Our kids come grocery shopping with us. And they love it. We have a whole series of things we do at the grocery to make it a fun time for the kids. One tip worth remembering: if your kids are enjoying the shopping trip then so will you!
We let our kids be as independent as their age warrants. The youngest shoppers have to ride in the cart. But they get to hold the shopping list and inspect safe items. Preschoolers can have their own mini-shopping cart or walk along with a parent. Older kids might get free range in the store and still be a part of the shopping team.
As we go about the store, we learn the need to look, but not to touch. When a child wants an item, we can explain and teach about why we will or won’t get it. Is it too expensive? Is it an allergen for someone in the family? Is it something to take note of for a future trip? We discuss value shopping all the time with our kids. Do we have a coupon for that item? Is the bigger box necessarily a better value per ounce? Does the product contain MSG, or High Fructose Corn Syrup, or some other ingredient we avoid as a family?
Many grocery stores have a bakery department that offer up samples to young shoppers. By visiting the Bakery at our local Hy-Vee, both Bluey and Plum have friends at the store that they look forward to seeing every time we shop. It makes the trip that much more enjoyable for them. We try to make as many friends as we can in the stores we frequent. In addition to the Hy-Vee Bakery employees, our kids know the store nutritionist, the Assistant Manager, and several cashiers and baggers. Grocery shopping is a like a trip through the neighborhood— you never know who you’ll bump into.
For our older Plum, we frequently send her off on her own to track down items on our shopping list. She knows that she needs to price compare and come back with the best value. And she needs to know the exact price so that we can track the price of our purchases as we shop. Giving Plum extra freedom in the store allows her to explore, look at a few things that she’s interested in (like cat toys), feel a sense of independence, and still be a part of the shopping team.
One store we frequented in New Hampshire (Stop&Shop) had price guns that allowed you to pre-check out and bag your groceries while you shopped. Plum loved using the price gun—it was great fun and an important responsibility. We await this system to be implemented in our area.