Sanity-Saving Strategies for Supermarket Shopping with Kids

It’s no secret that shopping for groceries with children in tow can be quite the challenge. Instead of dreading your next family trip to the supermarket, try implementing one or several of the following sanity-saving strategies. You will be able to fill your cart with all the staples you need – even when your “little helpers” are along for the ride.

Sanity-Saving Strategy #1: Plan Your Attack

When shopping with kids, proper preparation can mean the difference between a successfully completed mission and a total meltdown in aisle three. Be sure to:

• Limit the amount of time spent in the store by making a list – and checking it twice. Group items by department for speedier shopping, and use an app like Grocery Gadget or BigOven for greater efficiency.

• Let children know ahead of time exactly what kind of behavior you expect in the store. They should also fully understand what the consequences will be if they do not comply.

• Avoid shopping during or right before naptime. A tired, cranky toddler does not make for a happy grocery store companion.  

• Prevent hunger-induced tantrums by bringing along a healthy, high-protein snack like nuts or whole-grain cereal. Many grocery stores also offer a free cookie in the bakery. While not the healthiest option, plenty of parents have been known to use the promise of this sweet treat to inspire better behavior.     

Sanity-Saving Strategy #2: Keep Kids Busy

Bad behavior often results from boredom, so keep kids engaged and entertained during your trip. Send older children to the next aisle to retrieve their favorite breakfast cereal. Ask toddlers to help choose apples and sweet potatoes in the produce department. Let beginning readers take responsibility for crossing items off your list.

Many stores also offer miniature carts that young children can push, or full-sized carts that double as pretend cars they can “drive.” While not always a favorite among parents, these carts provide a welcome distraction for kids and may allow you to finish your shopping in peace.     

Sanity-Saving Strategy #3: Shop During Off-Peak Hours

Busy stores full of frenzied shoppers can be overly stimulating for children – and parents too. If possible, avoid shopping on weekends or during the 5 p.m. pre-dinner rush. Visit during the slower mid-morning or early afternoon hours instead. Not only will you be able to navigate the aisles more easily, fewer judgmental strangers will be present to observe or comment upon any less-than-perfect behavior your children display.  

Sanity-Saving Strategy #4: Bring Backup

If your children distract you from your shopping, consider bringing along some help. Have your spouse or partner accompany you to the store so that one of you can focus on getting groceries while the other takes care of the kids. Bring an older sibling to entertain your infant or toddler. Or hire a mother’s helper – a young girl not yet old enough to babysit but able to play responsibly with baby while a parent is nearby – to keep your little ones happy while you shop. 

Sanity-Saving Strategy #5: Get Your Game On

Grocery shopping with children does not have to be a chore. While there will always be days when you have little time to play, trips to the supermarket are more enjoyable when you channel your inner Mary Poppins and make an effort to “find the fun.”

A grocery store is the perfect place to play the Alphabet Game, where players take turns naming foods that begin with each successive letter of the alphabet. And I Spy is especially fun to play in a supermarket with a child who is learning to identify colors.  

Sanity-Saving Strategy #6: Look For Learning Opportunities

It may be easier to leave them at home, but children can learn a lot on a simple trip to the supermarket. When they have to accompany you, take advantage of the opportunity to teach important skills and expand their culinary horizons.

• Have pre-readers identify letters and numbers on the many signs they see.  

• Show kids how to read and understand nutrition labels.

• Encourage children to pick out one new food to try.

• Get pre-teens involved in the process of couponing, budgeting and price checking.

Remember too that family trips to the grocery store also provide an excellent opportunity for children to practice behaving appropriately in public. While you may not be able to stroll leisurely through the aisles or concentrate solely on your shopping when your kids accompany you to the store, you can teach them many valuable lessons.

And if you stick with these sanity-saving strategies, still manage to stock your pantry.