Do you make your children behave in public?

Before leaving for a particular place, someone's house, the children have been instructed as to how they have to behave. If the behaviour is not upto the mark, then they will have to forgo some purchases.

I always corrected my children's bad behaviour when we were out. I didn't do it loudly though so others could hear, or make a big scene about it, and the child would be embarrassed. I always asked them to stop, and if they didn't heed the first warning, inform them if they didn't stop we would quit shopping, eating at McDonalds, or whatever, and we would leave. I didn't want them to think that bad behaviour was acceptable and have them grow up to be little brats who always thought they could get away with everything. A child pays attention to you with strategies like these. The first time I had to do that, because they didn't listen, I calmly got up, gathered up their food tray, dumped it, took their hand and walked them to the car, and we left. When a kid sees that you mean business and you will do what you say, they tend to listen better the next time. They learned to behave in public. I see too many young parents ignoring their childrens bad behaviour. Yes, they ARE only kids, but everybody has to learn acceptable behaviour. I also see too many parents trying to be the 'perfect friend' to their child. Well, that maybe OK up to a point, but after all you ARE the parent, and if they're not going to learn proper behaviour from you, who are they going to learn it from? I once told my girls, as we were driving to go shopping, 'if you two don't stop fighting and misbehaving, I'm turning this car around and we're going home' It worked well for about 5 minutes before they started up again. So, I didn't say a word, I pulled into the nearest driveway and turned around and aimed for home. They were speechless for a moment, then started complaining because we were going back home instead of the store. I calmly reminded them of what I had said, and that they chose not to listen. They never did THAT again! Actions speak louder than words. If you say no, you'd better mean it. I never had to spank or anything...ever.

Oh Yes, definitly, how embarrassing is it to have disruptive children while your trying to shop. I have just learnt that my son is ADD, and strangely my children behave most of the time, they love comeing out with me, so their not going wreck their chances of comeing out again. There is a little bit of bribery there at the end of the day, but it works because they don't realy get little treats any other time. Spending time with them is just as important when it comes to getting your child to bahave in public and in the home

I do not beat my kids but I all the time correct them if they misbehave. After coming home also I explain to them it is not good to behave in such a way in front of other people. You have to correct the kids as and when they do something without beating them cos after some time they will forget whatever they did and if you ask them why you beat them they will say "I dont know".