If a child is loud/miss-behaves at the store/in public places?

Question

Is it a good way, when a child is being very loud at the sore or yelling for not getting what he/she want´s to calmly put hand over his/her mouth and keep on walking? I remember once young woman told me she used this method to a child who was not her own when she begun to yell in public place for some matter. This girl was allready known for her bad behaviour and being spoiled. Do you think that woman did the right thing? I myself remember when I was a child my grandmother put her hand over my mouth when I begun to scream at the table disturbing others present.

Answer 1

I wouldn't cover a child's mouth because you could inadvertently suffocate them. Usually when a child is in a tantrum, they are breathing fast, covering their mouth when they need air in could do some serious damage, or worse yet death. Best thing to do is remove the child from the situation and deal with them in privet.

Answer 2

It's fine for your own child, though that would have been a signal for my son to start getting physical--kicking, hitting, throwing a temper tantrum (NEVER in public. In public we would pick him up and take him out to the car, where he would stay until he was calm again).

In America, you need the parents' permission before you touch anybody else's child. In Texas, you could find yourself on the wrong side of a shotgun if you touch any of mama bear's cubs.

Our method of dealing with that stuff was to remove the child from the scene. If he calms down, he can come back, if he doesn't, we go home. We may not have gotten the groceries, but too bad. Teaching the child not to throw tantrums in the store is more important.

TX Mom
not an expert
Mine are 17 and 21 and, I'm happy to say, they no longer throw temper tantrums in the store.

Answer 3

You could handle it that way, but you will tend to get a lot of disapproving looks believe it or not, usually from the ones that want you to make the child be quiet. Not to mention that each child will react differently to that method. I've known some children to just get louder. Try more of a positive approach. A star behavior chart is a good place to start. Implemented at home and designed to address additional behaviors you want corrected. Usually all a child needs is a gentle reminder of the rewards that can be earned by earning more stars through good behavior. We have one and it ranges from good behavior in public places to car manners, getting chores done, being respectful, to saying or doing something nice for someone. You may have to give rewards frequently in the beginning. Right now my family is able to move to weekly and monthly for the bigger rewards. Rewards can range from stickers to extra playtime, even a Happy meal.If my boys get all stars for the month, they earn a trip to the movies or the beach. It's been working really well, and I don't have to deal with any yelling or embarassment, nor do I have to humiliate them.

Answer 4

It is not the child's fault if they misbehave or are loud in stores/public places. It is the parents. The child has learned that that is an acceptable way to get attention and get what he or she desires. Putting your hand over a child's mouth is saving you from a small amount of embarrassment, but it is not solving the problem. It is also belittling the child. Get down on his/her level and tell them how it is. If they continue, make sure there is an appropriate punishment when you get home (i.e. naughty chair, no TV, something they will miss). And never, EVER, give in to shut them up. This feeds the bad behavior and only ensures that it will happen next time.

Answer 5

Well, as a parent of a loud child, I would say yes. I have done this. Not so much in the store as for instance, in church. They can breathe out of their nose, if they shut up long enough. They are disturbing other, and you. They need to learn to behave in public as well as in private. You as a parent need to curb that behavior while they are young, because you do not want to fight this when they are older. Do Not Give In.

Answer 6

You need to immediately shut down their little world.

Drop what you are doing, take them out of the store/church/playground/wherever, isolate them in the car, at home, etc.

Once, we were camping and my toddler daughter threw a fit. I picked her up and threw a blanket over our heads and had her full attention. Then, I could reprimand her and she heard me and obeyed.

Beware the overzealous child protector, though. It's now dangerous to reprimand your child in public. Too many people jump to suspicions of "abuse" and will take your license plate number and call the police. This happened to friends and the detectives found them at a State park an hour after they corrected their son with a simple spank for biting and throwing a fit in a store parking lot.

Answer 7

i think anything that lets the child know you are serious will work as long as the child is brought up to respect the adult. one stern look from me and my second cousins stop what they are doing fast. people should be more responsible for their children in public than most parents want to be. i have often witnessed the opposite too -- moms are screaming at the kids -- good example for the kids huh? i just don't understand bad parents i guess.

Answer 8

In the book 'Dare to Discipline' the author speaks about pressing gently on the child's trapezius muscle (between the neck and shoulder). You will instantly get their attention, it will be discreet and it is not at all violent, or abusive.

Answer 9

No, that's not appropriate because it doesn't stop the child from bad behavior it just encourages it more for more attention. If the child misbehaves anywhere, LEAVE.

Answer 10

no i do not think it is a bad idea but i think just let them scream and leave them there or join them on the floor screaming and kicking and so on they will not try that again for the most part and it is very funny to see how they look at you when you do that too :)

Good luck