HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1983-12-07, Page 551
Sopping with children requires planning and patience
It's midday in a crowded store. People are
jostling each other for places in service
Christmas music blares over public-
address. systems, blending with the ringing
of charity workers' bells and the hums and
honks of traffic.
This is the bustle of the pre -Christmas
rush.
As any mother will say, this is a hectic,
frustrating time. How to juggle the demands
of your small pre-schooler, the packages
and presents and your shopping list and still
maintain your sanity?
Terry Maxon, a clinical social worker in
Children's Hospital and health Centre's
Child Guidance Clinic in San Diego offers
these suggestions for making the shopping
trips more enjoyable for all concerned.
The flare-ups that often occur during
these pre -Christmas shopping sprees are
caused, Maxon says, by the many stresses
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of the season that can produce more
churlishness than cheeriness.
"The holiday season carries with it such
high expectations that everyone should be
happy and kind and giving and that
everything should be fun and exciting," he
says.
"But we must remind ourselves that
whenever the sense of anticipation is raised
• so high, there's the potential for disappoint-
ment.
"For children there's the great desire to
have all the things they're seeing advertised
on television. For parents, there's the desire
to give their children everything they want
contrasted with the reality of the situation,
which is that the family budget just doesn't
allow it."
It's possible to defuse the time bomb and
make shopping trips bearable, and maybe
even pleasant.
"If it's necessary to take small children
on shopping trips, try to visit as few stores
as possible," Maxon says. "People tend to
overextend themselves and get too tired.
That can create problems.
"Make sure it's built into the trip that
something will be done for the enjoyment of
the child. Children often are hauled from
place to place while adults shop for adult
things with no consideration for the child's
interest. Plan for a visit to Santa, a tour of
the toy department or simply sit down and
have a Coke — something to break the
monotony for the child.
"Remember, too, that for most children a
holiday shopping excursion means being in
new places and being around a lot of strange
people. That can be a very anxiety -
provoking situation. "Plan to take short
breaks from time to time just to calm down.
Walk for a while outside the stores or sit
down on a bench. That eases the stress and
allows both parents and children a little
rest.
"If the child shows signs of being too tired
to remain well-behaved, it's usually best
just to end the shopping trip for the day,"
Maxon says.
To thank our
many old friends - and to
welcome new friends - we're
having our
DISCOUNTS OF
12%-24%-36%
ON A NUMBER OF ITEMS IN OUR STORE
INCLUDING SOME OF OUR CHRISTMAS ITEMS!
LAST 5 DAYS! SALE ENDS DECEMBER 12
"Huron County's only
complete Christian Bookstore"
i7 ALBERT STREET
(l INTON 482-N28