Help! My child wants to touch everything in the store. No worries. I have one simple tip for the child who wants to touch everything. Running errands with kids can be frustrating, but there are simple steps you can take to make things easier when you are out and about. If you are often running around with kids in tow, you also might like my stop and go game. The kids also might enjoy this grocery store scavenger hunt.
I have tactile kids. We are in sensory processing therapy with one of our children and are learning so much about how that has manifested itself over the years and strategies for moving forward. With kids who like to touch, running errands can be a frustrating experience.
Letting them touch things is not bad. If you have lots of time, I don’t see a problem with letting them explore more. It’s actually healthy to let them help pick things up at the grocery store, feel the textures of clothing or food items and help put things in the cart. I always need to remind myself to slow down and let go of my own agenda. However, you’ll often find yourself in a hurry, and you simply need the kids to keep up.
Further, you may have children where touching never feels like enough. Inevitably, they want to pick up things. They may even slip items into your cart when you are not working.
We have worked on self control, and they do pretty well, but one tip has really helped ease the experience of taking kids into the stores.
One Simple Tip for the Child who Wants to Touch Everything
So what’s the magic trick for when you don’t have the time or patience to let the kids have more freedom when running errands? I have done this over and over while out and about, and it works marvelously. The tip is to let children touch things with one finger. They can touch as much as they want but gently and only with one finger. This works especially well when you are around items that are more fragile. When we first started this strategy, I had to give a few reminders. However, it really became easier to manage kids in the store and satisfies their desire to touch everything. This doesn’t have to be the rule every time you go out, but it is definitely a great option to have in your arsenal.
What an awesome idea! I’ve never even thought of this before, but I think it would work nicely. Great goings Mama!
You don’t worry about them knocking something breakable off a shelf? (Not being snarky or argumentative, just truly trying to think this through. Mine always want to touch everything, too.)
Good question. I always prepare them when we’re going into a more fragile area and say they can’t touch anything in there. I keep my eyes on the section we are in so I can direct appropriately. I guess it’s just a general rule that still needs monitoring.
I had touchy kiddos too. I learned to remind them when we were in fragile areas/stores to only touch with their eyes. If they broke the rule, I had them hold their hands in front of them. It is hard to touch when your hand is holding the other hand. LOL
Yes, this is great. I say, “We are going to look with our eyes only now.” I also love to hold their hand or have them put one hand on the cart if they are having trouble obeying. Sounds like we are very similar in this regard. 🙂 Thanks for commenting.
I have a niece who does this everywhere and with everything and her mother does nothing to help her manage her urge to touch things. It’s incredibly frustrating because parties or family get togethers she often destroys cakes and desserts by putting her fingers in everything, breaks objects, and even goes into other people’s purses and things to touch whatever is inside. She has no other developmental issue that I know of. How does a non-parents address this with parent and child?
That is so incredibly hard, and I think it depends on the relationship and parenting style. Sometimes I watch these moms and see them struggling against a really strong will or kids with deeper special needs. This article might help you see what some parents are dealing with every day: https://meaningfulmama.com/unless-you-are-raising-a-special-needs-child-you-dont-understand.html You don’t know all they are trying behind the scenes. Other parents are super laid back about this kind of thing. Sometimes I wish I could channel a little of this laid back energy. That said, I firmly believe in structure and discipline. Psychologists say that an authoritative (not authoritarian) and engaged parenting style is the most effective. I say that if you do decide to approach it, fill the conversation with love and grace. Explain how you feel instead of an attack. “I start to feel really anxious when (insert name) is touching everything. It is hard to talk about it with you because I don’t want to be judgmental. I love you both so much, and I would love to partner with you to help so that we can all have more fun together. How can I best do that?” I would encourage you to have this kind of conversation when you are not in the middle of the frustration. Emotions run high for both the potentially exhausted parent and for yourself as the daughter is running around destroying things. I hope that helps.