Community Corner

Moms Talk: How To Handle Misbehaving Children

Need some parenting advice?

Each week in Moms Talk, the Haverford-Havertown Patch’s Moms Council of experts and smart moms take your questions, give advice and share solutions.

So grab a cup of coffee and settle in as we start the conversation today with a question: How to handle misbehaving children when out and about?

Answer from Mom’s Councilmember Denise (mother of 1): When your child misbehaves in public it can be embarrassing and cause you to lose your patience. The best way to handle this situation would be the stay in control and also to prepare yourself for meltdowns, especially when you know you have a long day ahead.  Bringing games and snacks can be helpful and used as awards for good behavior.

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Answer from Mom’s Councilmember Emily (mother of 2): I like to start with the reward for good behavior tactic but there have been times (especially when my daughter was going through the "terrible threes") when we needed other forms of behavior modification. I think it helps to keep your discipline strategies consistent at home and in public, or at least as close to consistent as possible.  We use the counting 1, 2, 3 and then a timeout method for inappropriate behavior (some behavior, such as hitting, gets an automatic timeout).  We've had to improvise timeout places in public but it's worth it to reinforce that behavioral expectation. We've also been prepared to leave wherever we are (if possible) your child may not want to but it gets the message across.

Answer from Mom’s Councilmember Julie (mother of 3): When my children misbehave I try to immediately defuse the situation my talking quietly to them. I may have to remove them for the moment to really get my point across. Even if we just go to another part of the room and give them  time to cool off. Unfortunately, if things get really bad, we may leave.  There have been times though, we have in a position  that we cannot leave. The trick for me then  is to stay in control. Eventually they do calm themselves down.  

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