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Saw a cashier at the grocery store in Boise handle a screaming kid with pure magic
She just calmly handed the kid a free banana from the produce section and said, 'This is a special helper banana, it needs you to hold it.' The kid stopped crying instantly. Do you guys have any other little tricks like that for dealing with upset customers or kids?
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sarahc532mo ago
That banana trick is genius, honestly. It gives the kid a job to do. I saw a librarian in my town use a similar thing with a fussy toddler, she handed him three books and said she needed them sorted by color for a special project. What other 'jobs' have you seen people give to little kids to redirect them like that?
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martin.dakota2mo ago
Yeah, that librarian idea is a good one. @sarahc53, it really works because it feels important to them. My sister will ask her three year old to be the "door holder" for everyone leaving a store, or to be in charge of pressing the button at a crosswalk. It turns a meltdown into feeling like a helper. What kind of "jobs" work best for older kids, like four or five?
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derek_coleman1mo ago
Wait, a librarian just handing random kids books to sort? That would never fly at my local branch. @sarahc53, your town sounds way more relaxed. For jobs, my neighbor has her five year old be the "cart navigator" at the grocery store. Kid has to find the cereal aisle or the dairy section. Works every time. Gives them a real mission.
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