Here in Portland, one of our local grocery store chains offer parents a sort of babysitting service while you shop. They have toys and activities, and will ensure your child’s safety while you focus your attention on the task at hand: buying your weekly groceries.
We’ve used the service once, and our daughter loved playing with toys she didn’t have at home, but we prefer to take care of our shopping when they’re in school or in bed. Now that my kids are a little older, we even tackle our list team-style some weekends so that they can play a role in selecting snacks and sides for our weekly meals.
But I can definitely remember how challenging it was to shop with a toddler who didn’t have a lot of patience to last a full shopping trip without needing some attention. And I thought about those days when I read this article today on markets in Colorado that have installed TV screens in their kid carts. You know, those carts with the little car in front? Well, these have screens that play cartoons like Handy Manny or Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.
Source: Hyoung Chang, The Denver Post
Since it’s been a while for us, I want to hear from parents of toddlers…what do you think about cartoons for your little one so that you can put your attention on your shopping list?
How do you feel about commercials that play as you pass by the products in the aisle? Happy to be alerted of the savings or don’t want that interruption?
Let’s chat…in the comments below or over on Facebook. What do you think?
Source: Hyoung Chang, The Denver Post
10 Comments
I absolutely hate that idea. There are screens EVERYWHERE. Restaurants, check out lines, even when you pump gas. Now kids have to watch TV at the grocery store??? The AAP recommends NO TV at all for children 2 and under.
Aside from the insidiousness of screen time and not being able to get away from it, there’s something else wrong with this picture. How are kids going to learn to make good choices and shop smart unless someone teaches them? And how can omeone teach them if they’re busy watching ,Disney?
I do try to shop alone, but I have taken (ALL!) the kids to the grocery, too. Yes, it’s not peaceful. Yes, I have to answer 3 million questions. Yes, I have to say no sometimes. And I don’t always watch the till carefully enough when I have the kids with me. But- that’s because I’m a parent, not because my kids need to watch more TV.
…also, the LAST thing my kids need, IMO, is MORE DISNEY BRANDING.
Having taken three kids 4 and under to the store, I can understand why parents would embrace this, but I can also say that I’ve been able to successfully navigate the store and come out with my sanity intact. Sans TV.
I feed them lunch while we’re there. They eat and help me pick out snacks. And there’s the joy of buckles when they get unruly.
I prefer, of course, to shop alone. But this thing has me thinking of parents of kids who don’t have a choice, (deployed spouse, etc), and how this might help make a dreaded task more bearable. A conscientious parent can adjust screen time for the rest of the day if necessary.
I didn’t quite understand the whole ads as you walk by items, but if they’re thinking of playing commercials for my kids as we pass sections such as the cereal aisle? Then I have a HUGE problem with the service. No more branding at my kids.
I don’t think it’s a great idea…kids already have too much screen time. Grocery shopping has always been a fun time for my daughter and I…even when she was a toddler! We talk about where food comes from, we talk about advertising and how tricky it can be, we talk about produce…the colors and fun shapes. I’ve always looked at it as a learning opportunity.
There are things that you can do to set up a successful shopping trip!
In my opinion parenting is a verb…it’s something you DO…yes there is a place for quite tv time and videos however I think there is too much dependence on these things to “make it through the day”. If all we do is keep our kids plugged into gadgets and tv all day…sure it will be quiet but what’s the point? Kids are loud, curious, messy and AMAZING!! I know I wouldn’t want to miss out on all the joys and fabulous moments of my daughter’s childhood!!!!
Jennifer (monsterchew) – I like your comment on adjusting your child’s total screen time to account for this. We do this if there’s been an education video watched at school, or for days that we claim as family movie nights. It’s about balance.
Kia – Grocery shopping is definitely an adventure! Two years ago I developed activities for kids that educated them while grocery shopping in really fun ways – they were such a hit with young kiddos!
Our local grocery store has these carts. They are really horrible. Not only are they big promoters of screen time for the kids, but the adults are also subjected to ads on the screen that’s in the top of the cart with the controls. And these ads are LOUD. No way to turn them off.
Biggest mistake is shopping at all in a store that has these. My son spotted one, had to ride in it (before I knew the full scope of multimedia; thought it was just a car-cart), and now we can’t shop at that store without him specially requesting it. No biggie since I usually shop at our local independent grocer anyway, but a pain when I just need a quick pop-in at the major grocer.
And on top of all the bad parenting issues with it, there is the additional “pain in the…”s of (1) the cart is much smaller due to the car; (2) you can’t wheel them out to the parking lot; they have to be put back in their original indoor/weatherproof parking place in the store, so when checking out you have to kick your kid out and retrieve a regular cart to put your goods in.
Who’s idea were those things? Gag.
What a terrible idea! I agree, parenting is a verb, not something to get through on your way to retirement! Teach them something while you’re there. Listen to them, ask about their day, ask what they would like to eat and why, use this as a teaching moment.
We live by one of these stores and I have avoided the new carts completely. My son loves the car carts, which are now stored outside, so he hasn’t even noticed the tv carts, but I am not fond of the idea. I do like that they are shorter than the car carts,which would make them easier to drive, but I avoid them because of the tv. I have rules about what my kids watch and how much of it they watch and although it’s nice to have them occupied, while I shop, that’s not the way I want to do it.
Kids have to learn to sit and behave without props and aides. It’s like learning to sleep without aides. I think that I will either go kidless to the store or just make them behave. It’s not always perfect. But at least there is a dialogue between parent and child about what’s acceptable. We have to stop pacifying our children with convenient things.
This is a good device to keep the toddlers entertained. When they grow up, it is time for them to learn about grocery shopping.