With the start of school getting closer, parents will be taking their children to purchase school clothes and supplies.  Many parents want shopping with kids to be made easier and less stressful.  The following tips may help accomplish this yearly task.  They can also be helpful when going shopping with your children at other times.

Start out by knowing which items need to be purchased.  Go through your children’s clothing and see if there are some items that can be used again this year.  Decide how many items you need and make a list of all items needed for each child in your family.  Determine to stick to your list while you’re in the store.

After you’ve made your list, check out sales papers for several stores.  If you can’t find a sales paper for a particular store you’d like to visit, check online to see if they have a website.  Decide which items you’d like to get from each store so you won’t be running all over and wasting fuel.

Feed the kids first.  Misbehavior, especially in younger children, could be due to being hungry.  Either wait until after you’ve eaten to leave for shopping, or take some snacks the children can eat during the time you’re out. 

Set forth rules.  Before you go to the stores, tell the children the rules they should obey while you’re there.  Children need to stay with you, there should be no horseplay or running, and let them know what their consequences will be if they disobey.  Have a plan in place in case you’re separated during the trip (to meet at the service desk, for example).  If they’re especially good in the store, you may want to reward that good behavior.

Let them help.  Give them a particular task while you’re shopping.  If you’re looking at blue jeans, have them search for their size or find a shirt in their favorite color.  By giving them something to do, they’ll be less likely to misbehave.

Allow them to decide.  Instead of making all of the decisions about their school clothes, let them choose some of the items.  Give them a choice as to styles, colors, or brands as long as their choices are within your budget.  By allowing them to choose their own clothing, they’ll be able to wear things their friends have and will feel less out of place.

Buy online.  If you can, purchase as many items online as possible.  You can have it delivered to your front door, you don’t have to fight to keep your children in line, and you may actually save money.  Look online to see if there are coupons or sales at your favorite stores.  Some stores offer free shipping, so look for that benefit.

Can shopping with kids be made easier?  Of course it can.  Go when the children are fed and rested, follow the suggestions above, and this may be the easiest year of shopping yet.  Maybe you won’t have to dread shopping with kids ever again.