Couples with Kids in Supermarkets

[Ric.ror]

Why would parents think its a day out for kids in the supermarket?
I have no objection to one parent and kids but two?

Have they never hear of parks? And I dont mean car parks
Its tantamount to child abuse if you ask me

[B00]

oi!

[jno]

gosh, that sounds like our local Un-Co-Op, Ankou, the staff go round force-feeding customers with 2010 Greggs mince pies and mushy peas... funny thing, the mushy peas are sort of grey-blue and furry, but I expect it's the trend oop north.

[sherrardk]

I do my big shop on-line but I do take them all to the supermarket on a Saturday - they get to choose what they want for tea and what they want as their treat for the evening. In the main, they are well behaved (apart from thing 1 who is a 'bit' wild). If other people don't like it they can lump it.

[zebo]

Ric.ror, you get the children in and out of the car the same as people did many years ago, the fact that modern "travel systems" are built like Sherman tanks is what creates the perceived difficulty. If space is the issue, then put them away from the entrance and see how "essential" they are.

[Ric.ror]

Oh I like the sound of those mushy peas but thats probably because I am up north
Ill have to go to the Co op to see if they have some

[ummmm]

Children are not always careful opening car doors.

[Ric.ror]

Yes you do get them in and out the same way and I bet it was an Yabbie then as it is now - thing is we have moved on and now realise a few extra inches make a lot of difference to a struggling parent

[cazzz1975]

it depends, a shopping trip can be interesting if you are not stressed and are not buying a weeks worth of boring food.

If I am doing boring weekly food shopping I would tend to not bring them as its boring for them and the place is always packed.

[albaqwerty]

I hate the kids and parents who think it's ok for their child to ride a scooter round the supermarket. If one of those little angels runs into me or my trolley, someone is going to get it in the back of the neck.

There were times I had to take my children with me food shopping.

[tigwig]

My toddler loves the supermarket! He likes to say what all the items are on the shelves and 'help' by holding things and putting them in the trolley etc. I'm a childminder and also take the mindees with me and they are all fine too. It can be a learning experience as well as a necessity you know!

[Barmaid]

My stepson likes the supermarket, whereas I hate it. However, we are teaching him "life skills" at the moment, so he makes his own list, selects his own stuff, puts it in his basket in the trolley and pays for it. he loves walking round with the list and ticking things off (unfortunately, we have to do the list in precise order so it can take some time!). "Life skills" will be very important for him because of his learning difficulties.

[China Doll]

I have some sypathy with the OP actually, I hate it too and really can't see why the shopping has to be trip for the entire family. I see what people are saying about it being a learning experience etc but it's not how I was brought up and I seem to have a pretty good grasp on the fundementals without having been dragged to the shops when it wasn't necessary, (and indeed when it was when dad was on nights so mum had to take the horde with her). If I have kids, I probably won't be bringing them to do the shopping unless I really have to either. And until then I will stick to shopping at child unfriendly hours cause I still have that optiom :c)

And it's adult abuse, not child abuse... ;0)

[andy-hughes]

Fair point China.

I never really thought of it as a 'learning experience' for the girls, it simply fell into my pattern of being with them as often as i could, where ever that took us, because we liked being together. I am lucky with my family, I know not everyone feels the same way!

[trt]

I think the big supermarkets should have a large type of prison cell with a few games to play then, you can put them in and do your shopping in peace and keep them away from the other shoppers!

[smart1]

If it's a 'learning experience', why not wait until you get home and then let the kids help putting it away and 'teach' them at the same time.

[Barmaid]

It is a very important learning experience for someone who may not otherwise achieve independent living. I remember being dragged round, and I hated it. However, I was bright enough to be able to "play" at shops and count money and get change. An autistic child can't do that and he learns by being in that particular situation - the ability to "transfer" knowledge is not present like it is with other children. So you have to put the whole process in context. Writing the list, putting a pound in for the trolley, choosing items and referring to the list, paying, checking the change, unpacking and putting stuff away appropriately (ie fridge stuff in the fridge, etc).

Trust me, if I didn't have this additional knowledge to impart I would never go to a supermarket. I think they are the devil's spawn!

[ludwig]

// I think the big supermarkets should have a large type of prison cell with a few games to play then, you can put them in and do your shopping in peace and keep them away from the other shoppers! //

Good idea trt. A big cell to hold all the bitter child-haters so that families can shop in peace without having to look at their miserable faces. Genius.