Remind yourself that you’re not the only parent who has experienced a child throwing temper tantrums in public.  While having a child make a scene can be uncomfortable and embarrassing, teaching your child that no means no has a long-term benefit of him or her learning self-control.  The good news is that when handled consistently, most children outgrow tantrums by age 3 – 5.

When shopping with your children, state the purpose of your errand before you go to the store.  Stick with your agenda.

Tell your child, “We’re not buying anything, but you can show me which toys you like.”

When your child asks to buy something say, “Put it on your wish list” or remind them that the purpose of the trip was X.

Talk about your values regarding spending, purchasing or other money matters at other times than when you’re at the store.

Model non-impulsive shopping for your children:  let them help you make a shopping list, cut out coupons, and compare prices.  Then let them see you wait to purchase when you’ve saved the money.

Avoid shopping with your children around meal or nap times.  Equally important is avoiding shopping when you’re tired, cranky, or short on patience.