11 Skills for Kids to Learn While Grocery Shopping

I use curbside pickup to obtain most of my groceries. I used curbside services a few times prior to the COVID19 pandemic, but once it began, curbside became my go-to means of getting groceries. As we’ve resumed normal activities, I’ve been reminded of just how much my kids love shopping in person and how many skills they can learn while doing this.

Though not an exhaustive list, here are 11 life skills kids need to grocery shop successfully. Of course, kids can also hone academic skills while shopping! Read on to see what I mean.

Grocery shopping life skills

Working with a budget

Whether I’m entering a curbside order online or walking into a store, there’s always a specific amount of money I can spend on groceries. Kids aren’t born with an inherent understanding of economics, so it is important that we teach them that groceries are not free, nor is the money we use to pay for them limitless. It’s best for these discussions to occur long before arriving at the store!

Differentiating between wants and needs

When you’re a kid looking at cookies covered with colorful frosting, a want can sure feel like a need! Using concrete examples (for example, “I want ice cream, but we can do without it. On the other hand, we really need potatoes for…”) can help kids understand how to prioritize needs while grocery shopping.

Making a grocery list

Whether you prefer to grocery shop with a list or not, how to make one is an important skill to teach kids. Kids can help look through the pantry and fridge to determine which items need replenished. Likewise, they can help look over the menu (if you make one) and add to the list the ingredients you will need. Once you get to the store, the grocery list provides a plan of action that expedites the shopping process and minimizes how much of a distraction that wants (discussed above) become.

Navigating typical store layouts

Most supermarkets have various departments (produce, bakery, deli, dairy, frozen foods, pharmacy, etc.). Pointing this out to kids can help them as they look for various items on the grocery list. Moreover, kids need to be able to think critically about what route they will take through the store. As adults, we know that it is unwise to get cold foods (frozen foods, dairy, meat, etc.) and let them heat up in the cart while we get shampoo, produce, canned goods, etc. However, kids may need this to be explained to them. Giving them the grocery list and allowing them (with guidance, if needed) to choose the route through the store offers them ownership of the shopping process and opportunities to use trial and error to discover routes that make sense to them.

Selecting quality produce and checking expiration dates

There are so many things for kids to learn in the produce aisles! What makes a good piece of produce varies from one type to the next (for example, you want firm apples, but a ripe pear will give slightly under gentle pressure). Likewise, sometimes it’s preferable to get a not-so-ripe item, such as when you won’t be using a banana or avocado for a few days. Learning these details takes time and a lot of hands-on practice. Learning to check the dates on meat and dairy products is also important so you don’t head home with items that will spoil in a day or two.

Comparing item and unit price

Being able to compare the item price (the price for a given item) to the unit price (the price per unit of that item) is critical if kids are going to be able to comparison shop. Most younger kids don’t have the math skills to do this, but older kids should be able to compare the cost of a 1 lb. box of pasta that costs $1.29 (item price is $1.29 and unit price is $1.29/lb.) to a 2 lb. box of pasta that costs $2.00 (item price is $2.00 and unit price is $1.00/lb.). This skill will help kids make economical choices.

Reading ingredient lists and nutrition labels

Reading ingredient lists and nutrition labels gives kids an understanding of what is in the foods they eat. It aids them in comparing items to determine if one is healthier than another or if one contains an ingredient your family tries to avoid. This is particularly relevant if someone in the family has a food allergy.

Paying for groceries

Children need to be well versed in how to place groceries on the conveyor belt and use cash or a card to pay for groceries. Given how prevalent self-checkout kiosks are becoming, we also need to teach them how to scan and pay for groceries without a cashier. It is also a good idea to explain the concept of loyalty cards and make sure kids know how to use these. Likewise, we need to teach kids how to use coupons. This includes how to follow the instructions on the coupon (for example, selecting an item that is the right brand and size) and checking to make sure the coupon has not expired.

Bagging groceries

If you’ve ever come home from the store and found that the employee who bagged your groceries stacked canned goods on top of fresh, tender peaches, then you know that bagging groceries isn’t as straightforward as it seems. Kids may not think these things through on their own, so we need to teach them to avoid placing heavy items on top of easily damaged items, to avoid placing all the heavy items in one bag, and to bag cold items together (this helps keep them cold and makes it easier to put the groceries away).

Interacting with employees and fellow shoppers

There are so many opportunities for kids to practice being polite while shopping. These include saying “excuse me” when stepping in front of someone in a crowded aisle, saying “thank you” to the cashier, and returning the cart to a designated corral instead of leaving it in the parking lot where it can be an obstruction and damage vehicles.

Putting groceries away

The grocery shopping process isn’t over when you leave the store! The groceries still need to be carried inside and put away. Helping with these tasks helps kids learn about which items require refrigeration and which are shelf stable. It also helps them consider efficient ways to organize the pantry, fridge, and freezer.

Honing academic skills at the grocery store

Kids can sharpen their academic skills while learning these life skills. Little kids can practice counting (“Let’s get four oranges. One, two, three…”), identifying colors (“I’m looking for a red vegetable. Do you see any red vegetables?”), and identifying shapes (“What shape is a tortilla?”). We can also help them understand some basics of how things work. For example, we can explain to them that most food items originate on farms, but we access them at the store because they have been transported to the store by truck.

Before going to the store, older kids can practice their penmanship by writing the grocery list. While at the store they can practice reading (by reading overhead signs, labels, product descriptions, etc.) and making comparisons (for example, by comparing and contrasting two ingredient labels). They can also practice numerous math skills including estimating (“One apple weighs about half a pound. The apples cost $0.99 per pound, so how much will three apples cost?”) and dividing (“The bag of three bell peppers costs $3.60. How much does each pepper cost?”).

Final thoughts

It’s amazing how many smaller skills one must use to complete the bigger task of shopping for groceries! Of course, as adults, it seems very straightforward, but seeing it broken down task-by-task shows clearly why our kids benefit from us being intentional about teaching them how to grocery shop.

What has been your experience with teaching kids how to shop for groceries? Are there other skills you would add to this list? What are your favorite ways to teach these skills?

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