GETTING YOUR CHILDREN TO BEHAVE IN PUBLIC PLACES

WITHOUT SPANKING, HITTING OR YELLING

Before you go:

  1. 1. Check the attitudes. Is your child too tired or hungry to shop? Are you? If yes, postpone your trip or find a sitter.
  2. 2. Discuss rules before entering the store. "Stay close to the cart," "Use your quiet voice."
  3. 3. Role play the shopping experience ahead of time at home with the child. Let them know what you expect. Have fun. Laugh. See what their suggestions would be if you were to misbehave.
  4. 4. Develop some "sign language" at home with the child - signals which mean, "Stop," "Come Here," "Be Careful." Use them in public.

At the Store:

  1. 1. Make a game of it. Who can see the potatoes first? Do you remember what animal bacon comes from? If a child
  2. is old enough, let them check the grocery list, see which fruit, cheese, etc. is the best bargain.
  3. 2. Count how many steps it takes to get from the Cheerios to the Frosted Flakes.
  4. 3. Discuss the pictures on the package - what could you make with this, etc.
  5. 4. Play a game with the child. (Let's count all the tennis shoes we see on people's feet, let's see how many B's you can find on signs).
  6. 5. Involve the child in the shopping. "Should we buy apples or oranges? Corn Flakes or Raisin Bran? popsicles or ice cream?"
  7. 6. Play "I see something" in the checkout lane and have the child guess what you see.
  8. 7. Reward good behavior. Promise to play a game with, or read to the child, when you get home.

 

If all else fails:

  1. 1. Ignore inappropriate behavior unless it is dangerous, destructive, or a bother to others. 
  2. 2. If your child gets out of control, stop, take them by the hand, and lead them out of the store, or to a restroom (to a private place), talk to them quietly, eye-to-eye, and tell them that their behavior is inappropriate. If necessary, put them in the back seat of the car while you sit in the front seat or outside the car - say nothing. Wait for them to calm down – no matter how long it takes. Then ask them if they are ready to try again. (If they don't calm down, take them home, find a sitter, leave them there while you return.)