Goode: "You can't just say to a child, 'We're going shopping' because that's a field day."

Priscilla Cardentey: "I talk to him, and I tell him, 'Papi, look, today we are going to get this. Tomorrow we'll get this toy for you.'"

And as long as you're at it, use your shopping trip to teach your child about budgeting, and get in a math lesson at the same time.

Dr. Valerie Goode: "Set a dollar amount and say, 'This is how much you can spend on this shopping trip, and keep them within that limit."

Also, make sure to keep them engaged.

Priscilla Cardentey: "I do a grocery list, and we check off the item that we get, so it kind of makes it exciting for him to go with me."

This way, your little one won't start asking for more.

Priscilla Cardentey: "The more you can involve your child in the experience of shopping, the better it is for everybody."

Now, as your child gets older, let them write a wish list and prioritize what they want most. Also, let them shop around for the best bargains.

Dr. Valerie Goode: "I would engage them to go sit in the computer or go look in the newspaper for ads."

In the end, mom Priscilla says she'll always reward her boy when he's good at the store.

Priscilla Cardentey: "You know, maybe a small toy or maybe something that he likes to eat. In a way, he always wins."

And so does mom.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Dr. Valerie Goode
www.drvaleriegoode.com