3 great parenting tips to get your family to help (not hinder) your grocery shopping.

Going to the store with children can be a chore. It usually involves overusing the word ‘No!’ to the many things they pick up through the aisles. If you’ve gotten through the aisles in one piece, your child will likely remind you of how hungry they are and beg you to leave. For practical reasons, we must teach our children to tolerate grocery shopping and how to get your children to help with grocery shopping.

1. Create a list before you go.

Going to the store with a pre-written shopping list from Wishfinity is a great way to avoid picking up items you don’t need. While you’re at home, sit with your child and include him in the list-making. Ask your child to help check the pantry and refrigerator for groceries. Once they’re done, ask them what they want from the store. Including your child in compiling a list will teach them what it means to grocery shop responsibly, and will help them feel included in the process.

2. Provide options.

While putting your list together, provide your child with options. Not sugary, unhealthy choices, but choosing which fruits or nuts they’d like to have as snacks. Does your child usually go for the sweets? Let them choose between apples, bananas, and grapes. Suggest suggesting almonds or peanuts if they ask for saltier snacks such as chips. Children appreciate being given options and will gladly choose from the ones provided. By encouraging your child to eat healthy snacks, you inadvertently encourage them to eat less junk food. They’ll be more driven to help with grocery shopping as well.

3. Eat a snack before you go.

The worst time to go grocery shopping is on an empty stomach. Not only does everything look incredibly delicious, but you end up purchasing items you don’t need. Save yourself the trouble and snack with your kids before grocery shopping. Some easy snacks are celery sticks with peanut butter and raisins, apple slices, crackers with cheese, or some grapes. Whatever you do, eat something small before you go anywhere near a grocery store!