Three little girls ages six and younger…YIKES! Going to the grocery store can be a worst nightmare. Or, seeing the light can be possible with a few tips and tricks. As a momma who is always trying to make life easier and less complicated, it was only natural for me to consciously think of easier ways to navigate grocery shopping with the girls. Here are some tips for you when shopping with kids.
1. Have a Detailed Plan
The more planned out my shopping trip is, the less muddled I’ll get when I have a 4 yr. old trying to pull something off the shelf or a 6 yr. old who suddenly needs to go to the bathroom.
In fact, I always shop with a shopping list in hand. And on it I write down every single thing that I need to buy- even when I shop at the mall. Somehow, when you have children distracting you it is just too easy to forget that one item that you were sure you’d remember even though you didn’t bother to write it on your list!
2. Communicate Expectations
As my children got older, I discovered that it helped if I clearly communicated what I expected of them before we went into the store. At first it seemed kind of silly. I mean they already know that they aren’t to go running down the aisles or grab things off the shelf, right? So why do I need to go over that every.single.time? Because children are children and they need to be reminded again and again about what is right and good.
So before we head into a store I might say something like this: “Remember the 3 things that you need to do when we are in the store? I need you to walk beside me and hang onto the cart, I need you to look and not touch and I need you to be kind to each other and not fight.” (Why is it that they so often like to pick fights when I am out shopping?!) And as I say each one I hold up a finger as a visual. Then, just to get it good and clear, I like to ask them to repeat it back to me too.
3. Praise the Good
It’s so easy to focus on what your child did poorly, like how he was running down the aisle and almost knocked down that genteel elderly lady while you stood there mortified. (Um, please don’t ask if this is an illustration taken from real life!) It’s okay to gently remind him that was not acceptable behavior, but it is just as important to focus on what your children did well.
When we are done shopping and are settled back into the car I like to try to think of at least one thing that I can praise the kids for, one thing that they did well. It might simply have been that they obeyed cheerfully when I asked them to stop touching something. Or maybe they showed kindness and helped someone by picking up something that they dropped. Whatever it is, I let them know that I noticed and I praise them for it. In fact, occasionally just for fun I’ll even reward that behavior with a stop to an ice cream shop (Ahem…Freeze Daddy’s). Because sometimes you just need an excuse to celebrate, right?
4. Let Your Kids Help
Yes, it takes longer, but your children will enjoy it more and be happier if you allow them to be involved. Let them grab an item off the shelf for you, give them a box of tissues to hold, have them help you put the groceries on the conveyor belt or scan the items at the self checkout. If you are trying to decide between two flavors of something, give them the chance to choose. You’ll make it fun and in the long run you’ll usually be farther ahead because you’ll keep them engaged and happy.
5. Be Flexible
No matter how hard you try to plan everything out perfectly, you are still going to need to be flexible. There will be interruptions that cause you to be out longer than you planned. One of your children might suddenly become hungry and grouchy even though lunchtime is 1 ½ hrs. away. Or you might get to the store and realize that you left your shopping list or coupons at home. Be willing to be flexible! Sometimes it is worth spending the extra money to buy the children a snack to keep them happy, other times it is best to just cut the shopping trip short and head home. Decide what is going to benefit you in the long run!
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