Kids might have summer brain drain, but there is a way to keep their math skills sharp – take them to the grocery store!

Running errands is a great way to get your kids back on track before the school year starts again.

When you think about a shopping trip with your preschooler or toddler, think about the learning opportunities in every aisle.

“These are some of the things you can do with your child when you go grocery shopping,” said developmental psychologist Diana Leyva, as she counted out play food with a young boy.

Leyva studied 200 moms and their kids in a lab stocked with play food. Researchers wanted to know what kind of interactions between mom and child sparked the most opportunity for learning. The moms worked with their kids to make a grocery list.

“Parents who allowed their child to make the list and to read the list rather than taking over and making the list for the child or reading for the child, have children who one year later, have better readings kills,” said Leyva.

Leyva says it’s best if parents help their kids with letters and sounds. She also suggests allowing children to draw pictures of the items if they can’t spell the words.

Another tip is to grab your spare change and use it to talk about numbers. You can also use it to help kids total up the tab.

“We try to use colors, numbers, words, anything,” said one mother.

A simple trip to the store can feed your child’s body and mind this summer.

The researchers checked back in with those kids and parents in kindergarten and after first grade. They found the kids who consistently helped their parents during the shopping trips tested better in both math and reading!