Toward the end of January, I discovered National Supermarket Employee Day which is observed on February 22nd. It is a “new to us” national day that acknowledges employees within supermarkets and grocery stores and emphasizes that these employees are a vital element of our supply chain and community.
With this in mind, I created a one-day toddler curriculum based on supermarket-related toys that we have and a visit to the library for some themed supermarket books.
View the one-day toddler curriculum and printable below:
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Toddler Curriculum: National Supermarket Employee Day
Theme: Learning about supermarket employees and their important roles in our community.
Target Age: 2-4 years old
Focus Areas: Social awareness, dramatic play, counting, fine motor skills
Morning Routine
- Morning Storytime: Read a book about supermarkets or shopping, Pete the Cat’s Trip to the Supermarket (I Can Read Level 1)
- Discussion: Talk about who works at the supermarket (cashiers, stockers, managers, bakers, etc.) and why their jobs are important.
Morning Activity: Visit the Children’s Museum
- Explore the play grocery store exhibit where your toddler can:
- Pretend to shop with a mini cart.
- “Stock shelves” with toy food items.
- Play as a cashier and scan pretend groceries.
- Talk about real Supermarket Employees:
- Point out different worker roles and what they do.
- Encourage your toddler to say “Thank you!” to a museum worker, just as they would to a real supermarket employee.
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Lunchtime & Conversation
- Eat a “grocery store meal” at home or simply visit the grocery store.
- Question of the Day: “What would you do if you worked in a grocery store?”
Afternoon Activity: Play Grocery Store at Home
- Set Up a Play Store
- Use toy food, empty food boxes, or printed food pictures.
- Set up a little checkout counter with a toy cash register and play money.
- Pretend Play Roles
- Your toddler can take turns being the cashier, shopper, or stocker.
- Practice counting money, scanning items, and bagging groceries.
- Matching & Sorting Activity
- Sort toy food by color or category (fruits, dairy, snacks).
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Creative Time: Supermarket Employee Appreciation Craft
- Make a simple “Thank You” card for supermarket workers using crayons and stickers.
- Next time you visit a real store, give the card to a cashier!
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Evening Wind-Down: Grocery-Themed Sensory Play
- Fill a sensory bin with dried beans, pasta, or rice.
- Hide small toy food items inside and let your toddler “shop” by scooping and sorting.
Bedtime Story & Reflection
- Read a book about working together, like Meet a Grocer! (In Our Neighborhood) by Becky Herrick (Author), Lisa Hunt (Illustrator)
- Reflect on what they learned: “What was your favorite part of playing grocery store?”
What are your thoughts?
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