Mom Shares Smart Christmas Shopping 'Hack' To Get Kids To Stop Begging for Toys

One mom’s hack for avoiding holiday shopping meltdowns? Take a picture

Christmas is right around the corner, which means our kids are nearly impossible to bring into stores. There are toys everywhere, and kids have the patience of a gnat, so they’re likely asking for every damn thing they see. We can try telling them that Santa is coming soon enough (or threaten he’s watching when they lose their marbles), but one mom discovered a different approach that works for her kid, and it’s honestly genius.

RELATED: The Best LEGO Storage Ideas To Save Your Feet And Sanity

“Once again my camera roll is FULL of pictures of Emerson with every single thing she wants for Christmas,” mom Kristina Watts wrote on Facebook. “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.”

Watts explained that shopping this time of year with her daughter was painful.

“Toys are out in full force…and of course my kids WANT IT ALL,” she wrote. Watts was also quick to call off the eventual mom-shaming and comments, saying if she were a better parent, meltdowns just wouldn’t happen. “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.”

Well said.

One day, Watts tried something new with her daughter: “Take a picture. It’s that simple.” Then, once your kid has a hot second to ponder this idea, let them know you’ll be sending it to Santa or anyone else who will consider buying it for them for Christmas. “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,” Watts added.

Watts said this approach works like a charm.

“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,” she wrote.

A shopping experience that doesn’t involve tantrums? Sign me up.

Some may say “just say, ‘no'” and that’s totally fine. But sharing is caring and if this helped Watts’ daughter stay calm during the hell that is going anywhere with kids during the holiday season, why wouldn’t we try it? It could be a real time-saver and keep all parties leaving a store feeling like they’ve won. Sounds like a perfect idea.