A year into the pandemic, Costco became an experience for the kids — a destination with books and toys to look at, samples to try, comfy couches to test, with a giant hot dog and soda at the end. The easy air fryer and ready-made foods became a lifeline for a family of seven. That description — from a real Costco member family in 2026 — captures something important about what the warehouse means for households with children: it is not just a place to save money. It has become