Pre-K…I can’t believe my son started Pre-K this week. While it’s definitely going to be an adjustment for all of us, our hope is that this year will ready our son for the discipline of Kindergarten. While there is no homework (yet), we are striving to establish a schedule and work on being on time. We’re working on things like learning to write and sitting still when the teacher is speaking. This is going to be an incredible year of growth and I’m excited to see where we’re at this time next year.
One of my favorite childhood memories was shopping with my mother for the coming school season each year. I didn’t know it at the time because I didn’t lack for anything, but she always shopped for the best deals, in hopes of ensuring every penny was spent wisely.
If you had just $100, would that be enough to help outfit your child for the new school year? That’s the question I asked myself as I shopped at The Shops At Mission Viejo. The South Orange County shopping destination is one of my favorites because of it’s expansive selection of children’s stores. You’ll find everything from GapKids and The Children’s Place to higher end stores like Janie and Jack.
For the grand total of $95 (and some change), I was able to get a pair of jeans, a pair of khakis, a pair of jean shorts, one long-sleeve tee, one short sleeve tee, 2 long sleeve Henlees, and 2 long sleeve plaid button down shirts for my son. I shopped at Gymboree, Crazy 8, Janie and Jack, The Children’s Place and GapKids/babyGap. I found $10 jeans and $6 tees. I comparison shopped and browsed the store ads. I shopped the clearance racks and at least considered the sales that were currently running. I actually went back twice, once with my daughter and once with my son. The result is that I now have enough pieces to put together several outfit combinations.
Shopping with kids can be challenging, but I’ve found with just a few simple tips, it can be accomplished without meltdowns or other mishaps.
1. Make a plan. Gone are the days when I can pop over to the mall on a whim to browse around the stores with the kids. The first time I shopped with my daughter, I hadn’t thought about what my son needed for the fall season. I also hadn’t browsed the ads to see what sales were currently running. While the first trip wasn’t wasted (I ended up buying him one shirt), I felt like I could have been more prepared by going through his closet and evaluating what he needed before heading to the mall.
2. Set a time limit. Despite the fact that children may be excited about getting new clothing, shoes, or back-to-school items, that excitement quickly turns to boredom. It’s important to be timely without rushing (which leads me back to point number 1 about being prepared with a plan). The second time I shopped, I only brought my son. I had already frequented all 5 stores so I knew what each had to offer and which stores I wanted to purchase items from. I told my son that when we were done shopping, we could do something he enjoyed (which was play with one of his new toys). When he began to get antsy, I reminded him that as soon as we were done, we would leave the mall to play. Those reminders helped keep him close to me and cooperative.
3. Ensure all of your child’s needs are met. Children who are hungry, tired, or uncomfortable will not endure a shopping trip of any duration. On both shopping occasions, I ensured that we had eaten lunch and planned around naptime. I also brought snacks and my daughter’s favorite toy.
4. Set boundaries ahead of time. Do you have a budget? Is the shopping trip focused on one particular item or type of item? Inevitably, children will see something that they want. It’s important to talk to your child ahead of time to let them know what type of behavior is expected and what you will and won’t be purchasing. I obviously couldn’t have that discussion with my 1 year old daughter, but I did have a chat with my 4 year old son. We talked about the purpose of the trip (to get school clothes), what stores we would be visiting, and what we would and would not be purchasing. I also reinforced that after the shopping trip, we would be doing something fun…something he wanted to do.
5. Involve your children in the process. Is your child old enough to pick out a shirt or accessories? If so, allow him/her some freedom to be involved. My son still reminds me of the shoes he picked out months ago and his favorite t-shirt (again, one he picked out). Offering choices also shows children that their opinions are important…that they matter.
6. Consider rewarding your child for good behavior. Let’s face it, shopping isn’t particularly fun for a child who’d rather be playing with toys or running around the park. One of the things I enjoy about Simon Malls is their family-friendly play areas and the Simon Kidgits Club. For just $5, children and parents will enjoy benefits such as mall discounts, a birthday gift, kid-focused mall events held seasonally throughout the year, and more. And each time you visit with your child, he/she can spin the wheel for a prize. Visiting the Guest Services Desk (also know by my son as the “Kidgits” desk) each time we frequent the mall is now a part of our shopping trip. It’s just another way to make shopping with kids a little easier.
What Back to School deals did you score this year? And what are your best tips for shopping with children?
Disclosure: No compensation was received for this post. A gift card was provided by Simon Malls to help facilitate this review and this post does not necessarily represent Simon Property Group’s positions, strategies or opinion.
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I love The Shops! They have great Kidgits events too.
Pattie…my kids LOVE the Kidgits program!