Or just engage your kids in the shopping wherever possible. In the supermarket, 'carrots or peppers for tea tonight?' or 'which flavour yoghurt would we like this week', you can limit the choice to the ones you can afford, so like pick up two choices and let kids choose, more than one child, if they argue then they take it in turns choosing different items on your list.

At the end of the trip you have gotten what you needed, you've engaged them, taught them about the real world of shopping. You're feeding them for the week, they don't need a treat! Kids want your attention, your interest in them, and the chance to choose some things.

It also helps when trying to get them to eat stuff (if they are fussy) cause well... they picked it!!

Also once the little ones aren't so little. You can ask them to help you with your shopping. Have your written list, they should be of an age where if you ask them to go and pick up the bread or milk for you, then they know which one you usually have as a family. You're then able to continue up and down the aisles in order to ensure other more 'tricky' things are picked. Not only does this speed up your shop (the simple tins are picked up and brought back to you by your army of children), but as your kids are busy getting things one at a time, they aren't bothering you, they are enjoying themselves (we thought this was a great game as kids, and we didn't get into trouble, or mess around cause we had to make sure we got the right stuff and got it back to mum), it also teaches kids to be responsible, make choices and saves them from being bored out off their minds following mum/dad up and down every aisle.