Running errands with your children may seem difficult or overwhelming at times, especially if you are performing certain tasks that may not interest your children.
However, with the proper preparation, you can run errands with your children without experiencing any problems. Learn effective ways on how to organise your day and run errands with the children while getting your personal business matters taken care of.
At home, before you go
- Make an itinerary of the errands that need to be completed. Know what you want and where you are going to get it.
- Reorganise your priorities and combine errands that are in the same geographic area to reduce traveling time. This will reduce the amount of time you spend driving between each location to complete errands.
- Pack items you may need for your children. Don’t forget to include healthy snacks, diaper bag for toddlers, hygiene supplies plus change of clothes.
- Try to complete some of your errands on the Internet. For example, shop for certain products on a store’s website or pay your mobile phone bill online instead of paying it at the store.
- Lastly, communicate with your children and explain your game plan to them, including how long it will take and what you will do when you return home. Children who understand are more likely to cooperate.
While you’re out
- Be positive when running errands with your children. This will help keep your children positive about the experience, which may influence them to behave nicely and follow your directions. Your child will more likely be in a good mood while you get your work done.
- Remind your child of the rules of behaviour. Let them know of your expectations and offer them a reward if they have behaved accordingly
- Keep your children busy. There’s no way to predict the lines at the bank or pharmacy, so when you bring your kids along, bring a bag of small items such as finger puppets, a pad of paper and a few crayons to distract your toddlers. They could also help pick the colour of the tissues you buy, and will enjoy a game of peek-a-boo as you go round the aisles.
- Get children involved in the shopping. Try asking them to add up the cost of the groceries as you go along. Things like letting them hold the produce bag while you fill it, or counting how many apples you are putting in – whatever you can do to keep them occupied.
- Most importantly, when your children behave well, praise them for their good behaviour. While you’re running errands, a little positive reinforcement (“What a great job you did listening”), even for small acts of cooperation, goes a long way in getting your toddler to keep up the good work.
Back at home
- Review the trip with your kids and give them tips for your next trip.
- Reward your children when the errands have been completed. This will reinforce positive behaviour and may excite your children for the next time you need to run errands. You may buy them some stickers or a prize of your own choosing, or even take them out for dessert, but keep it inexpensive so you are able to repeat for each trip
- Finally, give yourself a pat on your back – you survived another errand run!
These helpful tips are simple and won’t add any extra time or real effort to your trip. Adding a little structure to the day, and making errands fun will really change how your kids view the necessary evil of running errands. In return, the whole process will be a much easier one for you!
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