Do you like retail therapy and chocolate covered strawberries? I've used both to support my little learners!

One little learner and I went to the grocery store on February 15th, when the chocolate covered strawberries are 50% off. I cut each strawberry into little pieces, and she savored every morsel as she went up and down the freezer aisle learning to use her walker.

The freezer aisle was the perfect place for sensory, social, and motor skills learning! She loved seeing the freezer lights come on as she moved, and she laughed each time she touched the color freezer door. Other shoppers thought she was adorable, and they got on her eye level to say hello. She smiled, waved, and showed off her strawberries.

She practiced ALL of her therapy goals and gained mobility and independence right there in the freezer aisle! Her family joked that I invented "retail therapy," and I've since used the grocery store to teach descriptive language, matching, sequencing, math skills, and more.

Real world learning happens when we think outside the box and bring goals and strategies from school and therapy to life at home and in the community!

For more out of the box ways to support learning, join the Learn Play Grow newsletter to receive your FREE Power of Play Guide, and follow Learn Play Grow on Facebook and Instagram and YouTube.

Rebecca A. Weiner, M.Ed. Is a neurodiversity affirming educator and creator of Learn Play Grow. She helps young children with diverse abilities and their families, teachers, and schools experience success on their own terms through play-based learning, parent and teacher coaching, consulting in schools,  and neurodiversity-affirming inclusion support in early childhood programs. Connect with Rebecca at www.learnplaygrowconsulting.com