Grocery shopping: It has to be done. But does it have to be a painful weekly experience? Here’s some expert advice for making trips to the store manageable, organized, and yes, even fun!
It's 9:00 on a Saturday morning, and you, your three-year-old, and your new baby are in the grocery store. Though the baby is napping in a sling, your toddler is at peak energy and jumping around the cart and store as though you've just fed him pixie sticks. Keeping him under control and sticking to the list is an impossible task amidst the chaos. It occurs to you that this is just not fun — and isn't shopping supposed to be fun?
There is nothing more frustrating than running errands such as grocery shopping with tired, bored, or cranky kids in tow. A grocery aisle can become a lesson in survival with stares, glares or advice from fellow shoppers on doing a better job keeping your kids appeased or in hand. And as we Moms know, we often lack the luxury of leaving kids behind at home so we can shop undistracted at our own pace. So what's a Mom to do when we have kids to entertain en route?
It turns out that grocery stores offer an abundance of games and incentives along the way. First comes the treasure hunt, which can grow in sophistication as your kids get older: it can be as simple as spotting the red peppers in front of you with a toddler to sending older kids in search of very specific products on far-ranging aisles. You can use labels or cut out coupons as clues: and the search is on. Plus, older kids can be challenged to figure out which product offers the best value: such as choosing between the sizes of ketchup. Next come strategic bonuses along the way: from free cookies in the bakery aisle to getting to pick two special treats as long as they meet with Mom's approval.
Here are a few more ideas to keep everyone occupied while you shop:
- Guessing games: "I am thinking of something right in front of me that has a bright red label."
- Reading ingredients on the labels: is it all natural? Are there ingredients we do not know?
- Everyone gets to choose 3 personal picks of favorite stuff in exchange for great behavior.
- Many hands make light work at checkout: kids can organize all the refrigerated, frozen, fruits and vegetables together to make easy unpacking when you arrive home.
