Ten Tips For How To Grocery Shop With Kids

One of the biggest challenges most of us face as parents with younger children is trying to shop! Here are some tips for how to best go grocery shopping with your kids:

1. Have a list ready! Go through your local ad and check the store deals each week before you go shopping. Have everything written down and if you can, organize it by section (dairy, produce, meat, etc.)
2. Clip those coupons! Be sure that when you get to the store, your coupons are already clipped and organized. When I shop, I move my coupons from the “to be purchased” pile into the “purchased” pile as I add things to my cart.
3. Bathroom time first! Make sure your children have used the bathroom BEFORE you head out to the store. We’ve all been to the grocery store bathroom, but you really don’t want to go if you don’t have to. Really, really…
4. Shop at primetime! It’s never a good idea to shop right before naptime or bedtime. This will guarantee you less time and more anxiety. Unless you absolutely, 100% have to, try to shop at an easier time of day.
5. Bring snacks! Especially for the little kids, snacks will buy you some time. It will also provide you a bit of an hourglass timer because when the snacks are gone, your time is almost up.
6. Don’t window shop! Try your best not to pick up extra groceries. If it wasn’t on your list, you likely don’t have a coupon for it, so make sure sure it’s really worth it to you.
7. Have something prepared! It’s always helpful to be able to say, “When we’re done here, we’ll get lunch together! What should we have today?” Turn it into a game. Help them to suggest things like alligator sandwiches. If they are older, teach them about how sale tags and prices work! Anything to help them keep their minds busy.
8. Let them help! It’s always fun for the kids to choose the actual boxes or apples that you are purchasing. Show them how to pick out a good plum and let them hold the bag while you put them in or vice versa.
9. Count the clock! Time is not your friend when you are shopping with children. They have a time limit (I usually give myself half an hour for a medium sized list) and that includes the time you take to check out at the register. Move, move, move!
10. Stickers always help! While you are checking out with your dozens of coupons, ask the cashier if your children might have a sticker. That will buy you a few extra moments at the register and you’ll look like an awesome parent to the little ones.

It is never going to be a party when you take your kids grocery shopping, but if you can make it a more educational experience for them, it won’t become such a chore! Make sure that you’re prepared and you’ll get through it with flying colors.

**Fine Print – This is a sponsored post on behalf of Stock Up Sale.