how to tame my daughter while out??

Question

when we go out to eat, my 2 1/2 yr old girl wont behave, shes not a big eater so i dont order her much because she loves to waste her food. but then its a struggle to find what she wants. shell say mac and cheese, but then when she sees me or her cousin with chicken, then she wants that and starts being bad. me and her dad want to spank her (because we believe in spanking) but we hate to have to do it in public. but what can i do? i want to be able to go out as a family and enjoy myself. but then when we do spank her, then we have to deal with her crying in front of every body. so please HELP ME!!!!!

i understand everybody has an opinion . but i just asked a question. so please just answer to what i asked, i dont need any opinions about othe discipline, i just want to know if there are any paretns who had this problem and what they did to fix it. i understand that shes still a toddler, but when mommy says sit down and she doesnt listen, and there are other kids in the store younger than her acting better, theres a problem. im not saying she bad, i just want to know what other ppl have done to fix this. thanks, and i hope i didnt affend anybody.

Answer 1

At her age, you don't need to order her anything, just give her some of what you are having. There are just days, you have to get up and take her to the car and settle her down or tell her if she does not behave you will take her home and put her to bed! THEN DO IT! I know it may bum out a day or two in your life, but your daughter behaving is worth it. As soon as she knows you mean what you say, she will quit acting up!! I would not spank her in public, wait til you are in the car or at home. I only had to yank my kids out of a store or restaurant a couple times and they stopped acting up while we were out!! I praise you for believing in disciplining your daughter. To many parents these days think it's OK to let them run wild in public! Good Job!!

THERE ARE NO EXCUSES IN LETTING YOUR KIDS BE BRATS IN PUBLIC!! PARENTS NEED TO HAVE CONTROL OVER YOUR KIDS. IF YOU DON'T WHILE THEY ARE YOUNG, YOU NEVER WILL WHEN THEY ARE OLDER!!

Answer 2

One of my chidren was exceptionally wild and unpredictable when we would try to take her out. Someone suggested that I take her several times alone so that she could have one to one training on restaurant behavior. A buffet was a great choice as she could choose a little spoonful of many things. Then we practiced sitting in the seat, using utensils and keeping voices down. No standing on the chairs, no staring at people behind us...all the behaviors that make other people mad.

Busy atmospheres can be very distracting to a toddler. You have a good year and a half before she is going to sit still for a family dinner in a restaurant. Her attention span is probably shot long before the food even gets to the table!

Answer 3

I am having a similar problem with my 20 months old. When I take him out to eat or shopping with me, he is a perfect angel. But if his daddy and I take him to dinner with us, he acts up, screeching and throwing food.

I was really upset about this because it's very embarrasing. But I realized that he is acting that way because, when it's just the two of us, I talk to him and focus all my attention on him. And when his daddy is there, I am busy talking to him instead. He wants our attention. Now we take him to macDonald where he can play and scream all he wants, and if we do go to a resteraunt, I am more aware of giving him as much attention as I do the adults. If we really need a night away and some good adult conversation, we get a sitter.

As far as the food situation. He does that too, at home and when we are out to eat. Inevidably he is "all done", but as soon as he glimpses what we are eating, he wants a bite. I give in to him and let him eat off my plate, because I don't think it's a fight worth picking. As long as he is getting enough to eat, that's all that matters.

Answer 4

Do the public a favor and leave the kid with a sitter. If you enjoy dining out then please think about how your screaming child affects others. Go to McDonald's or someplace kid-friendly if you must all eat together. Don't expect her to act like a little adult just because you want her to. She's still a toddler and can't behave for extended periods of time. It's awful that you and your husband think spanking is the answer. You need to read some parenting books and you'll realize that there are alternatives to corporal punishment.

Answer 5

Welcome to the wonderful world of the "Terrible Twos". Talk to her before hand. Tell her that she should be quiet in restaurants. Ask her what she wants to eat before you go and plan on sharing yours with her. Make it a game that everyone gets a little of everyone else's food. It will stop the fight before it starts. It might even be easier not to order her anything of her own, just share with her until her appetite gets bigger.
Bring stuff for her to do. It's sort of unfair to expect her to sit and wait at that age. They have a lot of energy and get bored easily.
As to wasting the food, she will grow out of it.

Answer 6

It seems harsh but sometimes you just got to let them cry. but try it at home first.... They want mac and cheese... give her a little bit... She sees you with other food..she'llg et mad and throw itand start crying... tell her "no..that was your food...that is what you wanted, this is grown up food" when when she crys and throws a tantrum.. tell her you'll get her more mac and cheese when she stops crying and acts like a big girl and walk away... let her run and cry and whine and stomp.. even continuously put her in "time out" spot...if she runs away..keep putting her back there...just dont give in to her tantrums..thats why they do them ESPECIALLY in public because they learn it gets them what they want, ..But eventually if you let them tantrum enough without you giving in...they'll get tired...and still be hungry...then you give them more food. Sounds harsh but thats what you got to do. eventually she'll learn that behaving gets her more of what she wants then misbehaving.

Answer 7

You will need to set limitations with her. You know how some parents give their kids the look like when we get home you're going to get it type thing. You need to get that sort of intimidation over your child. I'm not saying scare them that you're going to beat the crap out of them. But take away a priveladge of theirs. For example "Suzy, when we get home all of your ELMO videos are going to be put away because you are not listening to mommy and daddy" And when you get home follow thru. She needs to know when you say something it will be followed thru .Thats the only way she will learn. And when she is good, make a HUGE deal out of it!

Good Luck Mom!

Answer 8

she is young. Get used to it. My girls and 4 and 5 and they still act up in public. If you believe in spanking then do what ou have to do to get her to understand she is in the wrong. Use your usual punichment or she will think she can always get away with bad things.

Answer 9

Sounds like you don't have control of your child, and could benefit from some parenting classes. You have not socialized her properly.

Answer 10

my kids make messes and act up to i have a 3 and 1 yr old what i try to do is keep them busy by getting food or i bring candy with me and tell them if they eat like 2 bites i will let them have a candy. I find when my lil boy doesn't eat he becomes cranky and mean..so i try to motivate him i can..but its a job..