Every time we go into a store and make a purchase we are using language, communication, and math skills.

This is a great opportunity for your child with learning disabilities in math or language areas to get some 2nd hand practice by watching you, or even 1st hand practice by making a purchase with you at his side for encouragement and assistance as needed.

Grocery shopping

The grocery store is like walking into a big school because it has so many opportunities for learning about the value of money and how to read packages and weigh items.

Let's start in the fresh produce section. You could say to your child, "pick out 4 large potatoes for dinner." That gives practice with counting. Then put the potatoes on the scale and together look at the weight and price per pound, and watch how the scale calculates the total price.

I like to make a little game of this by guessing what I think the price will be. This is a very practical application of math skills that will be useful for a lifetime.

Moving along with the shopping cart enter the isle with cereal boxes. Here is an opportunity to talk about sizing and quantities. You could say to your child, "pick out a small size box of your favorite cereal."

Then ask if he can find the product information section on the outside of the box. It is usually along a narrow side. Going down the chart, point out the number of calories per serving, as well as how many servings the box contains. This information is written using language and math. Another practical application of what your child needs to learn to live an independent life.

Okay, now head toward the checkout counter and see what can be learned by that process. If you have just a few items, count them, and look to see if there is a 10 item or less line. This is useful to point out to your child so she doesn't have to stand behind someone with a full cart, when there are just potatoes and cereal to pay for.

After loading items onto the conveyer belt, seeing the prices scanned and getting the total to pay, help your child count out the money to pay for the items. Then bag everything up and head out the door.

One lesson done, many more to go, with each being an opportunity to make shopping an educational experience for your child with learning disabilities, with the security of you at his side for confidence and security.

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Article by Susan Kramer