7 Reasons you Should Go Grocery Shopping with your Kids
I put my kids to work in the kitchen early because I see so many benefits from kids learning how to cook. I was recently asked by The J.M. Smucker Company to share some of my tips for cooking with my kids and it’s a topic that I get asked about a lot.  I don’t stop at the kitchen though. Taking your kids to the grocery store (while, I admit, may be a little challenging) is also a great way to teach them important life skills.
I try and take at least one of my kids with me every time I head to the store. They love the one-on-one time and it’s a great way to help them learn skills like budgeting, math skills, and nutrition.
It’s been a busy couple of weeks for my family, and likely won’t be slowing down anytime soon, so I headed to the store with two of my boys to stock up on groceries, including some things they can cook on their own on our crazier days. It got me thinking about all the reasons I love taking my kids grocery shopping with me. Here are a few of my favorites.
They can choose foods they love. My kids are ambitious eaters and one of the reasons for that is I’ve set them loose in the produce section since they were very little and asked them to pick a food they haven’t tried before. We’ve come home with everything from dragon fruit to brussels sprouts and my kids have loved every single one, probably at least partially because it was their idea to try it.
It’s a chance to talk. With 6 kids in my house, we have to make an effort to find one-on-one time with each child. Going to the grocery store is a great low-pressure chance to talk and check in with each child. My boys, especially, are much more willing to talk when we are doing something else. If I sneak in some questions about their day while we are grocery shopping, though, they are always willing to talk.
It’s practical math. Our grocery trips tend to take longer because I make my kids practice their math skills as we shop. I’ll often ask them to tell me which brand is the cheapest per ounce (and they can’t cheap by looking at the signs on the display), have them weigh produce and tell me how much it will cost, and add up totals as we go. My boys have actually caught mistakes when the cashiers have given us the wrong change or charged the wrong amount for an item so it’s awesome having a second set of eyes.
It’s a chance to teach independence. I try and let my kids be as independent as they can be. My younger kids love handing the cashier money to pay for our groceries or paying for a small item on their own. I’ll give my older boys part of our shopping list and send them off to find things on their own. They are in charge of choosing which brand is the best value and making sure we get the correct items. This is also a great chance for them to choose ingredients they need to make anything they have planned for the week. I’ve mentioned before that my kids each take turns cooking during the week. They love it and it takes something off my plate.  This week when we went to our local Kroger store we picked up some Martha White® Baking Mixes. They looked easy enough for my kids to make on their own and we have plans to doctor one a bit for a special treat next week when we make an good old fashioned southern breakfast. Find your local Kroger store here and see where you can find Martha White® Baking Mixes.
It’s a great chance to practice social skills. My kids know when we go out I’m going to make them talk to strangers. I know that’s not usually something that is recommended, but hear me out. I have my younger kids ask store employees where something is in the store. My older kids ask about getting raincheck for items that are out of stock and order what we need from the deli or meat department. It’s a great chance for them to talk to adults outside of our normal social circle in a safe environment.
It’s a great chance to practice reading skills. There are words everywhere at the grocery store so there are plenty of opportunities to practice reading skills. I have my younger kids read signs and food categories on each aisle. My older kids get to practice their label reading skills.
It’s a great lesson on nutrition. My older kids are in the habit of reading labels on foods. They love the challenge and it’s a great chance for them to learn about what ingredients are in the foods that we eat. My kids love seeing the variety of healthy foods that are out there when they go grocery shopping with me. It really gets them excited about making healthy choices and makes cooking more exciting for them.
Do you take your kids grocery shopping with you (or do you just think I’m crazy)?
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of J.M. Smucker’s®. The opinions and text are all mine.
