Many frugal shoppers recommend leaving the kids at home when you are grocery shopping- and that makes since. Kids can become whiny, they can be distracting, and time consuming. And although I have promoted shopping without children in the past, I’m starting to rethink this practice…
Of course, if your children are 3 or under, it may still be the best idea, but as your children mature and start to understand the monetary value of items, I believe that excluding them from the grocery shopping is a disservice to them.
Why Should Children Be Included in the Grocery Shopping?
There are several reasons here, but it really boils down to helping them learn.
Learn Basic Arithmetic Skills
This may sound simple enough, but really, by keeping our children involved, they can learn basic math: addition, subtraction, multiplication, etc. Use the skills appropriate for the age of your child. Turn ordinary shopping into an educational activity. The best learning takes place when it can be applied in real situations and what better place to learn math skills than at the store, especially when dealing with items the child is interested in.
This is also a great opportunity for kids to learn about spending (or not spending) their allowance, which leads to the 2nd point…
Learn Value.
Where does money come from? How do we get new food in the house? Can we buy anything that we want? What sound we spend our money on? This is also a good time to introduce your children to the use of coupons, if you choose to.
My son (almost 5) loves to go around the store and look for “blinkie” machines to find new coupons. He always asks, “Mommy, is this a good deal?” He is already grasping a concept of waiting to buy products until it is at the best price.
Teaching children that everything has a monetary price will help them understand and value “stuff”. It will also help them understand that money doesn’t grow on trees (at least not that I have found). One day our children will be shopping for themselves, and I’d much rather teach them how to value their money and bargain shop now, then have them in debt in the future.
Learn Patience.
Children need to learn that we don’t get things that we want the minute we want them. This can be a harder lesson for young children, however, around 7 years old, children are able to grasp ideas beyond their immediate needs. It helps them to understand that we don’t always get what we want in life- and to understand needs before wants.
Finally, by involved your children in the shopping, not only will they gain a respect for your duties, but you will also help prepare them for their futures. They will be able to manage money, find good deals, and show restraint while shopping. And isn’t that part of parenting – teaching our children values to help them succeed in the future?
So, tell me, do you take your kids shopping with you? Why or why not?
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