Clinical Reference Systems: Pediatric Advisor 10.0
Misbehavior in Public Places: Rules and Discipline
TOUCHING THINGS THAT SHOULDN'T BE TOUCHED
- Example
Grabbing food off the shelves in the grocery store.
- The rule
"Don't touch anything without my permission, because
everything here belongs to the store and some things can
break."
- Discipline technique
Mainly, distract your child on arrival by getting her a
snack, such as animal cookies.
- Keep her involved by giving her safe foods to carry
or having her push the grocery cart.
- If she's sitting in the grocery cart seat, hand her
foods to place in the basket.
- Talk with your child as you shop so that she feels
involved.
- Avoid taking your 2-year-old to a store with lots of
breakables, such as a glass shop.
- Praise
Praise your child for helping.
HAVING A TEMPER TANTRUM IN A PUBLIC PLACE
- Example
Often children have temper tantrums when they beg for a
toy or candy at the store and are not given it.
- The rule
"We buy only food at the grocery store, not toys."
- Discipline technique
Ignore your child and remain firm. If your child is
having a temper tantrum in a safe place, walk on and he
will stand up and follow you. If your child is near
breakable objects or is a reckless child, take him
outside for time-out. If he is annoying other people
(as in a restaurant or church), take him outside.
- Model
No yelling or tantrums in the store.
RUNNING AWAY FROM THE PARENT IN A STORE
- The rule
"Stay close to me in the store so you won't get lost."
- Discipline technique
Time-out. First try putting your child in the grocery
cart for 2 or 3 minutes if she doesn't stay near you.
If she won't stay in the grocery cart, take her outside
and put her in time-out facing the wall of the building
or sitting inside your car while you stand by. Consider
buying a harness and bringing it with you to the store.
Harness your child only if she wanders off. Remove it
every 5 minutes, giving her a chance to prove that she
can control herself in a public setting. As a last
resort, leave your child at home with a sitter and be
sure to tell her before you go to the grocery store that
she can't come this time because she didn't stay near
you.
- Praise
Praise your child for following you through the store.
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Written by B.D. Schmitt, M.D., author of "Your Child's Health," Bantam Books.
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Copyright 1999 Clinical Reference Systems
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