Why do people with bratty kids take them everywhere?

Question

Is it because no one will babysit them? It seems that in every store, restaurant (nice ones too) and even at the movies there is some horrible little brat screaming or crying. Why? If the parents can't control the kids, why take them along? Don't get me wrong, I know it can't be helped sometimes but these people don't even discipline their children - they just ignore them! Or keep threatening to take them home but the kids persist and nothing happens.

I do have a child, she is almost 8 years old.

Answer 1

You know... I've known a lot of parents in my time. Most of the time, they DO discipline their children. Only rarely do you find the one with the totally spoiled brat. Mostly you'll find perfectly good parents whose children decide to throw a fit, and then they have to spend their time worrying about trying to calm the child AND people being angry at them and judging them as parents while they handle something that not even the "best parent ever" could possibly prevent from happening. It happens. Just remember that they need to take care of their children too, and you don't need to make them feel worse about the inevitable.

Answer 2

If you are a parent then you should know that if you keep your kids home all the time then they will never learn how to act in public places.
I also think that people are affraid to discipline their children in public because a lot of other people are quick to turn them in for child abuse. One minute spanking isn't okay because someone has a problem with it and the other is people get mad if you don't do anything at all.

I am one of those parents that trys to work with my kids in public and every once in a while they throw fits, After spending the time at a grocery store to get all the food I am not walking away without being able to take that stuff home with us, and if that means my son is throwing a fit threw the store cause he isnt' getting his way, well then so be it , I am in the middle of teaching my three year old that he doesn't get what he wants when he wants it and he doesn't control me the parent.
However there are times that I also have had to leave the store or department or where ever because I bring him straight home to sit in time out.
I really tried hard to not go to the store when my kids have quiet time, or eating time, so that gives me limited time to do stuff.

I also keep in mind that this is a free world, and kids are not ment to be locked up in the house every day and night, they need to get out and be around people and learn about everything routines. I think the kids that act out really bad probably don't get taken out all that much and their parents don't tell them no enough.

Answer 3

I have a bratty 8 year old. Sometimes we have to take these public challenged kids with us because sometimes that is the only way to teach them. I don't ignore his behavior-I puchish him for it. If he doesn't behave himself he doesn't play with friends when we get home nor watch tv or play video games. He has gotten so much better since we started taking away the things he likes the most. Also, brats will keep it up til you do something about it. When my son has his moments he gets one warning and then we leave if he does it again. IF I have to leave due to his behavior he spends the rest of the day in his room without toys, tv, video games and friends. His moments are getting less and less as he sees what he gets when he acts up. Yes, parents today ignore bad behavior too much because they are afraid to make their kids mind. I used to be that way thinking he would outgrow it on his own. Not a chance. Kids want to be disciplined.

Answer 4

Sometimes even the most well behaved kids have bad days that can't be predicted.
My kids are very well behaved but I've had days when I hung my head in shame at a resturant, store, etc...sometimes ignoring the screaming ends it faster because once you say something they realize they have attention and get worse. Other times I take them into the bathroom so the whole resturant etc doesn't have to hear/see it. Also once we get home they are in BIG TROUBLE.

Some parents are "all threats" though and let their kids do whatever but they need a night out more then the rest of us I bet! LOL

Answer 5

You've seen a good example of what the government has done to the people. These parents refuse to discipline their kids because they are threatened with jail (battery or abuse), the schools are not allowed to punish them anymore, and you always have really nosy people that, if the parents would punish the children, the nosy person will call the police and acuse the parent of abusing the child. I have seen it on many occasion. I have also dealt with the carry over of "bratty" kids that turn into teenagers and young adults who I wind up throwing in jail or fighting with. The parents ignore it because that is what they do at home. Most of them don't think that there is anything wrong with what their children are doing. Unfortunately for the rest of us, it is a nuisance. I have 3 godchildren and they know that if they act up with me they are going to get their butts busted (which is a long cry from abuse!!!).

Answer 6

I think it's the opposite of what you are saying. You see parents who have kids but don't take them along very much so the children don't know how to behave in public. I totally agree with you on telling kids that they are going to take them home but never do. I believe that's just teaching kids that you aren't going to hold your word. In Wal-Mart the other day I saw a mother with two children who had those giant balls you can get...they were bouncing them EVERY where and an elderly gentleman actually got hit by one of the balls. The mother kept saying "We're going to go home" but they never did. AND to make it worse I later saw the mother purchasing the balloons for the kids! If my kids ever did that I'd just take the balloons away and make them hold on to the shopping cart the entire time I was shopping. It's hard for some people though....my husband and I just moved to Florida and we don't have any relatives and don't know anyone well enough to watch our son while we go out so...if we want to go out we take him. The only time he seems to act up is when we go somewhere nice to eat though:( So we would just get boxes and leave and now we just eat take out. He's only 6 months though, so it's understandable...he doesn't know better but I'm not going to make a ruin 0couples romantic date because my son is cranky! Anyway I totally agree!

It's all up to the parents...how they choose to disipline and how they are even when they're my son's age. You ALWAYS even from the very begining need to show a child who is boss!

Answer 7

Because they are obviously out on a family outting thats why the kids are with them. You cant help them and shouldnt complain about it cause you probably did it when you were little too. Ignoring them is what you learn in all early childhood classes, if you ignore them they will stop. If you show that it bothers you they just keep doing it. Disciplining might be a factor in that now a days most parents dont know the correct way of doing it.

Answer 8

Because a parents job is to not abandon the child just beacause of a tantrum. If you do give up and just leave them home or give in to what they want- then your are not teaching them anything. They have to go thru the tantrums to find out what the parents limits are and how far to push them. If a parent sticks to their guns and doesnt give in repeatedly- possibly for awhile- then the kids will understand consequences, and start to figure out that mommy or daddy arent going to change there minds. Kids between 2-6 generally go thru this period and its completely normal. Just because a kid is throwing a tantrum doesnt mean that the parent is a bad parent. It just means that they are trying to teach the child that they will not give in and this could take awhile. Is leaving them with a sitter or at home all the time really going to teach them how to act in society? NO! So why would you ask this kind of question? Do you not have any kids of your own?

Answer 9

Because in public places with too many people jumping to the wrong conclusion a parent can't risk disciplining their child in public for fear some freak will call child protective services and report them as abusers. So they have to wait to discipline their child in the privacy of their own home and by then it's simply too late and the child doesn't learn.

Answer 10

I think it is because the parents are selfish and do not care about others around them. I mean seriously, if the parents are not teaching their children right from wrong, and how to behave in public, do you really think they care about their children bothering other people? As a parent my biggest concern would be to teach my kids the morals they need to survive. I think most parents are more concerned about themselves then anyone else...and it shows in cases like you just mentioned