Well, it’s just another day at the grocery store with children running up and down the aisles, pulling things from the shelves, throwing items into the shopping cart, playing Indy 500 with the carts, and using the shopping baskets as battle helmets. Enough is enough!

Are you tired of dealing with this every time you go to the grocery store? Are you tired of scooping the little ones up and leaving the cart full of groceries right where it was to do the walk of shame out of the store?

Next time, before you leave, be sure to make a list of exactly what you need at the grocery store.  Let’s try to make this short and sweet, but be realistic with your expectations when dragging the kids along.  Now you need a plan.  Be sure to be one step ahead of those kids, right?

Here is a list of 10 ways to distract and reign in your rowdy kids at the grocery store:

1. Give them coupons with pictures on them and have them try to find the match in each aisle.

2. Give them a piece of paper and a pencil and have them make a shopping list while walking around the store.

3. Hold little ones up periodically so that they can see what’s on the shelves above their heads. Sometimes they get frustrated because they just can’t see what we can!

4. Let them help you decide which brand of an item you should buy.

5. Hold them up at the meat counter, show them the meat, and ask them to tell you what kind of meat it is. {beef, pork, chicken}

6. In the produce section, show them that ALL apples aren’t red and ALL peppers aren’t green. Then ask them to show you other fruits and vegetables that don’t follow the norm.

7. Hand them a sale flyer and have them help you find things in it that you normally buy.  See if what is on sale matches what is on the list.

8. Uh oh, does your store have samples available today?  Fine, let them have a free sample of what the lady in the *funny hat* is cooking. In fact, let them have TWO!  Be sure to have them practice their manners.

9. Have them look for things on the shelves that are tipped over or in the wrong spot and ask them to make it right.

10. Point to something in the cart and ask them to tell you the different ways that it can be cooked or prepared.  Another question you could ask is, “What do you think I’m going to make with this?”

Not all of these will work to contain your kids, but several of them should.  Don’t try to use them all in one trip, either, or you’ll be there all day, especially if you have an inquisitive child!

The bottom line is that you can include your children more purposefully into your shopping trips so that everyone has a much more enjoyable visit.  They will feel like they’ve gotten some special time with you, and you will feel accomplished knowing that you’ve carefully worked through your list and maybe even taught your kids a thing or two.

Happy shopping!