How to make shopping with kids a fun experience

When I had my first child, I discovered that my baby adores going to the supermarket. All the colorful things to look at on the shelves, it was fascinating. It makes the shopping a fun and peaceful activity. That until the baby turns into a toddler…

I still remember the time when – call it a clear lack of experience – I went to the shop with my two toddlers. Me, single adult, against two enthusiastic toddlers, in a crowded supermarket full of fun stuff, or dangerous stuff, depends on who you ask. I remember it as if it was yesterday. Victoria was very busy loading all kinds of sweet stuff in the trolley while Lukas was just running wildly through the alleys, seemingly unaware of all the other people in the shop. As a result my shopping trip lasted way longer than expected, I somehow missed on half the items on my shopping list, yet I had loads of stuff I didn’t plan to buy in the first place.

Since then, I’ve taken a different approach to shopping …

As a first I do much more online shopping than I used to. With a collect & go system, I order the stuff I want a day ahead and go pick it up at a specified time at a close by supermarket. Seems like a no-brainer, and I love it. It is even ok to take the kids along on the collect-trip; you practically go in and out, so there’s not much opportunity to get things messed up 🙂

I still do some normal shopping tough, but I kind of take it as a rule that I will never go on a shopping trip while being outnumbered by toddlers below the age of 5. So on our shopping trips there are usually as many adults as toddlers. That can still be challenging, but it is manageable, especially if you have a couple of tricks you can rely on …

3 tricks to prepare for a smooth shopping trip with your toddler(s)

1. Make your shopping list in advance: I do not recommend dragging your toddler along through all the alleys trying to figure out what to eat for dinner. Very likely your toddler will get bored and pull stuff from the shelves before you made up your mind.
2. Do not go shopping with a hungry toddler: Besides the fact that your toddler will want to buy the whole shop, you risk arriving at the till with half eaten stuff. If you have no choice, I suggest starting at the bread department and stuff your toddler with a baguette before you move on!
3. It helps if you know the shop: If you don’t plan to buy cookies, it helps if you don’t accidentally pass the cookie alley. Our close by shop has its cookie department right up the front on the way to the fruits & veggies. So if I don’t need cookies, I smoothly make a detour through the drinks alley where there is minimal temptation.

Sure, there are many more things you could do and prepare, but I consider these to be the basic three that make me survive our supermarket trips. For more tips, have a look here.