Packing shopping at a supermarket with two active climbing kids - help!

[Roca]

So I can just about manage to get a quick grab and go trolley run round the supermartket with my 2 DC (girl age 2 and boy age 3) even though there is a lot of seat swapping etc but when it gets to packing up the shopping how the hell do I keep my eye on them climbing in and out of the roaming trolley or hanging off the counter like its a monkey bar when I'm trying to pack bags?

Do I just ask for the checkout people to help me pack and go play with them?!

From the comfort of my own home a solution seems easy but in the actual situation it is a bloody nightmare an I lose it big time!

Can't only shop online as often need top-ups.

Another question - why do they just not listen to me?!

[cornsilk]

get the checkout staff to pack while you hold on to them. Will they help as well? My ds's loved packing.

[Mamazon]

make it fun. give them a bag each and tell the boy he is in charge of paciing all the items that are blue, the girl is on charge of packing anything green.
(try and pick colours that you actually have items for)

they will be content to watch teh items roll down the till then and not wander off.

Another trick is to ask them to count how many items youhave bought.

basicly anything that keeps them concentrating at the till point as it means they dont run away.

[yawningmonster]

I am in another country and only have one dc but I have 2 huge boxes in back of car and one chilli bin. I take trolley to car, insert child, offload food into boxes, put frozens into chilli and presto. Back at home I take in chilli and put away frozens, the rest I unload as I get a chance during the rest of the day...ds does like ferrying food into house so will often help at this stage. You could use smaller boxes and then just carry in and unload.

[TJ1976]

Wonderful idea yawning monster! I have the same issue with my ds. Will have to try it out!

[Roca]

thanks all - also being 25wks pg just finding things a bit harder than usual!

[lizziemun]

Get your DH/P to get the extra bits you need on his way home from work.

[TeeBee]

Well, my method is probably not the best parenting, but it works beautifully. I buy them a treat, sit them in a double-seated trolley, and only let them have the treat when they are sitting in the trolley whilst I am packing. Everyone comments on how 'good' mine are when we are out shopping. I reply with a polite 'thank you, that's very kind', inside I'm saying 'Thank you, the bribery efforts are working a treat'. And I must say, the lure of a treat works wonders for keeping them in a good mood and makes them want to help me get the shopping donw quickly.

Why don't they listen to you?? You don't have any chocolate buttons!