Expanding Vocabulary: at the supermarket

At least once a week we go to the supermarket, let’s take advantage of this outing to expand your child’s vocabulary. You might think I’m out of my mind, “take my child to the supermarket!?” “ I’d rather go alone, it’s faster, easier!” “My child does not behave; he/she cries and wants to grab everything!” Let’s contemplate this idea, ok? Ok! I will give you some ideas on how to entertain your child at the supermarket while he learns new words; all the while you still check off your shopping list items in the process!

Get your kid excited, “Let’s go shopping!” who doesn’t want to get out the house, and go for a car ride, right!? Remember our car ride lesson in my previous blog? Go ahead, try it again! Every opportunity is a chance for you and your child to learn together. Once you arrive, let’s go straight to the fresh produce area, fruits! One way to get your child engaged with the task at hand is to make them part of the shopping experience. Give them the produce bag, so they can help you out. “Look! A RED, ROUND apple” “Look! What a BIG orange” “a GREEN pear, umm how yummy!” “Let’s put 3 apples in the bag, 1, 2 and 3!” Afterwards, let’s go get some vegetables, again integrating your child by allowing them to have some control by placing the vegetables in the bag. Describe the vegetables by their name, color and size every time you hand it over to your child. I know you have your shopping list, let’s go finish it off, always trying to let your child participate in the process. If you see an item that catches their attention describe it, color, size, shapes! Talk, talk and talk with your child, always in complete ideas and sentences.

Try this out and come back and share your experience with me in the comment section of the blog.

*Translated by Valery Martinez