Kids in supermarkets

[Lovealovestory]

What is it with supermarkets? Any other shop they behave like normal well behaved children, looking around, not grabbing, talking to me, asking nicely, being polite to strangers.

The second we walk in to the supermarket they seem to turn into feral brats! Running in opposite directions, barging into people, grabbing stuff of shelves, wanting EVERYTHING IN SIGHT. I feel like I'm constantly telling them off and apologising to people.

It's not the size because theyre well behaved in department stores (or were, not many left these days) and shopping centres.
I wonder if it's the lighting?
Dread taking them food shopping 🤣
Dd1 has sen which affects her behaviour, no excuse for dd2 though.

Anyone else have the same problem?

My DS is like this. I guess it is a lot of sensory input- lots of people, items, noise, bright. I can imagine it to be quite overwhelming. I've stopped taking DS with me because every single time ends in a meltdown!

@JaniceBing I do avoid taking them now, but sometimes there is no option. Today we just popped in for ten minutes for something for tea after doing some Christmas shopping. Took half an hour to do a ten minute job. I feel you with the meltdowns, breaks my heart every time.

I would suggest it's the sensory feed back. The tannoy system. The lighting. The fridge motor noises. The temperature changes. The smells. The people. The trolleys. The repetitive aisles. The endless choice of stuff.

It's a lot for adults. It will be a lot for little ones where, relatively, everything is double the size.

I can't take my 5 year old on a big shop. I take him for a fake shop, like to help him get used to navigating him around. But otherwise he is just too unhappy. He becomes hyperactive, runs off, insists on sitting in the trolley. Insists on coming out of the trolley. Has a meltdown. Wants everything he wants going in the trolley. Doesn't want the stuff I want going in the trolley. His ability to reason is completely diminished because so much else is going on for him.

In the days of online easier to see why lots do it, for lots easier to go in evenings if partner at home, and can drive.
I rarely took mine years ago, far easier, it’s not just kids, lots of folk wanting social time, and badly using trolleys

Yes - i feel embarrassed when i bring my children out to shops!

@Hotpot33

I would suggest it's the sensory feed back. The tannoy system. The lighting. The fridge motor noises. The temperature changes. The smells. The people. The trolleys. The repetitive aisles. The endless choice of stuff.

It's a lot for adults. It will be a lot for little ones where, relatively, everything is double the size.

I can't take my 5 year old on a big shop. I take him for a fake shop, like to help him get used to navigating him around. But otherwise he is just too unhappy. He becomes hyperactive, runs off, insists on sitting in the trolley. Insists on coming out of the trolley. Has a meltdown. Wants everything he wants going in the trolley. Doesn't want the stuff I want going in the trolley. His ability to reason is completely diminished because so much else is going on for him.

Yes this is how it is with us. Such hard work. We've ordered this week but I don't like too, I like to buy everything I can unwrapped and most fruit and veg is pre bagged on the website. Crap. I like to see what I'm buying too. Easier when they're at school.