Comments on: How to Take Children Grocery Shopping

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

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

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.

on 11/22/2005 For kids who are old enough to help but can't yet read, make a visual list. Cut pictures from store ads, or save labels from common purchases. Take the "list" with you and let your little one help you search things out on the shelves.

on 11/22/2005 Inquire if the store has child-size grocery carts - these have saved my life. My 5-year-old loves the responsibility of having his own. If the store doesn't have them, ask them to consider ordering them.

on 11/22/2005 When I go grocery shopping with my 10- and 11-year-old, I give them my coupons for items I need and they go find them in the store. It keeps them busy and makes my shopping go a lot quicker!

on 11/22/2005 I have three kids (ages 7, 5 and 2), and they are almost always very good! We have a rule: If you behave, you get a treat, if you do not behave, you do not (and I remind them when neccessary). But you have to follow through every time.

on 11/22/2005 Use the time at the grocery to teach. Younger children can learn colors, the names of various ingredients, etc. Older children can learn to comparison shop, decide what is the best value, etc. Children love to do this!

on 11/22/2005 Prepare them in advance ("I expect to see x from you in the store"). Compliment them often on any good behavior ("I like the way you are walking quietly next to me," or "You are doing a wonderful job not being loud"). Works 99% of the time here.

on 11/22/2005 Collect coupons for items that you need. Take them to the store and hand them out one at a time. Kids will have to find brands (spelling) and quantities (math). For older kids, let them have their own shopping cart and keep track of totals.