A mom has a simple way to ensure her kids don’t cry in the toy aisle—'She feels seen’

Handling a toddler's meltdown in a public place can be quite hard. It is also pretty common for kids to throw a tantrum if they don't get the toys they like while at malls or stores. However, it might not be possible for parents to leave their child at home every time they go shopping. Luckily, a mom has a simple trick that has allowed her to handle her kid in a toy aisle without having to deal with a tantrum or meltdown. The mom, Kristina Watts, shared her life-changing tip for parents on Facebook.

The mom shared that her trips to the store with her toddler would be "painful," especially during the holiday season when the displays are full of tempting toys. "Toys are out in full force...and of course my kids WANT IT ALL." Watts expressed that she would love to have a sweet, well-mannered kid who doesn't want everything at the store, but that isn't possible. "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 is for you." The trick is just to "take a picture." She explained, "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!'"

A person could also send the picture to a kid's grandma, aunt, friend, or any other close person. "Magically, Emmie smiles, says cheese, asks to see the picture, then PUTS THE TOY DOWN AND WALKS AWAY." Watts called the trick "magical" as there are "no tears" or "tantrums" after such a moment. Her daughter, Emerson, also forgets about the things she wants within minutes. "In the moment, she feels seen and validated," the mom told TODAY Parents. She continued, "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." People shared their appreciation for the tip in the comments section of the post.

Haley Clarke Cox wrote, "Love this! So smart! I started writing everything on a 'wish list' or receipt in my bag- and just acknowledging it has prevented so many meltdowns!" Leigh Avery Wray commented, "I started doing this last year and it works like a charm with my spoiled one." Karina Bodsworth remarked, "Yep! I’ve been doing this for the last couple of years. It’s amazing how much it calms the situation. Then the rest of the year I call on the 'Birthday Fairy.'"

Neeta Bhushan, who goes by @neetabhushan on Instagram, shared a crucial piece of information about toddler tantrums and how she helps her child during one. "At ages 2-6, our kids' brains are still developing—especially the prefrontal cortex, the part responsible for logic, impulse control and emotional regulation," Bhushan wrote. "It’s not fully online yet, which means when big feelings hit, they physically don’t have the tools to self-regulate." The point was reiterated by Sarah Conway, a child and adolescent psychologist, on her blog Mindful Little Minds. She called it completely "normal" toddler behavior. So whenever her child is upset, Bhushan helps her do a "nervous system reset" by something called "blowing the candles." It could be a real or pretend candle to "blow out." She explained that, "Slow breathing sends signals to their nervous system to shift from fight-or-flight to rest-and-digest mode" and calms them down.