How to Keep Your Sanity When You Grocery Shop With Your Children

If you have kids, going to the grocery store is not high on your list of fun family outings. Your otherwise happy and agreeable children can change into people you barely recognize once those sliding doors open and you enter the grocery store. Instead of letting your grocery shopping trip with the kids turn into a three ring circus, turn the trip into a fun learning experience. With a little planning, you can have a stress-free grocery trip and your kids can have fun practicing their math skills while learning another valuable skill--smart grocery shopping!

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Paper
• Pen
• Grocery coupons
• Grocery store ad

1. Create a list for each child you will be taking with you to the grocery store. Each child will have their own list of items that they will be responsible for locating at the grocery store. Use the child's age as a guide to how many items you put on their grocery list. Older kids can handle more items on the list, younger kids should have fewer items.
2. Develop a rough estimate of the total cost of the items on each child's grocery list. After determining the approximate cost of the groceries each child will be buying, give them each a budget that represents this expected cost. Foe example, if you estimate the total cost of your daughter's grocery list to be $15.00, tell her she will be working with a budget of $15.00. Let her know that she has to try and get all the items on her grocery list without going over her budget.
3. Explain the benefits of using grocery coupons and shopping for items that are on sale to help the children make the most of their grocery budgets. You might also point out the benefits of buying store brands and comparing price per unit so they can get the most for their money as they shop for their groceries. The age of your kids will determine how deeply you explore the math lessons to be applied.
4. Arm your children with their grocery lists and coupons and make sure you have yours too. Work your way through the grocery store together as you consult your grocery lists to fill the cart with all of the best deals to be had at the store.
5. Kids who are old enough to responsibly handle a grocery cart will get a kick out of having their own to push through the store.

Tips & Warnings

• If they are mature enough, consider giving your children cash in the amount of their grocery budget and letting them checkout and pay for the groceries for which they have shopped.
• Kids who are old enough to responsibly handle a grocery cart will get a kick out of having their own to push through the store.