Grocery Activities for Kids
Taking kids on food-shopping trips can be fun with a modicum of activity planning. Turning the grocery-store visit into a game gives you the opportunity to teach kids basic math and reading skills as well as introduce them to different foods and help them understand the value of a balanced diet.
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Weights and Numbers
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For younger children, merely counting the number of items on the grocery list or in a certain area of the basket occupies and amuses them. As they grow older, ask children for a count of items in groups, such as oat cereals, soups with vegetables, varieties of apples or types of cheese.
Many scales in supermarket produce departments are low enough for kids to use and provide an excellent opportunity for them to learn about ounces and pounds as well as how scales work. Teach multiplication and division by helping children figure out how much 2 or 3 pounds of potatoes cost based on the per-pound price.
Color Associations
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Using the nutritional guidelines that recommend dietary choices based on the color of produce, ask kids to choose a certain number of green, red, yellow and orange fruits and vegetables to purchase. You can demonstrate the ripening process of produce by comparing green and yellow bananas or green and red tomatoes.
At the fish counter, explain the taste and nutritional differences in oily, red fish, such as salmon, and that of white fish, such as cod.
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Thought Development
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Develop a child’s reasoning processes by asking him what ingredients he thinks are in a favorite cake or casserole. As you explain how the components work together to develop different textures and flavors, find the items together on store shelves.
Ask children to put together a simple menu for lunch or dinner and develop their food-matching skills by pointing out the benefits and drawbacks of each choice. See whether they know your favorite food, and ask them why they think that food is more desirable than others, what their favorites are and why.
Search and Find
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Make a photocopy of your shopping list and give one copy to each child. Have them read the signs above the grocery store aisles and pick where they think each list item will be located and why. To give children a sense of accomplishment, cross items off the lists together as they are placed into the shopping cart and ask for a countdown of how many items are left until the task is completed.
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References
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