Today I watched a woman stop outside an upmarket gift shop, with her pre-schooler in tow. She clearly wanted to go in. She yearned. She slowed. Her child eventually stopped pointing at cars and dogs and turned to the glittering display. The woman chewed her lip and said, "Would you like to go in? We can go in, if you promise not to touch."
I mentally wanted to quote Dr Phil: "So, how's that workin' for ya?"
Seriously, caregivers of the world, I assure you that 99.9% of pre-schoolers will touch. Not on purpose, not necessarily on purpose. At that age, it's still instinct to touch everything in order to explore it.
I also assure you that no matter how nice the staff of the upmarket gift store are about you and your child browsing, 98% would really rather you didn't bring your child shopping.
They'd rather your child not touch.
They'd rather your child did not impede the access of adults who might actually buy their wares.
They'd rather not have the luxurious ambience so necessary to impulse buys shattered by your hissed reminders of, "Don't touch!".
Or by the subsequent hysteria when you want to leave but your child is entranced, or your child wants to go but you are enthralled.
They'd rather you not be mortified by all of the above and leave without buying anything, vowing never to return.
Children and recreational shopping doesn't mix. Unless you're shopping entirely on their terms, neither of you are likely to enjoy it. Some situations are just set up for failure, an exercise in futility all round.
Post 42 of 43 posts.
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