Asda launch initiative to make shopping a less stressful experience for children with autism

Asda's Jenny Barnett, who came up with the idea, with her five-year-old son Charlie

SUPERMARKET chain Asda is set to launch a new initiative to help autistic children out shopping with their parents.

The Happy Little Helpers child friendly shopping list gets them involved in the weekly shop, making it a game to find items.

It has launched in the Forfar store, and will be rolled out across more than 50 Scottish branches in the coming months.

Created by Middlesbrough Asda worker Jenny Barnett, whose son Charlie is autistic, Happy Little Helpers had a successful trial run down south.

It allowed children with or without the condition to ignore distractions and ensure a calmer, stress free shopping trip.

Jenny, 32, said: “I know how hard it is at times to go shopping with your children. When Charlie was younger he used to throw himself to the floor when he was in a big shop – it was clearly too noisy and too crowded for him.

“By creating the shopping list it takes the pressure away and helps children concentrate on a task which in turn reduces stress.”

She added: “I’m over the moon that the Happy Little Helpers initiative is being introduced into stores in Scotland, it’s such a nice feeling that I could walk into an Asda miles away from Middlesbrough and see another child benefiting from my idea – it’s going to help so many children which is great.”