We’ve all experienced children grabbing toys in shops and refusing to put them down until their parents agree to buy it for them.
These meltdowns can really ramp up in the countdown to Christmas as the shops push toys harder than ever, giving little ones an endless selection of goodies to add to their lists.
A mum who became fed up of the constant battles at this ‘painful’ time of year has stumbled on a ‘the most amazing parenting hack ever’ to put an instant end to the tantrums – and has told other parents they need to be using it too.
Mum Kristina Watts shared the brilliant trick to Facebook , with the post racking up almost 50,000 shares as other parents vowed to copy the idea.
She wrote: “Our trips to the store used to be a lot more painful this time of year. Toys are out in full force and of course my kids WANT IT ALL.
(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
“Obviously I would love to have sweet, well mannered, non-greedy, chill kids, that don’t ask for all the things…but I don’t. So drop your judgement Karen.
“Now, if you have kids like mine that want the shiny amazing things that fill pretty much everywhere you go this time of year, this is for you.
“What is it!? Take a picture. It’s that simple.”
Kristina, from Washington, explains that when her daughter picks up a toy she wants, she makes a comment on what she is pointing out and says: “Let’s take a picture with it to send to Santa so he knows you want it.”
She then pretends to message the photo to Father Christmas, sending it to her daughter’s grandma or a friend instead.
“Magically, [she] smiles, says cheese, asks to see the picture, then PUTS THE TOY DOWN AND WALKS AWAY,” she said. “It’s magical. No tears. No tantrums (by either of us).
(Image: Getty Images)
“And she forgets about all of them within minutes.
“Maybe you’ve been doing this for ages, and you selfishly didn’t share this tip with me… or maybe you’re like me and this is about to rock your world. For real, try it friends.
“You’re welcome.”
Other parents have been left wondering why they haven’t been using the trick for years.
One replied: “Omg. I need to start doing this!! That’s how my kid is too. WANTS. ALL. THE. THINGS.”
A second said: “I do it all the time and my son is now six. Works like a charm.”
Another mum added her own additional trick to stop the tantrums at home too, saying she sits with them at the computer as they pick what they want online.
Each toy they select, she takes a screenshot and tells her children she’ll send everything they choose to Santa to have a look through at the North Pole.
