Sometimes it's unavoidable: We desperately need milk and I need to take the kids along to the store. It's not ideal. Here are some ideas I try to implement to make our trips to the store smoother:
- make sure the girls have food in their bellies before we go
- have an organized list
- have plenty of time-not needing to rush
- give them a task in the store- a particular item they might try to keep their eye out for
- let them explore and touch things and ask questions (within reason and while staying close to me and out of other people's way)
- have conversations with them about what we're buying, how to choose ripe fruits and veggies, how to check dates, what I'll be cooking...
- Incentives (aka bribery)-Trader Joe's gives a treat to kids who can find the hidden stuffed monkey, Henry's gives balloons
How do you juggle kids and grocery shopping?
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29 comments:
These are great ideas.
Where we live, bananas are sold per unit, not lb, so Bear always gets to eat a banana in the cart if she is good.
Sometimes we draw or cut out pictures of some things I need to buy (like milk, apples,...) so my son has to find them in the store with the help of this list.
Greetings from Germany!
I go to the stores with the car type carts and they are amused a good bit pretending to drive and often bring a stuffed friend to enjoy the ride. For my 2 and 3 year old I bring cheerios and toasted plain wheat waffles (we go in the mornings). If I have to bring my 2 older (5 and 7yrs) they have gotten pretty good at just being patient, but they don't have to go often since they are in preschool/1st grade. :)
I almost always take my kids with me to do grocery shopping. Our Kroger has really nice carts with toddler seats that I can get all 3 kids into easily. Sometimes I let them eat a snack while we shop. Other than that they just look around and talk about all the stuff they want :)! I have a harder time if I am somewhere that they have to walk...we are still working on that! It always helps to go early in the day when they are well rested.
Early training works. At least for me anyhow. I have two children. Age 4 and almost 2. Youngest is milder and tend to echo oldest. When oldest is younger, I've had to leave cart in store and go back to the van to adminster discipline. After a few times like that, she improved because she doesn't want that to repeat! I've found it helpful not to go shopping near naptime. Now oldest usually not need a nap and youngest is likely to just sleep in cart. Part of training is to not to yield to their every whim. "Yes, you like that thing. We have enough at home so we are not getting it today." She knows if she tries to push to get her way that there will be consquences to face. Such as banning a certain treat for that day or putting a certain item back. After a few session of that, they will start to understand. Being consistent is the key here. So far, I've gotten babysitter for my children only once to go shopping. Yup, I go shopping with little one every single time! Train them YOUNG and it will go much easier when they are bit older.
Amen to Jean and her comment "Train them young..." The best advice I ever got was "Start as you mean to go on." With four kids, 6 and under, I try to avoid taking them with me at all costs!! But when we do go, containment is key. The baby is in the shopping cart seat, the third sits in the basket with the groceries, if it gets too full then he has to hold my hand all the time. The older two MUST keep one hand on the cart at all times. If the store I am at has some kind of reward, we definitely tap into that system!
Oh yes, when I go to Walmart- chicken popcorn and now a liter of store brand soda pop is always something to look forward to! I know, not very healthy meal but the price of quieter children is almost priceless! How can I forget the harness and leash? For a while oldest was contended being on a leash but she has outgrown it as she is pretty good at sticking close by (unless distracted by intersting toy). Temper tantrum? That always called for a "trip to van". Remember be consistent, both at home and away. They WILL learn. Oldest is starting to show active interest in helping me to shop. I see couple homeschool lesson opportunities there!! Have anybody used Bendryl type of medicine given to child so they will either sleep or subduded while shopping? I think I have done that ONCE (she wasn't feeling too well, need groceries, not in mood at all to deal with fussing). I also found having a list on hand help a lot but still struggle with love of browsing. Children learned to be more patient (more little gifts that way) and I learned to pare down on browsing some.
I have discovered that if I talk to my kids before we even leave the house about what we're doing and what my expectations are, they do much better. I will say that we have to go to this store, this store, and that store, and that I expect them to stay with me and to listen and obey right away. And then I will tell them what their reward will be if they are good. Often it's a trip to the library or an extra half-hour of TV time-- nothing huge. But knowing ahead of time what's going to happen really helps them. It also sends the message that the end is in sight.
oh yes, we've all been there. i can so relate!
those are great ideas!
Whenever I take my 2 1/2 year old grocery shopping, he ends up wanting to be held and not sit in the buddy. Holding a 30 lb kid and pushing a buggy full of groceries = TOUGH :) Maybe soon I'll be able to let him down, without him destroying the store... I can always dream!
I must be honest...
cherry suckers
sandy toe
Great tip. I usually grocery shop when the kids are in school but my dh is usually the one who goes be cause he likes too.
Ok, Jean, you're killing me. Leashes and Benadryl? That's hard core.
the "cool" shopping carts and something from the snack bar! Popcorn lasts a whole trip around target, and it's only a buck!
