Skip to main content
Pinned Navigation Logo
Contact Us
Pinned Navigation Logo
  • Our Solutions

    See All Solutions

    For Parents

    Early Education & Preschool

    Early Education & Preschool

    • Overview
    • Infant Care
    • Toddler Care & Education
    • Preschool
    • Kindergarten Prep
    • Kindergarten
    • Our Curriculum

    For Employers

    Bright Horizons Family Solutions

    Bright Horizons Family Solutions

    • Overview
    • On-Site Child Care
    • Back-Up Care
    • Elder Care
    • College Coach
    • Enhanced Family Supports
    • Global Services
    • Tuition Subsidies

    EdAssist by Bright Horizons

    EdAssist by Bright Horizons

    • Overview
    • Employee Education Solutions

    Bright Horizons Workforce Consulting

    Featured Industry: Healthcare

  • Who We Are

    Who We Are

    • About Us
    • Values
    • Diversity & Inclusion
    • History
    • Leadership
    • Awards
    • Foundation
    • News
    • Responsibility
  • Resources
  • Log In
  • Search
  • Find a Center
  • Find a Center
  • Log In
  • Search Bright Horizons

Pinned Navigation Logo

Navigate to your portal

Select a path to log in to your desired Bright Horizons website.

Child Care Center

Access your day-to-day childcare activities and communications through the Family Information Center.

Employee Benefits

Access your employer-sponsored benefits such as Back-Up Care, EdAssist, and more.

Top Navigation Logo
Contact Us
Top Navigation Logo
  • Our Solutions

    See All Solutions

    For Parents

    Early Education & Preschool

    Early Education & Preschool

    • Overview
    • Infant Care
    • Toddler Care & Education
    • Preschool
    • Kindergarten Prep
    • Kindergarten
    • Our Curriculum

    For Employers

    Bright Horizons Family Solutions

    Bright Horizons Family Solutions

    • Overview
    • On-Site Child Care
    • Back-Up Care
    • Elder Care
    • College Coach
    • Enhanced Family Supports
    • Global Services
    • Tuition Subsidies

    EdAssist by Bright Horizons

    EdAssist by Bright Horizons

    • Overview
    • Employee Education Solutions

    Bright Horizons Workforce Consulting

    Featured Industry: Healthcare

  • Who We Are

    Who We Are

    • About Us
    • Values
    • Diversity & Inclusion
    • History
    • Leadership
    • Awards
    • Foundation
    • News
    • Responsibility
  • Resources
  • Log In
  • Search
  • Find a Center
  • Find a Center
  • Log In
  • Search Bright Horizons

Top Navigation Logo

Navigate to your portal

Select a path to log in to your desired Bright Horizons website.

Child Care Center.

Access your day-to-day childcare activities and communications through the Family Information Center.

Employee Benefits

Access your employer-sponsored benefits such as Back-Up Care, EdAssist, and more.

Find a Center

Locate our child care centers, preschools, and schools near you

    Need to make a reservation to use your Bright Horizons Back-Up Care?

    Log in to Schedule Backup Care

    I'm interested in

    Looking for a child care center Accessing my benefits Providing benefits to my employees Joining the Bright Horizons Team Contact Support
    My Children

    Tips for Grocery Shopping with Children

    Article posted by Bright Horizons on March 15, 2021
    Grocery shopping with children

    Grocery shopping with children. Just the thought of it is enough to make parents shudder. Meltdowns, spilled food, lost children—so many potential pitfalls. And then there are the critical stares or even comments from other shoppers. Yes, grocery shopping with children is not for the fainthearted, but your family's got to eat, right?

    Like other aspects of parenting, grocery shopping becomes easier when you have a plan. Understanding your toddler's behavior is key to making the most of your grocery trip. Don't expect young children to naturally know how to behave at the grocery store. Instead, spend time teaching your child the ropes of grocery shopping. Start with quick trips to the store. Adapt a warm, enthusiastic, encouraging tone and point out interesting foods. Set simple rules and consistently reinforce them. Slowly increase the time you spend shopping, but don't overdo it. Young children simply do't have the emotional capacity or attention span for a marathon shopping trip.

