The first mother and daughter shopping trip can both be an exciting and daunting experience.
Taking your young daughter to update or expand her wardrobe for the first time is a great bonding experience. You can talk to your little one about anything or engage in some girl talk, something that you may not be able to do at home.
A trip to the mall also allows you to share basic yet important fashion tips for women ― ones that your little one will do well to heed even as she grows up and does her own shopping.
By spending a few hours shopping with your daughter, you will also know her likes and dislikes and get some ideas about her personal style and personality.
Your first shopping trip with your daughter, though, won’t be free from challenges. Even if it is one of the best activities for kids in Doha, there are ways to make it more fun and memorable so your little one won’t forget this experience.
Making Clothes Shopping With Your Daughter Fun and Productive
Below are five tips for making your first shopping trip with your daughter enjoyable, memorable, and successful:
1. Set a budget
Although shopping is an excellent treat to give your daughter, it doesn’t mean you should spend a lot on buying her a lot of expensive clothes. You need to put a cap on this particular expenditure.
Before going to the mall, set an amount for your shopping trip. Discuss this with your daughter and create a list of the key pieces you have to buy that fit into the budget.
Doing so can help you and your daughter narrow down the items you have to purchase and avoid overspending. Moreover, you will avoid disappointing your child, especially if she expects to buy a lot of expensive clothes.
2. Plan in advance
Although you can spare a few hours for your shopping trip with your child, it doesn’t mean that you should spend all of them in one store and buying garments.
Planning your trip beforehand allows you to do enough comparison shopping and find the best item your daughter wants to buy. Moreover, you will have more time doing other fun things that do not involve trying on and purchasing outfits.
If you know the mall like the back of your hand, plot your destinations in advance. Or go online to know which shops you should visit.
Make sure you ask your daughter what brands she is interested in and if she wants to shop at the stores you shortlisted.
To get great deals and save some money, look for shopping promotions in Doha, Qatar online as well.
A trip to the mall, though, doesn’t only involve shopping. To have a great time, plan some fun stopovers as well.
Have lunch at your daughter’s favorite restaurant. Drop by a café in-between shopping for a cup of latte and chocolate shake for your child.
For younger children, squeeze in an hour or so of playtime at an indoor or outdoor playground.
3. Allow your daughter to make some purchasing decisions
Regardless of your child’s age, she will already have a good idea of what she likes and what she thinks looks great on her. To make your daughter happy and avoid getting into an argument, let her choose a few outfits.
However, you have to know where to draw the line. After all, your child is still young. Her idea of fashion may still be limited or influenced by her friends, classmates, and the things she sees on her favorite shows and movies.
If your daughter’s taste in clothes makes you feel uncomfortable, ask her why she likes a particular design or style and explain to her why you think it wouldn’t look good on her.
Suggest alternatives for both of you to agree on. Try to find something that you both like or, at the very least, clothes that are cute and don’t make you feel uncomfortable.
4. Be particular with the details
Although you are letting your child shop for her outfits, it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t help her make better decisions. Share your knowledge about fashion and smart shopping so she gets clothes that she will love wearing for a long time.
Recommend classic designs and styles that your little one can wear all year round. Be particular with the fabric as well. If you live in an area that is hot and humid, suggest light and breathable tops and dresses.
Check the seams and fastenings of any item your child picks to ensure they hold and do not split easily. Make sure your daughter chooses a size that is not too big or small or something that she will outgrow after only a few months.
Also, read the washing instructions so you know how to clean her new clothes.
5. Communicate
Lastly, don’t forget the importance of communicating with your daughter as you spend time together.
Aside from sharing your expectations with your child, share your tips and ideas, and answer her questions, and listen to her as she shares her worries and what she’s excited about. Take note of any preferences and suggestions she has.
Also, don’t spend the entire trip to the mall discussing what you need to buy. Take the time to ask your daughter about school, friends, and other things she wants to talk about. Grab the opportunity to connect and bond with your child.
With these tips, your first mother-daughter shopping trip will definitely be a success. Moreover, you and your child will have time to plan for future outings.
AUTHOR BIO:
Hisham Elzubeir is the Marketing Manager at Doha Festival City, the largest entertainment, fashion, dining and shopping destination in Qatar. The mall has more than 400 international and local brands, including some of the most anticipated names, many of which made their Qatar debut, such as Harvey Nichols, Charlotte Tilbury, Kiehl’s, Dior Beauty Boutique, ACE and IKEA. Hisham brings over 15 years of international expertise to the communications team at Doha Festival City.