Unpack The Shopping

What you need

• shopping bag
• soft or boxed groceries

How to do it

1. Sit the shopping bag on the floor next to your toddler.
2. Pull out one soft item and set it on the counter.
3. Let them pull out the next item themselves.
4. Keep going until the bag is empty.

Why it matters

Handling different shapes and weights from the bag builds their grip strength and object recognition.

What they're learning

Grip strength

Pulling out cans and bags of different weights builds the hand and forearm strength they'll need to twist open jars and turn doorknobs.

Object memory

Recognizing what's in the bag by shape before it's fully out sharpens the same visual memory used later to spot their name on a cubby.

Turn-taking

Alternating who pulls out the next item is an early, low-stakes rehearsal for waiting their turn in a game or at daycare.

What to look for

Watch for them adjusting their grip mid-pull when something's heavier or bulkier than expected — that's them problem-solving in real time.

A tip

Load the bag with soft or boxed items only (bread, pasta, tissues) and stash anything glass or breakable before you start.

More like this

Wipe The Table from 16 months · 5-10 min Dust The Shelf from 16 months · 5 min Set Two Places from 24 months · 5-10 min Empty The Bin from 26 months · 5-10 min