Grocery List Games
Here's What To Do
Invite your child to help make your grocery list.
Talk about the types of food you eat for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks. With your child, determine which ingredients you already have at home, and what you need to put on the list to buy.
Write the items on your grocery list. If your child wants to help, write the first letter of a word and ask them to practice writing the letter. Or, they can draw a picture of the item!
Take the list and your child grocery shopping. Ask your child to check off each item as you add it to the cart.
Put PEER Into Action
Pause:
- Find a quiet workspace with paper and pencils or crayons.
Engage:
- "What do we usually eat for breakfast? What kinds of sandwiches do we make for lunch? What things do you like to eat for a snack after school?"
- "Let's check in the refrigerator. Do you see eggs? Yep, we don't need to buy them this week."
Encourage:
- See how many foods your child can name by themselves before you offer hints or help.
- "I'm thinking of something we need... What do we always have with cereal in the morning?"
Reflect:
- "What other lists could we make together to help us plan ahead?"
Not quite ready?
Ask your child to list the groceries you need for one meal (like breakfast) to help focus their thinking.
Ready for more?
Ask your child to help make a more detailed list. For example, how many bananas will you need? What kind of crackers do you need- what do they look like? This will help them practice using more detailed vocabulary.
As your child masters this skill...
They will use new and familiar vocabulary to express their ideas.