how do u correct your child when out in public ?

Aleeza - posted on 05/18/2009

the only time i ever stepped in on another parents businesst was once at walmart. this dad was smacking his child over and over and over, he was vicious just going at him the kid fell and he kicked him, i stepped in and grabbed his arm just as is was going down for a smack again. I told him if he hit the kid one more time i was gonna call the cops. he got angry at me and security came, he left in cuffs. I dont feel bad about that for one minute, actually im surprised that no one else had the nerve.

Abi - posted on 05/18/2009

I just ignore my son, or tell him that I'm not going to deal with that behavior and that we are going home. He is almost 19 months old, but around Easter time he was not being calm in church...So I decided to take him home...once outside he wanted to play with the things in my purse as I was trying to put his jacket on...and I said to him "No Aiden, you didnt want to play before you wanted to be loud...NOW we are going home, put your jacket on..." and this woman said to me "shame on you for talking to your son like that on Easter..." I just said as she walked away "Shame on you for being late to church on Easter and for talking to me like that" I had a nice cry and chuckle at that!

Kimberly - posted on 05/18/2009

I really don't care what ppl around me think too much, that said heres our rule: if he wants to walk in the store he gets to but he must hold a hand or the cart, if he chooses not to listen to me or whomever we r shopping with he goes in the cart or stroller. and to be honest i igrnor him when he's in it bcuz i know he wants attention to get out. ue stops in minutes. i know it doesnt help much if there older than about 3 but hopefully he'll out grow it a bit. we r working with the isolated corner treatment too, cuz we dont alwayz have a cart/stroller.

Cathy - posted on 05/18/2009

I totally hear ya about the judgement other people inflict on Moms when your child is acting out in public. The worst is when they try to step in and 'help' ... it never helps. To tell you the truth, I hardly speak to my child, only if necessary, when he's having a tantrum...whether its at home or out in public. Walk away. Get a safe distance, then look back, and if they aren't following you, they usually do, then stand there and wait til they come to you. It really helps if you ignore them during these episodes from an early age. It'll get easier, it's just a phase.

Elaine - posted on 05/18/2009

My son is 2 and I know how you feel! I have often just ignored him when he screams or throws a mini fit in a store, and although the looks from people can be a little hard to take for the first few times I have learned to roll it off my shoulders now. He rarely acts up now in a store and is more interested in pointing at everything and asking what they are so it makes it fun to teach him new things. I did however once had to carry my son out of a store while he was kicking and screaming and the looks people gave me was funny, like I was actually causing him harm for taking him out of a store!

What I mostly do now is when in a department store I go to the toy section, let him pick something to play with and when he looses interest in the item I just leave it behind and I do not have to buy him something. A distraction is deffinately nice, even a pad of paper with a couple of crayons or something to keep them occupied is nice and works wonders.

Hope it helps!

Jennifer - posted on 05/18/2009

On the way to where we are going, I tell my son what kind of behavior I expect. For example; we talk about staying close to mommy, using a quiet voice, and no screaming or running inside. I always ignore the beginnings of a fit and he usually stops. Saying something to him always makes it worse so that's why I keep my mouth shut and ignore it. I don't care about other people. I can't control what they think. It's more important that I handle my son's behavior. For other inappropriate behaviors I count slowly to 3. If we get to 3 then he knows we have to leave for a time out in the car. If things are really bad I pick him and we leave kicking and screaming. He has a time out in the car and if he calms down we can go back to where we were.

Kay - posted on 05/18/2009

thanks for all ur help i try these but they dont work and the other day was the worst when a mom sed "look at her she cant cope"because i actually wudnt give into my sons demands. i wish people wud try 2 understand instead of judge dont u think

Jennifer - posted on 05/17/2009

I agree it is HARD when they fly off the handle in public and all you are trying to do is discipline them for thier sake, but I have learned as a foster parent that i much perfer my two year old throwing a tantrum in the middle of a store then a eight or nine year old! I try to keep in mind that I am doing what is best for them in the long run and keep it as private as possible. Be consistant and it will wane as they get older and start to understand. My son had his last huge public blowup a couple of months ago, since then I have seen true understanding with just a warning here and there, he'll be three in two weeks.

Jessica - posted on 05/17/2009

My son is 3 and I've had problems with my son throwing fits and not listening to me. If he begins to start screaming and throwing a fit I leave the store. I've always been one of those people who can't stand to hear other peoples kids screaming in a store and I'll be danged if my kid is going to do it b/c I know how I don't like it. I can't do the taking him into a bathroom or putting him a corner in a store b/c my son is like your child it's 10 times as worse if I do and he gets mad when I make him leave the store before we get what needed and I explain to him that I don't bring naughty children to a store nor do I let naughty children continue in a store after they've calmed down. Quite a few of my single friends love the fact that I do this.

Torrie - posted on 05/17/2009

my son flys off sometimes as well. If he loses it and we are in public and ther are no bathrooms i will place him in a corner that i find away from people. I get started at , i even got an applause form a mom once. just pull him aside and make it as private as possible. go into a restroom and talk to him , have him sit on a counter so you aer at eye leel and just tlak to him and so on. good luck,

Nancy - posted on 05/17/2009

I take him where there is no audience...in the car...then, we talk when we get home. I pretty much 'ignore' and 'march' until we get out of the public.