    Survival Strategies for Grocery Shopping with Kids

    • Time your visit. Taking your child to the grocery store during naptime or when your child is hungry are sure recipes for disaster. A crowded store and long check-out lines can also spell trouble. Whenever possible, go shopping when your child is rested and fed. Try to go in the morning, after dinner, or early afternoon when stores tend to be quieter.
    • Get organized. Young children have limited tolerance for shopping so you need to get in and out as quickly as possible. Write a grocery list ahead of time, grouping similar items on the list together.
    • Set clear expectations. Talk with your children about how to behave in a grocery store, explaining what to do as well as what not to do. By setting clear expectations you give your child a better opportunity to be more cooperative. For example, "You can sit in the cart or walk next to the cart. We stay together and we use quiet voices." Offer only one reminder to a child that runs away; then provide a natural consequence. "You are not staying with me; you need to sit in the cart now." Be sure to comment when children get it right. "You stayed with me and used a quiet voice today. Thank you!"
    • Make it fun. Behavioral issues occur at the grocery store mostly because children are either bored or they're overstimulated by the lights, people, and noise found there. Give children an active role in shopping or play a shopping game while waiting with your kids and you offer a distraction that solves both problems. Let children write their own grocery lists beforehand, choosing one or two items. Children can also help you find items on your grocery list or weigh produce.
    • Come prepared. A simple trip to the grocery store can quickly unravel into a disaster. Make sure you come prepared for the inevitable diaper blowout or toddler meltdown. Stock a small backpack or bag with an extra diaper, wipes, and change of clothes. Throw in a few books, toys, and snacks. Consider carrying young babies in a wrap, which keeps them warm, secure, and usually more content than in a portable car seat.

    Sometimes, in spite of your best efforts, your toddler will have a meltdown or your preschooler will repeatedly try to run away at the grocery store. Then what? First, take a deep breath and resist the tendency to feel frustrated at yourself or your child. Try setting your cart aside and stepping outside for a few moments. A quick change of scenery can sometimes help a child regain control. Acknowledge your child's challenges and ask for her help. "I know you're tired of shopping. Can you help me get two more things and then we'll go?" Occasionally, you'll just need to be prepared to make a quick exit, probably without the groceries. If shopping trips are routinely difficult, it might be best to shop alone until your child is older, especially when you're buying a lot of items. Like most challenges, this won't be hard forever, and you'll figure out tricks that make it go better for your family along the way.

    More on This Topic

    • Find more tips for successful grocery store trips with kids from our Family Room bloggers.
    • Use these helpful ideas on how to make waiting fun and educational and raise patient children.
    • Get 10 preschool activities to do with children at the grocery store.
    • Cooking with children is another way to encourage kids' involvement in grocery shopping.

    Bright Horizons
    About the Author
    Bright Horizons
    Bright Horizons
    In 1986, our founders saw that child care was an enormous obstacle for working parents. On-site centers became one way we responded to help employees – and organizations --...
    Share This
    Grocery shopping with children

    Looking for Child Care?

    Bright Horizons child care centers have been supporting children and parents for more than 30 years. Designed by experts; facilitated by educators; created with working parents in mind – our centers are a place for children to discover skills and become confident learners for life.

    Recommended for you

    Blog
    Why a Supervisor Should Tuck In Their Employees
    • company culture
    Birdseed cookie hanging from a string in a tree
    Activity
    Making Birdseed Cookies
    • preparing for kindergarten
    • World At Home
    HR News
    Blog
    February HR News Roundup: What People are Talking About
    • Recruitment and Retention
    • company culture

    We have a library of resources for you about all kinds of topics like this!

    View All Our Resources

    Our Solutions
    for Parents

    • Early Education & Preschool
    • Our Curriculum
    • College Coach for Families
    • Log in to My Services

    Our Solutions
    for Employers

    Bright Horizons Family Solutions

    • On-Site Child Care
    • Back-Up Care
    • Elder Care
    • College Coach
    • Enhanced Family Supports
    • Global Services
    • Tuition Subsidies

    EdAssist by Bright Horizons

    • Employee Education Solutions

    Bright Horizons Workforce Consulting

    More from
    Bright Horizons

    • About Us
    • Careers
    • Newsroom
    • Locations
    • Global Locations
    • United Kingdom
    • The Netherlands
    • Investor Relations
    • Resource Library
    • Bright Horizons Foundation for Children
    • Corporate Responsibility

    Our Solutions
    for Parents

    • Early Education & Preschool
    • Our Curriculum
    • College Coach for Families
    • Log in to My Services

    Our Solutions
    for Employers

    Bright Horizons Family Solutions

    • On-Site Child Care
    • Back-Up Care
    • Elder Care
    • College Coach
    • Enhanced Family Supports
    • Global Services
    • Tuition Subsidies

    EdAssist by Bright Horizons

    • Employee Education Solutions

    Bright Horizons Workforce Consulting

    More from
    Bright Horizons

    • About Us
    • Careers
    • Newsroom
    • Locations
    • Global Locations
    • United Kingdom
    • The Netherlands
    • Investor Relations
    • Resource Library
    • Bright Horizons Foundation for Children
    • Corporate Responsibility

    Connect with Bright Horizons

    Find a Center Contact Support

    © 2024 Bright Horizons Family Solutions. All Rights Reserved. | Privacy Notice | Cookie Notice | Acceptable Use Policy | Trademarks