Shopping gives children a fun opportunity to learn about colours, numeracy, money, social interaction and healthy eating. An everyday activity like shopping can be a great way to help your child learn and exercise their brain, it trains them to be creative and to learn how to become independent.
Some tips for shopping
Before you go shopping.
• Making a shopping list is an excellent way to introduce vocabulary related to shopping as well as handling money. Both will encourage your child’s early literacy skills. Ask your child to look for the edible items which start with a,i and e sounds for eg apple, egg, and ice-cream as these are complicated and difficult to name and identify.
Add food group in the list.
•Add fruits and vegetables.
• Protein: fish, chicken, beans, nuts and eggs.
• Grains: bread, pasta, and cereals.
• Dairy products: milk, yogurt, cheese and butter.
• As you focus on a healthy lifestyle for your family, let your kids choose an occasional treat at home and let them choose chocolates, chips, fizzy drinks.
• Ask your child to differentiate between healthy and junk food and buy 3 healthy and 1 unhealthy food.
While you shop.
• Actively listening to your child initiate interesting conversations about what your child sees, smells, feels, and hears to develop five senses.
• You can also give the concepts of heavy/ light, up/ down, front/ behind, and empty /full.
Add language.
• The grocery store provides endless opportunities to add numeracy concepts that will expand your child’s vocabulary and understanding.
• You can point to the price tag and write down an estimation of how much each item will cost. Tell them to count things you have bought.
When you get home.
• Let your child help you put away the groceries. This provides a good opportunity to repeat words that you may have emphasized at the store and teach them to wind up.
