4 Reasons To Take Your Child Grocery Shopping This Week
Bringing my kids to the grocery store isn't always my favourite activity...
...BUT when there's time to slow down and everyone is in the right mood, it can be fun and there's so many opportunities for learning.
By taking our children to the grocery store with us, they have a chance to develop:
1. Their Senses - The grocery store is a feast for the senses! There’s so much going on visually, as well as different sounds and smells.
- If your child is interested, bring a fruit or veggie up to their nose so they can smell it.
- Walk through the bakery and talk about what you’re smelling.
- Invite your child to pick things up and put them in the basket, learning about different weights.
- Walk through the freezer aisle and talk about the temperature change.
- Look for new foods to try and eat once you get home.
- Walk around, look at all the different types of produce, name them, talk about their colours, their shapes, etc.
- Talk to your child about the fruits and vegetables that they like or don’t like (it’s okay for children to not like things, just like adults!).
3. Social Skills - Social skills aren’t just about being friendly or talking to people. Young children also need to learn how to navigate public spaces and just be around other people.
4. Independence and Responsibility - If possible, have a plan to buy 1 or 2 things that your child wants. This could be a fruit, veg, snack or idea for a meal.
This helps them to learn that their opinion matters and they can contribute ideas in their household.
We also have child-sized Shopping Carts and a Children's Grocery Shopping Tote which would be fun and further their independence - "I’m pushing a shopping cart/carrying a shopping tote just like my parents!" Providing them with their own bag or basket also gives them a sense of responsibility.
For Children 6+
As your child grows and learns to read, write, and understand math, you can give them more responsibility, like:
- helping to plan out the weekly menu
- writing out the grocery list
- looking over recipes to ensure you have all the ingredients
When To Start
You can start bringing your child to the grocery store right in infancy!
Children don’t have to be independent walkers to be able to enjoy the grocery store, you can do a lot of what’s mentioned above while they’re sitting a stroller or shopping cart too.
Bonus Tips:
- If you’re planning to spend some time at the grocery store, bring snacks and/or eat beforehand. Young children are continuing to learn how to control their impulses and there’s a good chance they’re going to want to take a bite of something or want to eat something in the cart right away. You can redirect them to the snacks you’ve brought.
It’s okay for them to learn that they have to wait until everything is purchased (and washed, when necessary) before eating.
- The learning can continue once you’re home by inviting your child to help put the groceries away.
Even young toddlers can help to take cans and other items out of bags, handing them to you or putting them in a designated area. They’ll learn where everything goes, what items need to be refrigerated vs. put into a cupboard, etc.
- Grocery shopping can also be great way to pique your child’s interest in preparing food and/or trying new foods. Spend time in the kitchen once you’re home, washing a new fruit or veg you want to try, preparing the meal you bought all the ingredients for, baking, etc.
