Thursday, 28 July 2011
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Kid-free Grocery Shopping?
There's been a lot of talk recently about banning kids in certain public areas- from the Pittsburgh restaurant that banned children under 6 to airlines banning babies from first class flights.
As a mother to a 2 year old, I have mixed feelings about these bans.
But then I read about child-free grocery shopping at a Missouri Whole Foods. According to the store's website, they will offer child-free shopping hours. Activities will be provided at the store for kids to allow their parents to shop "in peace", without distractions.
I'm not gonna lie- my immediate reaction was "COOL! I'd do that! I'd finish shopping in half the time without Jaime!"
But the more I thought about it, the worse I found the idea, and here's why.
I recently heard about grocery stores offering classes to help adults shop for fresh ingredients and navigate the store to make healthy food choices. Apparently we have become so removed from food and cooking that we are willing to pay someone to teach us how to shop!
I grew up shopping for food with my mother. Although she never "taught" me to cook or shop for food, I always felt intuitively that I knew how to pick a ripe melon or select the ingredients in homemade pasta sauce. I was surprised as a young adult to see many of my peers struggle with how to shop for food to make at home. The frozen and prepared isles seemed extra appealing to them because it was simple and easy. Many of them confessed that their mothers had always done the grocery shopping alone, and they were at a loss on where to start to stock a kitchen.
When I take Jaime to the grocery store now it's an ideal time for learning. He's captive in a cart, facing me. It's a chance for him to learn the names of fruits and vegetables, to tell me what color they are. I hand him food items to place in the cart and try to tell him where each ingredient will go. For example, "Here is a bag of beans to make tacos!" or "This squash will go in our soup!" When he's older he can help with weekly menu planning and cooking. And I hope that will set him up in making his own healthy choices down the road.
My point here is this: the more we work to remove kids from our day to day lives, the more we're setting them up for failure as adults. Kids learn by being with us in the mundane activities- they learn to behave in restaurants by practicing with their parents. They learn to shop for food and cook for themselves by accompanying their parents to the local grocery store. Cutting them out of our routines will leave them clueless later.
How do you feel about child free shopping? How do you involve your kids in day to day activities?
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- From: vlinder_farfalla@xanga
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Comments (15)
I take my kids grocery shopping out of necessity.
And yes, sometimes it is a hassle. Sometimes it takes longer, sometimes one or both of them have a melt down (5 y/o daughter, 2 y/o son). It is exhausting. But I wouldn't have it any other way. They can learn from it. They know what foods to pick, and have say so with some choices, "would you rather have cinnamon or blueberry bagels?" Then if they don't like it, it's their fault cuz they chose it. Hehe.
I agree with you 100%. It always annoys me when people say, "just keep them home till they learn how to behave". They won't learn how to behave, in a particular place, until you actually take them there and show/teach them. Duh!
I see the point you're making, but at least the child care is an option for those who want it.
@apb102088@xanga - My only thing about that is that they are being left in the hands of strangers. Not sure I'd be comfortable with that, even if the caregivers are supposed to be competent.
That's odd to me. My husband and I usually go grocery shopping late at night, because there are fewer people there and it's easier that way, but once the baby comes (38 weeks today!) he'll be coming shopping with us...because...I don't know, I never really considered him NOT coming? I went grocery shopping with my mom a lot - more than my older brother or younger sister, and to be honest I'm not so sure why (maybe I was just lame and didn't have anything else going on, haha), from a young age til I was a teenager. I think I learned a fair bit about food, but also about shopping and budgeting in general, which I think is useful as well.
I understand your point...I think it's important to teach kids how to grocery shop and choose food properly. At the same time though, I've got three kids under the age of five and it can be torturous taking them shopping all by myself. I'd never leave them with a stranger, though. I leave them at home with dad every other shopping trip.
I thought that this option was more for people without kids anyway? If they do something similar in Austin, I will be going during the child-free hours if I can. I don't have kids, and while I want them some day, frankly I'm tired of screaming babies and young children running out in front of my cart. I'm not saying kids should be kept locked at home. I'm saying that there is a definite market for child-free EVERYTHING these days, and until I have some of my own, I'm part of that market. When I have kids, I will be taking them with me.
@WaitingToShrug@xanga - Many of the articles were about child-free spaces, but this specific one ( http://chesterfield.patch.com/events/child-free-shopping-at-whole-foods-market ) was definitely aimed at parents, creating a kid-free shopping space for parents with their kids in the store.
@WaitingToShrug@xanga - And to be clear- I'm not neccesarily opposed to the option of kid-free shopping- to each their own, I was more writing a parenting philosophy piece and wondering what people's thoughts were. As in, as parents, what's the best route to take in teaching kids, day-to-day life lessons, etc. The child-care hours at the store and the adult grocery shopping lesson were the catalyst.
@vlinder_farfalla@xanga - Well, I think that when I have kids, I will take them with me, in order to teach them about food and cooking, etc. If your object is teaching, then of course it's always best to let the kids see what you're doing. If you're busy though, and need to just get through the trip quickly, then dropping the kiddoes off also might be a good idea. I can see both scenarios taking place.
Ada is just now old enough for the child-watch at our grocery store, and I'll be honest... I've been thinking about it! I actually don't want to use it for grocery shopping, though. Grocery store with free childcare + coffee shop in store = date! We've never had a babysitter before, but the area is right at the checkout and in view of tons of people, so I'd actually trust it more than just some random person in my house. I kinda enjoy grocery shopping with Ada usually, so I have no plans to dump her off for that. I hadn't thought of it in terms of her learning before, but it totally makes sense.
I think the ultimate "Child Ban" from our daily activities is a silent "Children Should be SEEN not heard". Maybe some people will somehow "Forget" how children really act and think that "Oh its easy to raise kids, they all go to stores at age 10 and put their hand on the cart. So quiet, lets have 5!" Three screaming kids down the line and a couple is wondering "How did we end up like this? They dont act like this in the commercials!" lol. I say we should impliment a reverse store... where there are places where children are allowed to act up so people can see the true faces of tantrums and chaos. If I didnt have my daughter and I just went on becoming an elementary teacher, I probably would have never had kids of my own. I would either be content with helping educating other people's children or saw that children where hard to raise and not bother. Now that God has given me probably the most difficult child without special needs, I might forget her wild days and have another someday.lol. I would be supprised if there is going to be a court case of "I didnt know this is what raising children was like, I was mislead! IM SUING!!!"
i'm sick and tired of hearing kids yelling in my ear in the grocery store or at the restaurant. I'm paying to be there so guess what? Shut your kid up or I will happily skip to the nearest child-banned establishment.
I see your point, but I like the option of no kids. I can hear the person across from me now....
Child-free grocery shopping is definitely an interesting concept. Good to have for the people who want to use it. Sometimes parents just need a little respite!