Shopping with kids isn’t just about ticking off the grocery list. It’s a test of patience, planning, persuasion and sheer emotional endurance. But if you reframe the trip as something they can help steer, you might be surprised at the difference it can make.
The discount detective challenge
Want to avoid non-stop snack negotiations? Give the kids a job that channels their energy in the right direction. Ask them to find the cheapest version of a product on your list… say, the best-value muesli bars or the biggest milk for the lowest price. Older kids can even try calculating the % discount on some discounted products. It’s quick, useful, and keeps little hands and minds busy.
Let them choose
Letting your child choose one extra thing (within a price limit) can prevent dozens of “can I get this?” requests along the way. Try: “When we get to the store you can pick one thing under $5” and “If you choose that, you can’t have the other thing.” This small bit of freedom helps them feel involved while giving you a clear boundary to stick to.
Make it a mission (…if they can be trusted)
Put them in charge of something that feels important like grabbing the peanut butter from the end of aisle 3, or finding the cheapest canned tomatoes in the bottom row. It keeps them focused, gives them a purpose, and frees you up to knock off the rest of the list. Just don’t send them near the lolly section.
Cue the reinforcements
If all else fails, distract them with some magic: Disney Discs are back at Woolworths! To celebrate 70 years of Disneyland Resort in California, Woolworths shoppers can collect a new set of 40 discs featuring much-loved characters from Disney, Pixar, Marvel and Star Wars. Each disc comes with a matching card, and you’ll get one free with every $30 spent.
There’s a $13 collector’s album that comes with a fold-out game board and 3D replicas of iconic Disneyland attractions kids can build and play with. It turns the discs into more than just collectibles, there’s real play value, especially for kids who enjoy sorting, trading, and setting things up just right. It’s the kind of quiet activity that’s easy to pull out on a rainy afternoon and enjoy as a family. For serious collectors, there’s also an ultra-rare ‘Partners Statue of Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse’ disc in limited circulation.
Bonus tip? You can grab extra packs when you buy selected participating products (up to three bonus packs per brand, per shop), and Everyday Rewards members may spot extra offers to help complete the set faster.
Skip the stress
If in-store shopping just isn’t happening this week (we get it), the good news is you can still join in. Every $30 spent online at Woolworths or through MILKRUN also earns you a Disney Disc. So you can do your shop during your lunch break, collect or have it delivered, and still share in the fun.
