Shopping is always a fun activity, but not when your kids start throwing tantrums while you’re at it. Imagine this happening and you might not want to take your kid the next time you go to the store. But you can do more than just making sure the kid stays out the store. You can prevent tantrums from happening so your kid can be your mature shopping buddy.

Before you go out to buy, explain to the kid the objective of the shopping. You have to tell him what you’re going to buy, what you need it for, and that you’re not buying anything else. If you don’t do this, your kid will expect and get excited the moment you parked, will run off to find a toy, and push you into buying it through a horrific tantrum.

Be firm no matter what. If your kid forgot his promise to behave and went ahead with the tantrum, don’t give in to it. If you do, you’re going to suffer years of tantrums. Kids who get what they want through tantrums are encouraged simply because it works.

When they bring you something and they tell you they want it, you can promise to buy it next time. But here’s the trick — do buy it next time. Keeping your word will show him how important it is to keep a promise, which means that he also has to keep his promises to behave.

Remembering the specific toy they requested when you buy it next time will tell them that you’re paying attention to what they tell you when they show you the toy the first time, so there won’t be any need to make follow-ups. Motivate him with giving rewards for proper behavior. This way, you’re raising a kid who’s not only mature, but with discipline and good character.