Lessons From A 6-Year-Old Cart Driver

I Went Grocery Shopping With a 6-Year-Old. Here’s What I Learned.

A few weeks ago, my friend and I were talking about how wild the world must look through a kid’s eyes, and before I knew it, I was meeting her 6-year-old daughter at HEB on a Saturday morning for what can only be described as a chaotic, unplanned ethnography.

She came in full energy mode — bouncing, curious, and somehow hyper-focused anytime I asked a simple question like, “What stands out to you?”

In cereal, she went straight to Lucky Charms and Frosted Flakes. No hesitation.

Then she pointed to the single-serve cups and said, “I like those at the airport.”

Not the flavor. Not the brand. The airport.

The context beat category in one line.

Then we hit a moment that stopped me.

She grabbed Special K Pastry Crisps and said her favorite blueberry flavor wasn’t there. Except she meant Belvita Crunchy Blueberry.She was reacting to the food photo, not the brand.

It made me wonder how often adults do the same thing without realizing it.

Kids' yogurt was another split moment of clarity:

She grabbed Yoplait Bluey with excitement, then pointed at Stonyfield and said, “That’s the one my mom likes me to eat.”

Consumer vs. shopper in real time.

In salty snacks, she rushed toward the black Lay’s Barbecue bag like it had a magnet in it. That’s 5-foot visibility winning. Color > words > flavor.Then she yelled, “Pringles!” but ran toward the Good Crisp canisters instead.

Brand confusion powered by structure, not identity.

There were hilarious moments too — like her dropping to her knees in front of the fruit snacks aisle, dramatically choosing Fruit Roll-Ups over Annie’s like it was a life decision.

Kids aren’t rationalizing like some adults. They see shapes, colors, photos, occasions, and memories, and they make decisions in seconds. They shop the way most people shop… just without pretending otherwise.

As we checked out, she looked at her basket and said, “My mom would say I am making unhealthy choices today.”

A brutally honest summary of the whole thing.