When you hear a child scream or cry in the store, do you...

Yes I agree with you wholeheartedly. Spanking is not the answer. Growing up I had been spanked with belts, wooden spoons, and hands on bare bottom. It only made me resent my parents and I will never forget the red marks they left and how it hurt to sit down when they were through. I don't understand how, if you love your child, you could want to hurt them in such a way. And yes if you can correct their behavior then you should go that route and not ignore them. Thank you for your response.

Yes, you are right. Parents don't have to give into tantrums but they shouldn't just let their children do whatever they want and disturb others in public places. My children are always within my site and I do not let them run around like chickens with their heads cut off. I am not afraid of disciplining my child, however spanking or time outs just don't work when you are out in public. However if you are doing a good job of disciplining your kids a stern no and a look of disapproval will usually get them back into order.

Yes I know it is irritating to have to hear a child screaming while you are trying to get some shopping done. I know that lots of people who have the ability to shop without their kids will take full advantage. Still it isn't always easy to take your child out of the cart, esp. when it is full of groceries or items, to make them stop screaming and to discipline them by yelling at them in the car or in the parking lot. Really I think by doing this you are acknowleding their bad behavior and the child may feel as if by doing this negative behavior the parent will stop whatever they are doing and pay full attention to them. My two year old if I took her out of the cart and held her, when she is throwing a tantrum, will immediately quit crying. She loves to be held. I can take her to the parking lot and yell at her all I want but she will not fully understand what I am saying-though I know she would understand parts of it. When I leave her alone in one of her screaming fits she will usually quit in about ten seconds or so after she realizes that I will not pay her negative behavior any attention. Maybe in a perfect world no kids would ever scream or act out, but alas our world is not perfect, as our children and ourselves are not as well. Thank you for the response though, I appreciate hearing from you. Have a good night.

Yes, I think you are right. I would never pinch my child or squeeze their arm or do anything that would cause them pain. It solves nothing. As a child my parents would whip my behind with a belt or wooden spoons when I had misbehaved. It did nothing about my behavior it only made me mad at them. I was a difficult child growing up in that I didn't think much before my actions but I don't think that gave them the right to hurt me like they did.

I am glad that you do not have to experience the screaming in public places. It is embarrassing but I try to not let it get the best of me. I am not going to give in to my child just because she is screaming, in public. I am sorry that others have to deal with her screaming but if I give in when in public to make her stop screaming then I am undoing any discipline I give while at home. Thank you for taking your time to respond. :)

What they do is run around like chickens . I have two boys so you can just imagine what I have to take control of everyday. Sometimes I just let them have their own way, but they do know when enough is enough, that's when mama's angry and almost red in the face.

Yes two boys can be a handful! But then I think girls can be just as rambunkous as little boys. My two oldest aren't but my youngest I know will turn into a tomboy. I think sometimes it is okay to just give in especially after a long tired day just as long as you don't let it happen too often, of course, which it sounds like you don't. :)

That is great that you stood up for your child like that and it served those people right. People just don't always seem to be so understanding of a child who is screaming in a store. I also don't just stop my cart and quit shopping because she is having a tantrum. I find ignoring her screaming makes her stop faster than trying to console her or stop what I am doing and trying talking sense to her. She is only two and she wouldn't understand a lot of what I'd have to say. Thank you for your response.

First I'd like to say that it isn't always possible. Right now my husband is deployed and none of my children are old enough to be left at home. I don't have any babysitters either. And two, I don't think leaving them at home and just not taking them will teach them anything, especially on how to act in public. How can you expect good behavior from them in public if you never take them out? Simply hiding them at home doesn't help with the problem and its an easy way out. Parents should teach their children how to act in public. If they misbehave they need to have reprocussions, such as having their wants and behaviors ignored rather than be payed special attention to. They shouldn't just not take them out. This is my opinion of course and I thank you for taking the time to respond.

Yes we all have our way of handling our children when they have an outburst in public places. It is good that you can soothe her and get her to quit her crying without having to give in to her wants. I've tried talking to my two year old but she doesn't care she is too busy being upset to hear me. So that is why I just ignore her. If I ignore her behavior she stops after a little bit but if I try to talk and be nice it can sometimes prolong her whining and screaming. It also shows her that I will not tolerate her screaming and I hope that after enough times she will get the message and just don't do it anymore.