It's no secret that Kiwi families have been feeling the pinch. And the first place families often tighten their purse strings is at the supermarket. But how best can we approach the topic of supermarket budgets with our kids?
Ellie Gwilliam, presenter from the Parenting Place, tells Jay-Jay & Flynny that it begins by being aware of the language we use around them.
"Kids can pick up on our worries, and it can be a load that is too heavy for them to carry," she explains.
Using age-appropriate language that is more positive in tone is a great first step.
"Help them understand that there is a budget," she suggests. "We can talk about things like 'good value', rather than language like 'we can't afford that'."
Ellie also suggests having a plan as another great way to educate your kids about cost-efficient supermarket shopping. For example, engaging younger kids with sticking to a shopping list, and helping older kids understand how to budget for a meal.
Flynny has his own game that he plays with his young son Alex, encouraging him to seek out the cheapest version of a product on their shopping list, which Ellie endorses as an enriching activity..
"Our kids can gain some really great skills there, giving them something to do to help curb the potential for pressure, tantrums, and meltdowns in the supermarket when there's so much temptation!"
You can follow Jay-Jay & Flynny on Instagram or Facebook, and tune in to our regular show from 3pm weekdays on More FM.
