Do you find your kids are desperate for every toy they come across? Have they turned from sweet kids to demanding monsters overnight? One mother’s trick for keeping Christmas tantrums at bay has gone viral and it’s a great idea for stopping meltdowns – would you try it?

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One mum’s clever trick for keeping kids’ Christmas tantrums at bay has been praised by parents all over the internet.

Mum of three Kristina Watts from Washington, USA shared her unusual approach on Facebook.

When her 3 year old daughter Emerson starts demanding toys, Kristina does something a bit different. Instead of having to say “No” all the time (or even giving in), Kristina asks her daughter to pose for a photo that will be sent to Santa.

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Kristina wrote:

“Once again my camera roll is full of pictures of [her daughter] 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.

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 Karen, and stop reading if you have kids like that.

Now…if you have kids like mine…that want the shiny amazing things that fill Target, the grocery store, Office Depot, the gas station, and pretty much everywhere you go this time of year, this is for you.

What is it?!

Take a picture. It’s that simple.

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, TeeTee Stephanie or whoever it is you can pawn it off on. Totally up to you and can be different every time.

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.

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.

You’re welcome.”

Kristina apparently came up with the trick last year during a toy drive after Hurricane Michael had devastated homes nearby and she wanted to provide Christmas toys for a local school.

With tons of toys arriving at the house, Kristin and her husband Andrew were getting their kids to help them unbox and organise them, and that’s when the tantrums began from Emerson, who was 2 at the time and wanted every toy she saw.

To keep her from melting down, Kristina asked Emerson to pose with the ones she liked and told her she could eventually get one too.

“It worked”, Kristin said. “She stopped trying to get everything out of its package. She’d carry it around, take a picture, and put it back.”

She thinks that this trick works so well because her daughter feels heard. She’s listening and getting excited but she’s not promising her daughter all the toys. It’s just hope and joy.

It’s the modern-day version of circling all the toys in the Christmas catalogues – you didn’t think you would get all the toys you circled, but it was fun to dream and see your parents looking at what you had circled.

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What do you think of Kristina’s parenting hack to avoid Christmas tantrums? Leave a comment below and let us know – we’d love to hear from you!