Does every trip to the shops turn into a battle over toys at this time of year? Do your sweet, easy-going kids suddenly turn into determined little negotiators the moment they spot something shiny? You’re not alone — and one mum’s simple trick for keeping Christmas tantrums at bay has struck a chord with parents everywhere.
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The trick that’s helping parents everywhere
Mum of three Kristina Watts, from Washington, USA, shared her unusual approach on Facebook — and it’s been praised by parents ever since.
When her daughter Emerson, then 3, starts demanding toys in a shop, Kristina doesn’t say “no” outright, and she doesn’t give in either. Instead, she does something a little different.
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What Kristina actually does
In her original Facebook post, Kristina explained her approach in her own words:
> “Once again my camera roll is full of pictures of Emerson with every single thing she wants for Christmas. Why? Because it’s the most amazing parenting hack ever and has stopped many meltdowns! If you aren’t using this hack, listen up friends.
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> Our trips to the store used to be a lot more painful this time of year. Toys are out in full force, and of course my kids want it all. Obviously I would love to have sweet, well-mannered, non-greedy, chill kids that don’t ask for all the things, but I don’t. So drop your judgement, and stop reading if you have kids like that.
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> Now, if you have kids like mine, that want the shiny, amazing things that fill every shop you go into this time of year, this is for you.
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> What is it? Take a picture. It’s that simple.
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> Pause for a second, comment on the thing they’re pointing out, and say, ‘Let’s take a picture with it and send it to Santa so he knows you want it!’ Note: you can send it to Santa, grandma, an auntie, or whoever it is you can pawn it off on. Totally up to you, and can be different every time.
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> Magically, Emmie smiles, says cheese, asks to see the picture, then puts the toy down and walks away. It’s magical. No tears. No tantrums, by either of us. And she forgets about all of them within minutes.
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> Maybe you’ve been doing this for ages and you selfishly didn’t share this tip with me, or maybe you’re like me and this is about to rock your world. For real, try it friends.
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> You’re welcome.”
Why the trick works so well
Kristina came up with the idea during a toy drive she organised after a hurricane had devastated homes nearby, when she wanted to gather Christmas toys for a local school.
With toys arriving at the house in their hundreds, Kristina and her husband Andrew got their own kids to help unbox and organise them — and that’s when the tantrums started from Emerson, who was 2 at the time and wanted to keep every toy she touched.
To head off the meltdown, Kristina asked Emerson to pose for a photo with the toys she liked, and told her she could eventually get one of her own.
“It worked,” Kristina said. “She stopped trying to get everything out of its package. She’d carry it around, take a picture, and put it back.”
Kristina believes the trick works because her daughter feels heard. She’s listened to, she gets a moment of excitement, but she’s not being promised every toy in the shop. It’s hope and joy, without the pressure of a promise that can’t be kept.
It’s really a modern take on something a lot of us remember from childhood — circling toys in the Christmas catalogue. You never expected to get everything you circled, but the dreaming and the anticipation were half the fun.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does this trick work for all ages?
It tends to work best with toddlers and younger children, roughly ages 2 to 5, who are excited by the idea of Santa (or another special person) “knowing” what they want. Older children may see through it, but the underlying idea — pausing, acknowledging what they want, then moving on — can still be adapted.
What if my child asks to keep the toy afterwards?
Gently remind them the photo is going to Santa (or whoever you’ve chosen) so they know it’s on the wish list. Most children are satisfied by the acknowledgement itself and are happy to put the toy back once they’ve had their moment with it.
Can I use this trick outside of Christmas?
Yes. The same idea — take a photo, add it to a “wish list”, then move on — can work any time of year when a shopping trip turns into a tug-of-war over toys.
Do I need a smartphone for this to work?
No special equipment is needed beyond any phone with a camera. The trick relies on the pause and the acknowledgement, not the quality of the photo.
Related articles
- 20 Tips for Avoiding Toddler Tantrums at The Supermarket
- 5 Mistakes Not To Make When Dealing With Toddler Tantrums
- More parenting tips for a calmer Christmas
Try it, then let us know
What do you think of Kristina’s parenting hack for avoiding Christmas tantrums? Leave a comment below and let us know — we’d love to hear from you! And if you’re looking for more simple, real-life parenting ideas like this one, take a browse through our parenting tips section for more.
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