Handout – Shopping with Young Children

Control Misbehavior

Discuss your rules before entering the store. (For example, you will not buy junk foods.) You might even role play at home how to act in the store. If the child behaves well, show approval by noticing it and thanking the child. Ignore inappropriate behavior unless it is dangerous, destructive, or a bother to others. Stop unacceptable behavior as soon as it occurs. Don't let your child think you will allow her to misbehave because you are in public. But try not to hurt or embarrass your child by hitting or yelling. Children have feelings, too. If you do have to deal with the child's behavior, try to remove her to a private place—a bathroom, behind a counter, even out to the car.

Help Your Child Learn

If you can arrange the shopping trip so you are not overly rushed, you can help your child to learn in the supermarket by talking to him and pointing out different foods. When you choose some apples you can say, "We need four red apples. See? One, two, three, four." Play some simple games as you go along: "Who can see the potatoes first?" "Find five things in this aisle that are in cans, that are red, that can be eaten, that cannot be eaten, that begin with the letter g." "Name all the vegetables or dairy products or fruits or breads in the cart." Research shows that smart children have parents who give them this kind of stimulation.

Keep Your Child Busy

Even if you are on a fairly tight schedule, you can talk with the child about what you see and are doing. Occasionally, let your child make some of the decisions. Encourage your child to talk, watch, listen, think. If possible, give the child a responsibility (help locate the green beans; match coupons with labels). You might want to bring a toy or book from home or let the child hold something unbreakable to keep those little hands busy. For a small child, a favorite soft toy could be tied to the handle of the shopping cart.

Eat Before Shopping

Try not to take your child shopping when she is tired or hungry. A healthful snack before going to the store or possibly even during the shopping trip can ease irritability and the "I wants" resulting from hunger pangs.

Accidents

Don't let your child stand up in a grocery cart. Use the seat strap or bring one from home to keep him seated. Also, do not let children "ride" on the front or back rail, as the cart can easily flip. And for others' safety, do not allow young children to push carts. If your child is on foot, encourage him to stay near you.

Avoid Boredom at the Checkout

Do activities at the checkout to help keep your child entertained, such as:

• Name the foods in the cart. Talk about their colors, where they come from, and how you can use them.

• Point out pictures and symbols on packages, cans, and store signs.

• Sing songs. Make up a "grocery store" song.

• Do "quiet cheers," spelling the child's name: "...give me an A; give me an M..."

• Play "I see something" and have your children guess what you see.

• Describe a food in the cart and have your child guess the food.

Praise Good Behavior

Remember to praise the child often for good behavior. Perhaps reward her for good behavior by stopping at the park on the way home, giving a few minutes of special attention, telling Daddy or Sister or Grandma about this good behavior.

Ronald L. Pitzer
Extension Family Sociologist

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