How to Take Children Grocery Shopping

Juggling a shopping list, coupons and a shopping cart with a dragging wheel is frustrating enough. Add a couple of kids to the scene and you have a first-class stress creator. Plan ahead and make grocery shopping easier than usual.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Diaper Bags
• Spill-proof Cups
• Candies
• Snack Foods
• Infant/toddler Toys

1. Leave your children at home if you can. Rely on your partner or a neighborhood network if you have one.

2. Shop with a list. Follow the list, get what you need, and get out.

3. Bring snacks and drinks. Your children are bound to see some food item that they must have. Be prepared by whipping out a treat of your own. If they refuse your treat, give them a choice of nothing or your treat.

4. Bring small toys or interesting objects to hold. Have a stock of interesting things your children are only allowed to play with at a restaurant or store. Pull them out one at a time. Young children bore easily so when they toss their toy to the floor in disgust, amaze them for another five minutes with a new and exciting trinket.

5. Give older, responsible children a small list of their own. They can help you get shopping done faster and will appreciate the freedom. Let them choose the cereal or after-school snacks and drinks they like. You can even teach cost comparison skills by making them give you an update on their choices and why it was the best deal.

6. Give your children a long-lasting candy to savor for the shopping trip. You can make grocery shopping the one time they get a candy treat if you don't like to give your children candy. Lollipops are great for this because they take a long time to eat. Use safety pops for young children.

7. Praise your children frequently for good behavior. Try to ignore inappropriate behavior as much as possible. Talking to your children about what you expect will let them know what behaviors you are looking for. Say things like, "You are being so patient. Thank you. You are a good shopper. We will get you a treat as soon as we leave the store."

Tips & Warnings

• Sing songs while you shop. Don't worry about stage fright - worry about getting your shopping done with your sanity and your child's happiness intact.
• Make up shopping games. Have the child in the front seat be the horse and use his arms as the reigns. Say "Giddyap horsie!" every time you move the cart.
• Making threats to your child about bad behavior and what will happen when you leave the store will only increase your stress level and the anxiety of your children.

Who Can Help:

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[divingfishy15]

on 11/22/2008 I like using www.shoppingwithmymommy.com for toddler shopping list.

[Estreetloans]

on 9/28/2007 What a nice article and well written. I enjoy your writing style. Thank you for this one. :)

Melissa Fish
www.estreetloans.com

[OnTray]

on 9/2/2007 I created a product called, OnTray, for this exact reason. OnTray is a container that easily attaches to the handle bar of shopping carts. It faces the child in the seat part of the cart, allowing you to place a snack, or small toys in it to keep their hands busy. It encourages their independance, and frees up your hands to shop! http://www.ontray2go.com

[jennyb2k]

on 4/20/2007 I LOV TO GO SHOPING

on 11/22/2005 I have made grocery shopping a game. We set my pager alarm for 60 minutes, then work our way through the store with a defined goal: to be finished before the alarm goes off. He concentrates on the time, so he forgets how much he hates to shop.