Tips of the Day - Shopping

• To help your child get used to malls, go early before the stores open. Walk around to familiarize your child with the building, buy him a snack when the stores open, and leave. Extend the amount of time at the mall each time you go.
• When out shopping, praise and give your child a small reward, such as a piece of candy, for staying with you.
• To teach your child not to touch things when shopping, visit a clothing store or another store with unbreakable objects; tell him not to touch if he tries to grab something.
• To minimize wait time, buy shoes at stores that let you pick out your own shoes instead of having to wait for a salesperson.
• When shopping, bring a helper to keep track of your child until you are confident that she will stay with you.

_{*Tips taken from "The Child with Autism Series" by Kathy Labosh}