Let’s practice some skills when going to the market with your children.
We often think that shopping is for adults. Children will not know how to shop properly. Many parents also think that it is not advisable for their children to spend money, because they are still children. However, Ms. Vu Thuy Hang (34 years old, living in Sweden) has a different opinion. The mother of three children said that “At a young age, you can work small, depending on your strength”.
“So I don’t limit what he does! I let him try all the chores around the house, suitable to his ability. I let him get used to money very early, learn to go to the market to buy food. I think all life skills don’t come naturally. People have to go through training to master everything. And “shopping” is also a forging activity. practice a lot of necessary life skills. Please take a look at the little experience of our mother and daughter.”Ms. Hang analyzed.
1. Observation and memory skills
This is the first and most basic skill when your child learns to go to the market.
I will remind my child to observe if there is a shortage of food or utensils at home? What to buy? I will check the refrigerator, dry cabinet, and household items. Things to buy will be remembered and purchased additionally when going to the market.
Observation skills are also trained when children go shopping. In the first times when I teach my child to go to the market, I will go with him and show him how to choose good clothes:
The brothers divided themselves to arrange things in the refrigerator and dry cabinet.
– How to choose fresh fruits and vegetables.
– How to choose dry and canned goods with a long shelf life.
I also show them how to memorize and classify each group of objects:
– Fresh food: meat, vegetables, tubers, fruits.
– Dry food: nuts, noodles of all kinds, baking powder.
– Spice.
– Snacks.
– Necessary items for daily living: toothpaste, brush, shampoo, …
Children will sort food into each compartment according to your instructions.
With group classification, your child will have to memorize the location of each group of items. Before going to the market, children will see the list of what to buy and arrange in their mind the “map” to go to the market. Just go around 1 round and you will buy all the necessary items, without wasting time running back and forth to find things.
2. Calculation skills
I often let my children calculate how much they need to buy properly:
– How many ml of milk do you use in a day? How many boxes are enough to buy for 2 or 3 days?
– For each food, how much should I buy to use just enough, not to be overdue for a long time?
– How to compare when buying discounted items: there are things that buy 2 will be cheaper than buying 1; however, is the use value effective? If the item is rarely used, don’t buy a lot just because it’s lower in price.
Before going to the market, will you check to see what is missing in the house? What to buy? And tidy up the drawers. Every week, my mother will give me a fixed amount of money to go to the market. Mainly, children buy milk, breakfast, fruit and some supplies if they are lacking.
In addition, I often do math problems for my children by: with a specified amount, consider buying the necessary things yourself. Your child will know how to consider and choose what to prioritize to buy first. Don’t shop around for hobbies.
3. Communication skills
This is what I see the children have a great harvest. Our children have been very bold and much more confident when interacting with strangers.
I often remind my children to always say “thank you” for help; say “sorry” when you’re wrong or bothering others. In the first days when I went to the market, I told them that if they mightn’t get the items on the high shelves, or mightn’t find the items they wanted to buy, they should ask the supermarket staff or customers for help. After many times going to the market on behalf of my mother, I have become a regular customer of supermarkets and shops near my house. Sometimes he comes back to show his mother:
3 brothers go to the market together
“I went to the supermarket today, I didn’t bring enough money. I was still missing 4 dong, mom! I told the cashier that I left my things and went home to get the money. He said no need! He gave me 4 dong. I thank him already!”.
“I went to buy pizza today. The boss gave me a drink without charge. I said: Thank you very much.”
“I went to buy strawberries today. The seller gave me half a box of strawberries. Thank you, mom.”
“Each of your “today” stories is like a little joy to let me know you are growing up every day. For your child to be able to walk on his own, let’s practice the first steps with him. For every human being, life skills are very necessary. Practice so that your child can grow up and become more confident every day!”the mother of three said.
