Okay now raise your hand if you have bribed your children to behave while you run errands? If your hand isn’t up you must have a full staff of servants taking care of your every need. Lets face it errands aren’t supposed to be a barrel of laughs. It’s not in their nature. There are several companies that realize this and create incentive programs to keep the kids coming back. HE Buddy and his Buddy Bucks are the most obvious and ingenious ploy. My kids have to behave in the store in order to be allowed to ask for a Buddy Buck, the get to play with a machine that has a joystick, they get a sticker to put on their sheet, learn about saving for a goal, and then get a prize. Talk about build up!!! Kids actually get excited about earning a package of carrot sticks! It might help that it has a smiling bag of groceries on the package. Who knows, but it works. Another great program is the Kidgits club at Simon Mall. For $5.00 they get a member T-shirt, a membership card, and the privilege of spinning a prize wheel for small toys or coupons. The Lakeline location gives out coupons for free food at Chick-Fil-A. They also get a gift on their birthday and have seasonal Kidgits Events that have fun activities and great giveaways. It really takes the sting off the phrases “We are not here for you.” Or “we are just looking today.” There are several stores out there that offer balloons and if that doesn’t sound like much say this in your mind “If you don’t stop poking your sister you won’t get a balloon!’ Did it work? Or who can resist a race car or kid sized shopping cart. Also if you are really clever you can plan your trips to Home Depot, Lowes, or Michaels when they have their free workshops for kids. They get to swell with pride as they show you the birdhouse or necklace they made and you can pick up lawn bags in peace. Story time at many of the local bookstores is a great way to get that last minute birthday gift too. If you frequent a store that doesn’t have any perks for the kids start filling out comment cards now. It is a win, win for everyone.