Going shopping

Occupational therapy

﻿Hi, I'm really looking forward to our lesson today. I hope you are too. Before we get started, this is just a little reminder. We're here to support any approaches you might already be using and any work you might have already been set. We know that this lesson is going to be going out to so many different children and families. So if you're not sure about anything or have any questions, then please do contact your usual therapy team. And to be looking at going shopping with your friends and how you can make this a really nice enjoyable experience for yourself and your friends. Okay. Going shopping on your own is really quite important. And which shows that you can be quite independent. In order to go shopping on your own, you should be able to get to the shops on your own either by walking, taking the bus or the train. Or you can ask an adult to drop you off. You should know how to use a map or travel planner. You definitely need to know what to do in an emergency. You should have at least two phone numbers memorised and this is important in case your mobile phone runs out of charge. And then you can't find someone if you really need them. You have to be able to use your bank card or contactless. You should be able to use lists to keep track of what you need to buy. And you should know how to read time, so that you're not late. Pause the video now to get the items you will need for today's lesson. Restart once you're done. For our first activity, I want you to think which of these you can do. Okay. And can you do it really well? Can you do it with some help? Or can you really just not do it? Yeah, so there you can see. Make and use lists. Use a map or travel planner. Travel on your own. And how do you travel on your own? Do you take the train or the bus or do you walk? You can even cycle. Can you memorise someone's phone number? So a responsible adult or parent or carer. Do you know how to ask for help and who to ask for help? Do you know how to use your bank card or pay using a contactless form of payment? And do you know how to check the time? Pause the video now to complete that task. Resume once you're finished. Okay, so when would you go shopping and what would you go shopping for? Well, you could go shopping for some basic groceries. So you can get a list from an adult or carer and say, walk to the little corner shop and buy some milk and some bread. You could go shopping for clothes. With friends or on your own. You could while you're out go and buy some snacks or some lunch. And you could maybe even go and buy your own toiletries, when you run out. For our next activity, I want you to chat to an adult about what worries you about shopping without an adult or shopping on your own? Or with some friends. Okay. And think about all of these things now. Are you worried about making and using lists? Yes, no. Or you think you still need help with that? Are you worried about using a map or travel planner? Are you worried about travelling on your own? Do you think you're going to struggle to remember a phone number? What about asking for help? Does that worry you? Paying for things or checking the time? Is that something that makes you feel a little bit nervous? What about the noise? Pause the video there to complete your task. Resume once you're finished. Okay, once you've made that list, have a look at some of these ideas which may help you. So if you're concerned about making and using lists. I find if you have a little notebook, where you write all your lists in, then it will help keep you calm and not so worried about losing all your lists. And what you could also do is tick them off as you buy the items on your list. If you're worried about using a map and travelling alone, then ask an adult to help you get an app on your smartphone, to tell you bus and train times. And practise the route that you want to take when you need to take several times with an adult, until you can do it alone. And until you feel confident that you can do it alone. If you're worried about remembering a phone number, then keep the numbers written down in more than one place. So you could have the numbers written down in your wallet or purse, in your bag and also in your little notebook. It's also really important that you carry a portable phone charger and the lead. And also super, super important is that you make sure that the phone charger is charged. Okay. If you're worried about asking for help, then make sure that you know, what shop assistants and security guards look like. And that you can go up to them and tell them if you need something. If you're worried about paying for things, make sure that you know how to pay using more than one method. And for example, if you lose your bank card, what can you do? Okay. If you're worried about the time, then you can set alarms and timers on your phone. If you're worried about the sensory overload, and this is one of the reasons, I don't like shopping very much. Then you could wear small headphones. Or you could go shopping early in the day, when it is nice and quiet. And also plan to go to the shops that you know. Which one of the items or the suggestions on the previous page do you think would be useful to you? Ask an adult to help you find a good travel app. To write down some phone numbers in three places, in case you lose one. To practise a route. And to practise using your timer. Pause the video to complete your task. Restart once you're finished. When you go shopping with friends, it's really very different when you go shopping with an adult or parent or carer. You have to be able to tell your friends, when you don't want to go somewhere. And it's really a good idea to make a plan as a group and try and stick to it. Sometimes our friends want to go into shops that we don't want to. And sometimes they don't want to go into our favourite shops. So it's a good idea to talk about it and agree before you go shopping. If you find noise and people a bit annoying, then suggest to your friends that you go somewhere quiet for your snack or your drink. Just to give yourself a little bit of a rest from all the sensory stimulation. If you are nervous, then only agreed to go for a short bit and you can gradually increase the amount of time as you feel more comfortable. Always, always, always let your parents or carers know where you will be and when you will be home. For our next activity, I want you to think of the last time you went shopping on your own or with friends. Make a list of those things that you think, went really well. Of the things that you enjoyed the most. And what didn't go as well. And how you can change things for next time. Pause the video to complete your task. Resume once you're finished. Remember you don't have to go shopping on your own if you don't want to. It's absolutely fine to feel a little bit worried. Practise, practise, practise. Start off maybe by paying for things, while an adult or carer waits at the door for you and gradually increase what you feel comfortable doing. Okay, until you get to a point where you feel super confident. If you'd like to please ask your parent or carer to share pictures of your work on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter, tagging @OakNational and #LearnwithOak. Happy shopping.

Going shopping

Going shopping

These resources will be removed by the end of the Spring Term 2026.

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