Shopping is good for kids (but not their mothers)

According to today’s Independent newspaper, a British government-funded study at the London Institute of Education found “children whose mothers took them out to the shops, park or on other outings had substantially better social skills and were better at activities such as using a pencil, knife and fork or tying shoe-laces”.
Oh thank goodness for that. The next time I’m trying to herd my brood around the supermarket, shopping centre or, worst of all, along a busy street within inches of moving cars and potential death, I must remind myself that my near-constant state of anxiety is worth it for creating shiney happy people who can use cutlery and don’t require velcro straps on their shoes. Valium, anyone?