“I just had to share this because it works so well for us! I’m sure I’m not the only mom who gets tired of hearing their kids ask for every single thing in the grocery store. I say no a lot, but I think it’s just natural for kids to see things and want them.
So, to distract them, I started letting them pick out one can of food for the food bank every time we shop. Any can they want! And guess what? They love it! They think really hard about which can to choose. They carry it to the checkout, hand it to the cashier, and then put it in the food bank bin themselves.
My daughter even likes to tell people what the food bank is and why it matters! We’ve done this for the last 5 grocery trips, and not once have they asked for toys or treats! And the best part? They’re helping others at the same time.
I know this won’t last forever, but if you have a 2 or 4-year-old like me, I highly recommend trying it! Maybe when they get older, I can turn it into a fun game—like, ‘Find a can that starts with the letter C’ or ‘Find a vegetable!’”
— Candice Bell
Credit: The Inspireist