Tips for Grocery Shopping with Young Children

Grocery shopping can be an unpleasant task; grocery shopping with young children can be downright miserable. Toddlers throw temper tantrums, and are not shy about making their demands known. It doesn't always have to be that way. Following these simple suggestions can turn shopping with your young children into a bearable, if not pleasant, event.

Timing is everything.

Plan your trip around nap and meal times. If your toddler is hungry or tired, he will be cranky and more likely to act out. Go shopping right after breakfast, or at any time when he is well rested and has eaten recently. This will cut down on tantrums because your child will feel good and be more likely to be cooperative.

Time your trip also to avoid the times when the store is crowded, if possible. Bigger crowds will mean longer waits, and will make both you and your child a little more anxious and irritated.

Be prepared.

Never go to the grocery store empty handed. Bring a snack or a toy, or both, to keep your child occupied during waits at the deli counter, bakery and the check out. If he is not interested in what you brought, try playing games like I Spy, or singing silly songs- anything you can think of to keep your toddler entertained. Boredom leads to acting out, which is what you really want to avoid.

Avoid temptation.

Even the best behaved children can sometimes have a hard time resisting when faced with tempting treats. If you don't need anything in the candy or toy aisle, skip it. Many supermarkets have checkout lanes that don't have any candy; use them if you can.

Make your expectations clear.

Talk to your child before going into the store. Tell him exactly what you want him to do, not just what not to do. Keep it short and simple, so as not to overload your child with too many dos and don'ts. Offer rewards for good behavior. For example, tell your child 'When we go into the store, you need to use your manners and your quiet voice. No yelling. If you do a good job, you can have a treat when we are done shopping.' Keeping it short makes it easier for toddlers to remember what is expected of them. As you shop, praise your child's good behavior often, saying thanks for doing a good job. Reminders about the reward will help to motivate him to continue.

If your child likes to help, give him things to do, like holding a certain item, or picking out which kind of cereal to buy. Letting him help will keep him happy and occupied, and decrease the likelihood of acting out.

If you have offered a reward, and your child behaved well, give him the reward immediately after leaving the store. Whether it's a small toy, a sticker or just a high- five, it needs to be given right away so your child will know why he received the reward. Be sure to thank him and give him plenty of verbal praise. All of these things will help to reinforce the good behavior, and make the next trip a little easier.

Though none of these things will completely eliminate tantrums in the grocery store, they can greatly increase your chances of getting through a shopping trip with minimal crying and help to alleviate some of the dread you feel when you think about your next trip to the supermarket.