After school activities

[leon nelkin]

When children are picked up from school why are some of them taken straight to a supermarket

[ursula62]

So that the parents who collect them can buy food for dinner?

Not everyone is at home all day these days. Not everyone has access to a fridge or freezer to buy in bulk.

[FP]

It's good for kids to go shopping with their parents.  It teaches them so much about food and prices.  I believe parents should always take their children with them when they shop - so many don't want them round there feet.

It also teaches them to learn to behave, that is if the parents are doing their job.  Horrible kids in supermarkets are a nightmare - but it's only the parents to blame.

Bring pack parenting! 

[FP]

their feet !

[Robinia]

Exactly what I was going to say FP!  And my sons' bag packing skills were second to none!!  (And they're good cooks too!)

[FP]

Hi Robinia.  I love it when my grown up son comes to visit and comes shopping with me.  He is just so good at packing bags quickly and with care.  Always keeps the food stuff away from soap powder etc.  He has packed my bags ever since he was very young.  He also is a good cook - see the question from In A Pickle in Food and Drink about Jamie Oliver!

What's nice now is that he often pays as well!

Nice to see you!

[leon nelkin]

All the answers to date are missing the point which is:
These children have been at school all day and there is nothing better than coming home in the winter or going to a park with their mum in the summer and just chilling out or having some hot buttered toast in the winter, they do not I am sure want to be dragged round a supermarket.. The last place they would want to be.

[Robinia]

We did those things too!!

What about those that are taken after school to another 'after school club', or whatever they call them, for a further 2 or 3 hrs?  Much better to be shopping with mum/dad/gran/auntie I'd say. 

[FP]

But I never dragged my son around a supermarket.  We had a good time choosing what we would eat and chatting all the time.  I do feel sorry that some kids are dragged round looking bored whilst their parents can't even be bothered to involve them.

Yes it would be nice if we could all go home after work and eat buttered toast and snuggle in front of the TV, but kids have to learn what the real world is like and parents should give them experience of the real world.

Mums and Dads have to work to look after and support their kids.  Sometimes Mums and Dads are too tired to go to the park straight after school.

Families are about working and playing together and I would think that the majority of kids would rather shop with a loving parent than be stuck in a club after school or collected at some hour from an all day nursery.

[FP]

Robinia.  Your answer wasn't there before I wrote my 'sermon', but it seems we think alike on this issue!

[Robinia]

Yes FP, united we stand - in the check-out queue!!

[Robinia]

10 children or less!

[FP]

or 'baskets' only!

[Hgrove]

Leon Nelkin, in the real world children will have to do some things which are perhaps not so much fun (and may even be fun according to the othe posts) as well as things they would rather do... it's life.

[graemer]

Is this the contentious issue you were so worried about asking when you posted on "suggestions" Leon? I raced over here expecting child beating at the least!

I think the supermarket kids could have it worse...they could be dragged home to empty pantries.

[missoni]

Maybe Leon's question is part of a bigger query which is that, necessity aside, has shopping (not just supermarket shopping) become a family leisure activity.

[cupcake]

I agree completely with FP and Robinia-my little angels have always come shopping with me and behaved for the duration of the trip! Sometimes shopping after school is the only time some mums and dads have-if there is any hope of fitting in a meal before the Brownies/Cubs/ swimming or whatever. And as FP has pointed out it is good for them to be aware about prices and things. And finally I suspect that the type of parents who 'drag' their children at any time are not the doting types of mummies who would make hot buttered toast!