A mother has shared a simple parenting hack that she claims instantly stops children from begging for toys in shops, particularly during the Christmas season. Kristina Watts, from Washington, posted the trick on Facebook, where it has been shared nearly 50,000 times.
Kristina explained that when her daughter picks up a toy she wants, she takes a photo of the child with the item and says, “Let’s take a picture with it to send to Santa so he knows you want it.” She then pretends to send the photo to Father Christmas, but actually sends it to her daughter’s grandmother or a friend.
“Magically, [she] smiles, says cheese, asks to see the picture, then PUTS THE TOY DOWN AND WALKS AWAY,” Kristina wrote. “It’s magical. No tears. No tantrums (by either of us).”
Other parents have praised the idea, with one commenting, “I do it all the time and my son is now six. Works like a charm.” Another mum added that she uses a similar trick at home, sitting with her children at the computer and taking screenshots of toys they choose online, telling them she will send everything to Santa.
