Financial Field Trip to the Grocery Store: Teaching Decision Making, Money & Exchange to Kids

Considering that it is safe to go outside in your area, here is a guide on how you can make a simple trip to the grocery store an instant financial field trip for your kids. Alternatively, we have also searched for some grocery store-like setup (games and activities) that your kids can have just as much fun with. We know that there’s nothing as valuable as real-life experience, but it won’t hurt to compromise especially if it’s for your safety. 
With that said, let’s get things rolling! Lead your kids to explore the world of decision-making, quality, and pricing, as well as value and exchange in one go. Give your kids an upper hand starting from a young age and make your kids money smart. 

1. “How do I weigh my options?”, says your kid. Even adults can have a hard time making smart shopping decisions. To help your kids avoid the same mistakes you have once committed and the common wrong turns that many of the older generations still stumble upon, we want you to remember the acronym PSP: 

Point out the consequences: What happens when your kid chooses a certain path? Make sure that your child is knowledgeable about the weakness and strengths of the options that are in front of him or her. Emphasize the importance as well of acknowledging the consequences before jumping to final decisions. 
Set the parameters: If your kids are younger than 7 years old, you might want to avoid giving open-ended or complicated options. Considering the yet developing decision-making skill of your kid, you should start from giving either/or options, slowly increasing the choices with time. 
Prioritize: “What matters to you the most?” Remember to instill this question in the heart of your kid as he or she makes decisions—however small or big. By doing this, you will help your kids learn about the importance of setting their priorities straight and standing up for it especially when times are most tempting. 

To practice the said acronym, we recommend that you let your kids actively engage starting from the planning part of your shopping to choosing between the products on the shelves. For example: Point out consequences: “What happens if we put down on the list what we want first before our needs?” 
Set the parameters: “For breakfast, would you like to have milk A or B?”
Prioritize: “Do you really want to buy this newly-released toy over your art supplies?” 

2. The basics of quality and pricing. Being expensive doesn’t always mean being the best, nor being tagged as cheap means it’s automatically “sulit”. There is more to a product than just its price. For example, by simply noticing the different types of packaging, you can help your kids understand how there are several factors to a product that could be behind its price. Hence, the price, although a general indicator of the quality, does not serve as the ultimate nor the best standard for shoppers. 

Of course, we know that it’s also possible that what’s best for some people may not be the best for us and our family. Some products are particularly made for the less financially capable that doesn’t suit other consumers' standards and that’s just normal! What’s important is that you get the quality that you need, quality that is best for the certain purpose that the product will be used for.

3. Engage with them, don’t just shut them up. 
When your kids ask questions, don’t just shut them up by force or by simply giving in to their demands. Feed their curiosity and feed it well! Engage with your kids in the process and who knows—you might be able to learn from them too. This is also a good time to give their questions back to them, but in a simpler, easier to digest manner. This way, you build their critical thinking. More importantly, you won’t be stepping on their innocence nor their confidence! 

4. The value of money and the art of exchange 
Looking for a quick way how to help your kid understand the art of exchange in today’s market? Then ask your kid to count the money and let your child be the one to hand over your payment to the cashier. Oh, and don’t forget to ask your kid to prepare the money ahead of time so he or she won’t feel much pressure from the others in the line. 

Asking your kids to count and hand over the money will also pave the way to their understanding of the value of money—hopefully, allowing them to acknowledge that there’s a limit to just what your family could afford. That’s frugality and family-awareness in one shot!

Alternative Games & Activities to Financial Field Trips in Grocery Stores: 
1. 19 Grocery Store Games For Kids from Money Prodigy. 2. Grocery Store Learning Activities for Kids from Very Well Family. 3. Let’s Take a Trip to Grocery Store by Florida Health. 