Tips to Make Grocery Shopping with Kids more Bearable
Grocery shopping can be taxing with kids in tow. Whether your kiddos fight with each other or whine for candy. (Why must they put the candy at kid-level?) With a little prep and practice, grocery shopping with your kids can be more bearable, maybe even fun.
The grocery store is a wonderful way for your kids to learn all kinds of new things. Think about all the different colors, shapes, numbers, languages you see at the store. It is a great way to expose your child to new things and to teach them important life skills. Going grocery shopping with kids may sound like a nightmare, but there are some things you can do to make it more enjoyable for your kids and for you too!
Some prep work before shopping, make sure everyone has eaten, used the bathroom, and hopefully well rested to help prevent crabby moods. If you can shop during less busy hours like the morning or weekdays, that would be helpful as well. If your kiddo is sensitive to lights or noise, some sunglasses or headphones can help as well.
Let your kids help make the grocery list and give them the job of making sure you get everything on the list. Visual lists are great for younger kiddos who are learning to read. If your kiddo isn’t at the reading stage, or you aren’t the grocery list type, let them know what you’re looking for in the moment. “I’m looking for the broccoli, can you help me find it?”
Grocery shopping is a great opportunity to integrate learning colors, letter sounds, shapes. “What color is this apple? What shape is this cracker box? What is a fruit that starts with the B sound?” “How much does that cost?” “I have a budget of $5 for apples, how many can I get?” “What cereal can we get that is less than $3?”
Have a reward with clear expectations. “If you stay with me, use your inside voice and only help me get things on the list I will let you pick out a cereal/toy/candy if I have to give you more than two warnings, you will not get the reward.” It is important to have a reward and not a bribe. A bribe is something you offer in the moment, “If you stop screaming you can have the toy.” This reinforces the undesired behavior, and when you reinforce the behavior it is more likely to happen again. A reward is something with clear expectations (not just be good) and promised in advance.
Let your child choose. Kids love choices, even mundane choices help them feel heard and in control. If you think about it, kids really aren’t in control of much. “Would you like broccoli or carrots for dinner? Oranges or apples for snack? Orange or white cheese?”
Avoid those tantrums over that really cool toy or cereal box with paw patrol on it by letting your kids take a picture with the item to be put on their wishlist for next time or a special occasion. Sounds weird but it works for a lot of kids! It helps them feel heard. “That isn’t on the list for today, but we can take your picture with it to remember for next time or for a special occasion (birthday, send to Santa, etc)”
Of course, all children are different so you may need to modify these tips based on age and ability. It’s also totally fine to use click list or delivery, we won’t judge.
