Parenting Points: Make the most of grocery shopping with your child

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This article was published 03/11/2016 (3240 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Parents with young children often dread taking a trip to the grocery store. They envision stacks of items that could be knocked over, long aisles for children to run through, strangers who give critical looks, and total meltdowns in the cookie section.

However, with some planning and preparation, grocery shopping can be both fun and educational.

Try to shop only when your children are well rested and well fed. Adults know how hard it is to avoid temptation when shopping on an empty stomach, and it is even more difficult for children. If you are not able to have a snack or meal before going to the store, bring something from home to nibble on, such as a small bag of dry cereal or cut up fruit.

Discuss your expectations before entering the store, but be prepared to give reminders throughout the trip. Shopping rules might include using “inside voices” and “walking feet” while staying close to you. Have a plan in place in case you should happen to be separated. You might have your child wait for you at the end of the aisle, go to a specific meeting place in the store, or ask a store employee for help. If possible, try to plan your shopping trip at a time when the store is not typically busy.

Setting limits before shopping helps the trip go more smoothly, but the grocery store can be very overwhelming to a young child. There are so many things to see and touch. If you use the distractions of the store to your advantage, you and your child can have a fun shopping experience, and even find opportunities for learning. Depending on the age of your child, there are many different activities to pass the time.

If you are shopping with a baby, place him in his car seat or a cart with an attached baby seat so he can see your face. Talk to him as you go through the store, describing what you see, hear and smell. Play peek-a-boo or sing quietly to him. Make eye contact as often as you can to keep him engaged.

A toddler riding in the cart can play “I Spy” and point out different colours and shapes that she sees on packaging and signs. Let her hold a small item like a box of crackers and talk about the pictures. She can help count small quantities as you put items in the cart. If your toddler prefers to walk, she can help find and pick up items from the shelves.

Give your preschooler a different number or letter to watch for as you go down each aisle. Choose a mystery item and give clues to help him think of what it might be. Ask him to count items, find a bigger or smaller package, or look for a familiar logo. He may even wish to bring his own grocery list. Before leaving home, give him a pencil and paper and let him scribble lines on it. Ask him what he has put on his list and see if he remembers as you go through the store.

The grocery store provides endless opportunities for learning. Instead of looking at it as an unpleasant chore, turn it into an adventure you can have together with your child.

Shawna Munro works at the Elspeth Reid Family Resource Centre, a facility of Child and Family Services of Western Manitoba that offers parenting information and support.

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