Checkout Time
Here's What To Do
Before going to the grocery store, make a chart on a piece of paper. Draw 6-7 columns and label them with the food groups you purchase at the store. For example, fruit, veggies, meat, canned food, etc.
In the checkout line, take out the paper and pencil then say, “It's almost time for us to checkout, let's start putting our groceries on the checkout belt and mark them on our chart.”
As you place the items on the belt, have your child mark an “x” or a circle in the corresponding column. Continue until all items have been placed on the checkout belt and marked on your chart.
With your child, look at your chart and count how many items were in each column. Together with your child see which categories had more and which had less.
Put PEER Into Action
Pause:
- Put away distractions and face each other in the checkout line.
Engage:
- “How many veggies are we buying? Are there more veggies or fruit?”
- “Can you think of another way to group the groceries on the checkout belt?”
Encourage:
- If your child is struggling to identify ways to group the groceries, suggest grouping by color or size.
- "Hmmm, that looks like a fruit to me, and we are putting the veggies on the belt. Can you try again?"
Reflect:
- “What items were the hardest to group? Which were the easiest?”
Not quite ready?
Pick up the grocery items one at a time, and help your child identify where to mark it on the chart. Repeat with other items as needed.
Ready for more?
Have your child group groceries in other ways such as by size or color.
As your child masters this skill...
They can place objects into groups based on different characteristics.