Adults all have their moments where their ability to combat impulse buying is tested. While we can call on certain techniques and logic to help us, children do not, unfortunately, have the same reasoning skills. So when your kid is dying to have the coolest new toy on the market, what are some ways that you can handle the situation?

• Minimize Exposure to Advertisements: limiting TV time will limit the amount of cool new toys that your little one sees featured on the screen. Don’t allow all of those ads to get to your kid, making them chorus over and over again “I want that!” while pointing to the TV.
• Don’t Give in to Screaming Tantrums (at Home or in Stores): at home, don’t let your child equate screaming with successfully getting what they want. Don’t give into tempers at home, for this is good training for going out. If they start screaming that they want something in a store, leave immediately. Trent does the “time out in the car” method. There definitely need to be negative consequences for throwing tantrums, and children need to know that that is not an effective way to get what they want.

Mostly, it’s important to be upfront with your children. Just like when you go into a store with your mind set on buying one thing, children need to know if you’ll be buying toys (etc.) that day or if you’re just running in for one item.

What are some ways that you handle children’s sometimes sudden material wants?

Check out more Simple Dollar ideas at Handling A Child’s Material Wants and Impulses.