We look at the labels on packages and products for different reasons. Sure, we compare prices for the best value. But some of us want to make sure all the ingredients are organic. Others are checking for ingredients we know we’re allergic to, or seeing whether that sweater needs to be dry-cleaned.

Many of us aren’t label or instruction readers by nature — we want it, or it’s what we always eat, so we simply buy it. But reading labels can be a very useful way to find out about the products we purchase. Labels can tell us not only what things cost, but also what’s actually inside the package — say, how much sugar, fat, or salt we’ll get in a serving (based on OUR idea of a serving, not the manufacturer’s idea).

Teaching kids to read and heed product labels helps them become more careful consumers. They also get to know important criteria their family use in making purchase decisions; for example, no high-fructose corn syrup, artificial flavors, or preservatives in foods; only clothes that are machine-washable. And this can add a fun new “label detective” aspect to those regular shopping trips!

You don’t have to teach your kids every detail found on the labels of every product in this week’s shopping cart. Start simple and easy, by comparing a few similar items — like cans of soup or boxes of cereal.

When To Do It
At home

What To Do
Choose items that your kids commonly eat, wear, or use, and spend some time together looking at and reading the labels. Compare two similar products, using two or three examples to make your teaching points clear.

• Prepare: On your next shopping trip, gather some items for label reading. Buy two or three pairs of different products — say, two brands of the same kind of soup or cereal; two different-label sweaters or pairs of jeans — for comparison. Save the price tags and store receipts; circle any items without price stickers so you’ll know their prices.
• Clear the kitchen table and set out the examples for comparison, with a simple comparison sheet for taking notes.
• Compare two different brands of the same product (say, tomato soup, raisin bran cereal) to find out how they are different or the same, and what makes one preferable to another. Ask your kids to list the features of each on the comparison sheet. For example, when reviewing two different brands of soup, you can discuss these five categories and how they influence your purchase decision.

	Brand/ Product Name	Top Three Ingredients	Sodium Content	Price per Serving	Exp. Date
Soup 1
Soup 2

 

 

 

What You’ll Need

• Two or three sets of consumer products to compare (such as soup, cereal, clothing)
• Paper
• Pencils, pens
• Calculator

Talk About It
As your children are evaluating the items, ask them if they have any other criteria they think are important in helping make a good purchase decision. Were they surprised by any of your criteria?

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