The Secret of Grocery Shopping with Your Kids

As a parent it’s sometimes difficult to remember your life BC (before children).  Remember when grocery shopping was simple and much less stressful.    A time when you strolled down every aisle reviewing labels, dreaming of recipes and planning meals in your head.  This all changes once you throw children into the supermarket mix.  Things get a little more challenging.  Now you probably find yourself speeding down every aisle, dreaming of short checkout lines and planning your reaction to the first sign of a little person meltdown.

As parents, we see grocery shopping as a task that needs to be completed, the faster, the better.  Kids see it as an adventure.  The supermarket is like a high-tech playground with bright lights and fun sounds.  As you can see, we are not on the same page.  This is no disco!

Shopping with your little person can be more pleasant and productive if you have a plan of attack and stick to it.  Here is a list of tips and tricks on how best to survive grocery shopping with your kids:

• Have a Game Plan: Know what products you need and be familiar with store layout.

• Well Rested Kids: Well rested children act better, so avoid shopping during nap time. Early morning is usually a “good mood” time for little ones.

• Never Shop When You are Hungry:  Feed everyone before shopping or have snacks available.

• Comfort Toy: A familiar toy, blanket or book might decrease the “I want that’s”.

• Discuss Behavior Rules: This of course is age (and parent) specific, but should include expectations for good behavior and safety

• Consider Off Peak Hours:  Late evening and early morning are usually less busy at supermarkets.

• Involve Your Child in the Process:  Supermarkets are full of potential learning experiences for kids of all ages including colors, matching, math, spelling/letter recognition and memory games.

• Be Prepared to Discipline:  Be consistent with rules and discipline while in the supermarket and most importantly, be prepared to leave everything in the basket should your child continue to misbehave.  This is a perfect time to reinforce you mean business when rules are set.

• Positive Feedback:  Most importantly, don’t forget to recognize and praise good behavior.

Hopefully these tips will help you the next time you pack up the little ones and head to the supermarket.  They say that practice makes perfect and this holds true for the list above.  Stay strong, consistent and positive.  But most importantly, Live Giant!

Shelia
www.megiant.com