Free Printable Grocery Shopping Lists for Little Shoppers

Grocery shopping has never been this much fun, or meaningful! I put together two free printable grocery shopping lists for my kids, and they couldn’t wait to use them. On our last trip to the store, I let them take the reins while I followed behind, watching as they hunted down everything on their lists. Their goal? Gather all the ingredients to make a big pot of homemade chicken soup for their 96-year-old grandma. It was one of those sweet moments where something as simple as a shopping trip turned into a lesson in independence, teamwork, and love. Grandma was so happy, and the kids were so proud of what they accomplished!

Before we headed to the store, we started by going through the recipe together. The kids helped me list all the ingredients we’d need for the chicken soup, and then we checked what we already had at home. Once we figured out what we still needed, the kids wrote down the missing items on their shopping lists, making sure to place each one under the correct food group. It was such a great way to sneak in some learning about food categories while keeping them excited for the next step, shopping like pros!

At the store, I let the kids take charge while I followed close behind. They pushed the cart and used the store signs to figure out where to find everything on their lists. It was wonderful to watch them learn how the store is organized and start recognizing which sections hold certain types of food. They quickly figured out how to search the store efficiently. With each item they found, they’d check off the little bubble on their lists. It was such a proud moment seeing them tackle the task with so much focus and independence, and they had a blast doing it!

Once we got home, the kids jumped right into helping with the cooking process. They started by cleaning and chopping the vegetables and getting everything ready. We use real knives, as the kids have had a lot of practice, but here’s a great Kid Friendly Knife Set with a cutting board on amazon.

While the chicken was boiling, they took turns pulling it apart once it had cooled enough. They followed each step on the recipe, adding ingredients to the pot and stirring it. Seeing their pride in making something from scratch was heartwarming, and knowing it was for their grandma made it even more special. By the end of it, we had a delicious pot of homemade chicken soup, and two very proud little chefs!

The kids decided Grandma needed a little something sweet to go with her meal. They jumped right into baking chocolate chip cookies as the soup simmered on the stove. Measuring, mixing, and sneaking a few chocolate chips along the way, they had so much fun working together. When everything was done, they packed up the soup and cookies, ready to surprise Grandma with a meal made entirely by them. It was such a sweet ending to a day full of love, learning, and teamwork!

This entire experience was such a wonderful mix of fun, learning, and heartfelt moments. Watching my kids take ownership of the process, from planning and shopping to cooking and baking, was truly rewarding, and I know Grandma felt all the love that went into her special meal.

If you’d like to create similar memories with your kids, I’m excited to share the free grocery shopping list printables we used! They’re perfect for making your little ones feel involved while teaching valuable life skills along the way. Download them below!

Download these Grocery List printables for FREE!