Training Children to behave in public
By RobinJ
@RobinJ (2501)
Canada
January 6, 2008 2:29pm CST
Good morning, how many of you have trained your children to behave properly in public? I just answered a discussion about banning children in a restaurant and have to agree that it is right thing to do because to me most children have never been trained to behave properly in public,
That being said there is a very effective way to train small children 3+ to behave in any public place as well as at home.
Before you go any where explain to your children that you are taking them out and that they must listen to you and obey your ever word, and that if they do not listen and obey they will be brought home immediately.
The next step is a bit difficult, but you must do exactly as you said, Take them out and at the very first sign of misbehavior bring them back home. It makes no difference where you are or what you are doing stop it and take every one home.Leave what ever you were doing, bring nothing home but the children.
You may have to do this 2-3 times to get your message across but I can promise you that it works, a bit costly to rise in the middle of a meal but well worth the effort. Children need to see that there are consequences for their actions.
If you think this method through it will work in just about every application, all you have to do is tell the rules and stick to them
2 people like this
7 responses
@barbiegirl13 (1588)
• United States
6 Jan 08
I agree that children should learn how to act in public but there are things that kids do that are just normal. If your child is throwing a temper tantrum, yes indeed take them out or to the restroom. But children make noise and this is just what they do. I would not want to have a prim and proper little robot for a child. I love to take my children out and they are usually greatfull for that .
2 people like this
@gettinggreen (125)
• United States
7 Jan 08
I agree with you. Children do need to know how to act in public, but others need to realize that the "children are to be seen and not heard" theory is long gone. Children need to be children and no I don't mean it is okay to run around like wild animals, but it is okay for them to speak, laugh and sometimes be a little silly, even in public places. There are so many people like RobinJ in this world that lack patience and understanding of children today. Imagine what it would be like if we had little robots (as the previous poster put it), how sad..
@crystal8577 (1466)
• United States
6 Jan 08
I don't think anyone has the right to tell me where I can take my children (outside of the law). Everyone has their own ideas as to what good behavior is. I have 3 girls who know how to behave in public, even my 1 year old. They know because they have been going out & interacting since a young age. If you never take a child out they will not know what is expected of them or how to behave.
2 people like this
@RobinJ (2501)
• Canada
6 Jan 08
You are so very right and I congradulate you on you having take the time to do so but I am sure you have been in public places where some peoples children treat every thing like it was their playground or perhaps you do not visit Walmart. that place is a zoo on most days I will not even go there at certain times as it seems to be a huge place to bring the kids to play.
1 person likes this
@SViswan (12051)
• India
7 Jan 08
I was at a supermarket once where 2 kids (one older than my son and one younger) were running around the place and one of them picked up a cycle and was riding it between the aisles and the parents didn't bother to admonish them once! But I took that as an opportunity to talk to my son (who was the one who pointed out how they were disturbing everyone) about behaviour in public (my son isn't allowed to do that at home either!)
2 people like this
@woodpoint (6)
• China
7 Jan 08
Me too!iin my opinion,if a baby without training in pubilic,in the basic,he or she are not mature enough to distinguish the true from the false!of course,parents and teachers should provid advice and suggestions,so they can have healthy and all-scale development!
2 people like this
@SViswan (12051)
• India
7 Jan 08
I agree with you. It works for me. My 7 year old has started misbehaving in the last year. Earlier, I would give him clear instructions at home before we left and he was very well-behaved. But now that he has a sibling he has started acting up...but I'm not going to let that stop me from disciplining him. He probably thought he could get away with it because of the little one. But the first couple of times, I did exactly what I threatened to do and it worked. Now he knows mama means business when she says something.
You are so right about doing exactly what we said.
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@SViswan (12051)
• India
24 Jan 08
Thank you for the BR!
And I don't mind the ban (if ever we visit Disneyland) because I know my son might not be able to sit still that long...even if we prepared him. I don't like my son disturbing others and expect him to be on his best behaviour if we are at a fancy restaurant....which he does...but a 10-course meal will be too much for the little fellow.
@violeta_va (4831)
• Australia
7 Jan 08
We always go to a family friendly restaurants because as much as I want to train my son he has bad days due to his mild autism. When I go out I make sure it is ok to go there if my son is not welcomed I dont go as well. And I would never go somewhere where kids are banned just because they are kids.
1 person likes this
@dania_elm (421)
• United States
6 Jan 08
personally i resent the face that anybody would have the gall to suggest such a thing everybody was a child at some point how would u of felt if u couldnt go to the store with ur mom? but yes my children are very well behaved at home and in public when i see a child acting out in the store i dont think about banning the kid i think about kicking the parents a$$ for not raising their kids any better than that
@dania_elm (421)
• United States
6 Jan 08
ok then so how are u going to agree that it is a good idea when even u admitt that its not all children? while we are on the subject its necessarily the parents fault that all kids dont behave properly in public u have children that are mentally handicapped that cannot help it u have children with adhd some have mental problems that go beyond that
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@woodpoint (6)
• China
7 Jan 08
I don't think that parents hope their baby neglect studies and be misled and go astray when they grown up! so , i
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@sid556 (30960)
• United States
7 Jan 08
I agree with you. I have at times taken my kids from the store or a restraunt, church, graduation , wedding etc. I do not think it is a good idea to ban all children from restraunts because that would not be fair to the parents that really are trying to teach their children good behaviour. Restraunts should ask people to leave that are not attempting to control their children. This should be handled on a case to case basis. Each situation is different. To be honest I can count on one hand the amount of times I ve tried to enjoy dinner in a public place and had it ruined by a child and I'm pretty old.
1 person likes this
