A fun activity for your toddler
Chances are your child has had plenty of experience with grocery stores by now. Since she loves to imitate the adults in her life (especially you!), she'll enjoy taking her own shopping cart for a spin.
Good for age: 22 months (but older and younger kids might enjoy it, too!)
Skills developed: imagination
What you'll need: a laundry basket or large cardboard box to serve as a "shopping cart," several cans and boxed foods from your pantry, and a paper grocery bag.
Set up a mini grocery store by placing the cans and boxed foods around the room. Then show your child how to go shopping by pushing the cart from item to item and placing them in the cart.
When she's finished filling her cart, you can ask her if she's ready to go through the checkout line. Take the food out of the cart and put it in the bag (she may want to help you with this).
If you want to incorporate money, you can say something like, "That will be $20, please," and hold out your hand. See if she'll pretend to put money in your hand.
Hand her the bag and say, "Thank you for shopping. Here you go!"
If she wants to play again, try reversing your roles and have her ring up your order at the cash register. Or, let her go shopping again and put the cans and boxes in different places so she gets a little variety.
When she's had her fill of grocery shopping, tell her that it's time to put away the food that she bought, and see if she'll help you with this. For example, she can hand the items to you as you put them back in the pantry.