Skip to main content

End the Begging: The Wish Book Solution Every Parent Needs

A mother is stressed out because her son is begging in the store aisle for a new toy
If you’re a parent, you’ve probably heard it more times than you can count:
    =============================
    =============================

“Mom, can I get this?”
“Dad, I need that toy!”
“Can we pleeeease go to the store?”

Whether it’s a commercial on TV, a shiny new toy their friend just got, or an ad that pops up on your phone, kids are surrounded by things they want — and they’re not shy about letting you know.

And if we’re honest, many of us have given in at one point or another. Why? Because giving in is often faster and quieter than standing our ground. It ends the whining, the pleading, and the meltdown in the store aisle. But here’s the problem: every time we give in, we teach our kids that persistence (and loudness!) works — so they repeat the pattern next time.

But what if there were a way to break the cycle that also taught them patience, gratitude, and the value of waiting?

Introducing: The Wish Book

Cover of the new book for parents to help children channel their wants and desires
Here’s a game-changing idea: instead of saying “yes” or “no” in the heat of the moment, give your child a copy of the NEW Wish Book. This is a special notebook - (MY WISH BOOK, now available on Amazon) — that becomes the safe place for all of your child’s wants and dreams.

The next time your child sees something they have to have, you simply say in a calm, friendly tone:

“Wonderful! Add that to your Wish Book. You could even draw a picture of it.”

No arguments. No negotiations. No raised voices.

Cover of the new WISH BOOK for girls
How It Works

  1. Give Each Child Their Own Wish Book
    Versions available for Boys or Girls.

  2. Encourage Them to Add to It Often
    Whether it’s a toy they saw on a commercial, a game their friend has, or even a trip they want to take - it all goes in the book.

  3. Make It Creative
    They love crafts, so provide them with store flyers and scissors to cut out and paste the items they like. This makes the process fun instead of frustrating.

  4. Review the Wish Book Together
    Once a week or once a month, sit down together and look through their wishes. You’ll be amazed at how many things they’ve lost interest in - which is a lesson all by itself!

  5. My WISH Book for girls now available on Amazon

Why It Works

Little boy is filling out what he wants for Christmas in his Wish Book
The Wish Book does more than stop begging — it teaches life lessons:

  • Delayed Gratification – Kids learn that wanting something doesn’t mean they get it right away.

  • Emotional Regulation – Instead of melting down, they channel their desire into an action: writing or drawing.

  • Decision-Making Skills – Over time, kids naturally prioritize what really matters to them.

  • Respectful Communication – Parents stay calm and avoid power struggles, which creates a more peaceful home.

A little girl is writing in her Wish Book in the toy store aisle, making a list of all the dolls she wants, while her mother stands smiling behind her

Parent Bonus: Less Stress

Perhaps the best part? This approach removes the pressure on you in the moment. You’re no longer the “bad guy” saying no - you’re the guide who helps your child put their wants in the right place, to revisit when it’s appropriate.

And when a birthday, holiday, or allowance day rolls around, you now have a ready-made list of meaningful gift ideas straight from your child’s own heart.

Final Thoughts

Parenting is full of teachable moments, and the Wish Book turns a potentially frustrating situation into one that’s fun, constructive, and filled with connection. It’s not just about stopping the begging - it’s about helping kids learn patience, gratitude, and how to dream in a healthy way.

So the next time you hear “Can I have that?” you can smile, remain calm, and say:

“Wonderful - go write it in your Wish Book!”

Bill Corbett is a nationally recognized parent educator, author, and speaker known for his practical and compassionate approach to raising children. He has helped countless parents, caregivers, and professionals gain a deeper understanding of child behavior and discipline through his workshops, seminars, books, and media appearances since 1995. 

As the creator of the "Love, Limits & Lessons" parenting program, Corbett emphasizes the importance of respectful and effective communication, age-appropriate expectations, and the value of emotional connection in child-rearing. His work is grounded in positive discipline strategies that foster cooperation and confidence in both children and parents. The influence on his methodology came from the works of psychologists Alfred Adler and Rudolf Dreikurs.

Bill and his wife have three grown children, six grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. He came up with the wish book idea as a form of relief from the constant requests from his own children. In the process, he realized that many of the immediate desires of children actually fade or transition when not immediately satisfied. Today he enjoys watching his grown children as parents, replicating what he did with them.

Purchase THE WISH BOOK for Girls by CLICKING HERE.

Purchase THE WISH BOOK for Boys by CLICKING HERE.

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Contact Form

Name

Email *

Message *

About Me

My photo
Bill Corbett
Bill Corbett is a nationally recognized parent educator, author, and speaker known for his practical and compassionate approach to raising children. He has helped countless parents, caregivers, and professionals better understand child behavior and discipline through his workshops, seminars, books, and media appearances. As the creator of the "Love, Limits & Lessons" parenting program, Corbett emphasizes respectful and effective communication, age-appropriate expectations, and the importance of emotional connection in child-rearing. His work is grounded in positive discipline strategies that foster cooperation and confidence in both children and parents.

Popular posts from this blog

Why Love and Logic has it Wrong... Again!

Children don’t often demonstrate respect because they either don’t know what it looks like or, as the Father of Individual Psychology, Alfred Adler taught us, their disrespectful behavior is their way of attempting to get unmet needs satisfied.  The secret to getting kids to treat their parents and others with respect is to first treat them with respect and to then help them find their place in the family or the classroom.  But the creators of the LOVE AND LOGIC parenting program would have you believe differently.  All parenting programs are not created equal and in my opinion, many are misguided and offer parents and teachers bad information.  It is my belief that we should not just be demanding and manipulating our kids to be more cooperative, we should be raising children who WANT to cooperate and be engaged in the family or classroom because they feel encouraged to do so. HOW TO STOP KIDS' BEGGING FOR TOYS One of those programs that frequently offers...
6 comments
Read more

When Your Child Says "I HATE YOU!"... They are Really Just Mad

You've done so much for them, slaved for them, and sacrificed for them, and then if you don't give them what they want, they get mad at you. It hardly seems fair, all the things we do for our kids and they don't appreciate it. Then we hear them say things like, "I hate you," or "I hate this house." We hear, "You're a mean mom," or "I'm mad at you!" It's common for kids to get mad at their parents but the solution is the hardest for parents to do... just let them be mad. Effective parents learn quickly that they are not their child's friend; they are their parents. But if the parents aren't prepared to hear it and know how to respond, they get defensive or they get even. Worse, they give in to regain the love the child is withholding. I was in the toy section of a department store one day, shopping for a gift for my grandson. A mom and her little boy were in the same aisle, and the little boy, about seven, was admir...
Post a Comment
Read more

When A Child Behaves Like a Cat (or Other Characters)

Children experimenting as an animal is absolutely normal. They do it because they are simply exploring or perhaps, to gain some attention. Parents should allow their children to behave like a cat at home and you as the parent, simply ignore it. If your child answers you with a meow, you can simply tell them, "I don't understand what you're trying to tell me. I will listen to you when you speak like a little girl." Then just walk away. If your child enters an activity at home meowing like a cat, for example coming to the dinner table. Just calmly tell her that only people can eat at the table and when she returns to being a little girl, she will get food and the rest of the family will speak to her and listen to her again. In other words, don't try to control your child when they are in one of these exploring modes. Let it be and get involved when she tries to participate in the family. Do not meow back at her, do not crawl around on all fours with her and don'...
Post a Comment
Read more