I usually have a few things that I know the girls will love on my list and make it into a verbal list. (My girls are three.) When going through the store I will pick up some boring stuff (flour, tomatoes, chicken) and then repeat the list and we go get something they like (olives, salami, apples) and I let them help pick out the one we get.
Your ideas are great.
My kids usually can't last through a trip to the grocery store.
We have tried various things from your list, and many others I have come up with.
Sometimes a scavenger hunt will keep them occupied!
your ideas are great.
i have always taken my three shopping with me (not fun when i had an infant, 2yr old, and 3 yr old). i am been big on praising them when they are helpful, and rewarding them at the end of the store (we do our grocery shopping just 2x a month so i have full baskets). i also give them responsibility, ask them to find somethings,compare prices and ounces, ask what they remember we needed (even though i have a list, i make them feel needed). and now that they are bigger (11,9,7) we take the walkie talkie's with us to the store, and i send them to get certain items, while staying connected via walkie talkies..they love it!
me again. jean is right. i've made a couple trips "back to the van," (it only takes a couple trips, they get it) leaving my full cart parked in the store.
i can tell you consistency pays off in the end.
My kids are 2 and 3 and usually food shopping goes very well. They love looking at the fruits and veggies and smiling at people. Once we get home its a different story but im so thankful they are good shopping...knock on wood!
Don't forget to go potty before you leave. That's always my big one:).
I've always taken my kids to do the shopping... no other choice really, but it's never been that big of a deal. Of course there are always those trips that end in disaster, but then that can happen wherever we go.
I wonder if the more you take them the better it is?
We've always been matter of fact about doing the shopping, assumed the kids will enjoy it (so much to look at and talk about and help with)... and they do... most of the time.
I love that picture of your daughter holding the balloon. It's actually really cool that it's a "headless" shot. Very artistic and fun.
We have a 2 1/2 year old and a 2 month old so lately my husband has been doing all of the grocery shopping. I give him a list and he goes "solo" or he takes our 2-year-old along. :)
I don't have any tips to share, but I do think grocery stores could do a better job of marketing to moms: http://metropolitanmama.net/2009/01/how-grocery-stores-can-market-to-moms-more-effectively/.
I just keep mine in my belly still! Ha Ha. My biggest issue is I can't lean over the cart when I'm wandering the aisles.
Your girls are a bit older than mine. I look forward to being able to involve them more and more. I've never done the whole rule of "you can pick one thing" on every trip. And almost always say "no" when they ask for the junk they see. Since that is the way it has always been, it's easy. I also usually try to have some sort of snack, which again cuts down on the asking for junk because they're busy. One of my stores has carts that can hold 4 kids so that helps (though it has a small basket). There are BAD trips, but it is usually because the timing stinks.
LOL! We have all been there!
Really, for me it is all about bribery. I have 3 kids under 4 so when I have to take them grocery shopping, which I do try to avoid at all costs, I promise them a popsicle or some other relatively health treat at the end IF they do a good job. I don't often leave when tantrums are happening, I power through and ignore their screams. I get lots of dirty looks, but when I take them to the store it is because I really do need something and so we get it. Good tips in your post! I think it will be more fun when my kids are a bit older and can help find stuff with me.
I have rarely grocery shopped alone! The youngest one always rides in the cart, buckled in. The older ones (6 and 4) can help pick things off the shelf and put things in the cart. They LOVE the car shopping carts but my kids are so dang tall that they hardly fit! Grocery shopping is usually fast and no-nonsense, but I love to stroll around Target. A trip to Starbucks inside and the promise of looking in the toy rows will keep them happy most of the time. :)
Please, Please people...leave the kids at home. Why must you bring the entire family to the store? Kids are running around, running into people, getting into things, putting their hands in the open food bars, eating all the samples...OMG. Wouldn't they be happier at home?
No offense - but I notice it more with minorities
I have to snicker a little at that last comment from "Bill". If I had a choice, I would leave them at home, but sometimes it just isn't an option. I have a 4 and 3 year old. I bend down on their level and lay out the rules before we go in. I tell them that if they stick their arms out of the race car cart or if they try to climb out that they will lose the privilege of riding in it and will hold my hand for the rest of the time. I do explain to them that sticking their arms out could be dangerous and also disturbs me and distracts others. They are quite friendly so I limit how much they speak to others unless the person is showing interest and then I stop shopping while we talk to the person and concentrate on teaching them proper manners while they speak to people. I usually tell them ahead of time that if they are good minders in the store, they can have a half a piece of gum once we get in the car.
Loved all the comments and ideas!! Benadryl idea makes me laugh. Quite extreme - that one is not on my top ten. But I do have a quick story: My 4 year old was given Benadryl at the doctor's office before his flu shot because he's allergic to eggs and they wanted to keep him from reacting to the shot. We stayed a bit after the shot to make sure he was OK. We then went to the grocery store and before I knew it, I looked down to see him OUT. I mean OUT! His sister kept trying to wake him up and I kept checking to make sure he was still breathing! I've never seen him like that since.
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