Taking Your Children Out in Public…

Are you afraid to take your children out in public?

Are you worried about what others might think when your little one starts throwing a tantrum because they aren’t getting their way, or simply because they don’t know how to act when out? 

I used to be worried about this. I would see so many children act out while at the store or in a restaurant and I always said, Oh boy, I hope I’m never in that parent’s shoes. 

I admit though that I have been there. I think we all have at one time or another. Sometimes kids are tired, not feeling well, or just plain bored and they act out. 

I will tell you though that it doesn’t always have to be like that. 

When my husband and I take our children out to a restaurant we almost always have someone come over to our table to tell us that we have very well behaved children. When I check out at the grocery store with the kids I often times have a cashier tell me how well behaved my boys are. I usually hear something like this, “Your boys are so good. I’m not sure how you get them to behave like that, because most kids that come through the line are begging and crying.” I love the compliments and it makes me feel like I am doing something right as a mother. 

How do I do it? 

I honestly believe that the one reason my children behave so well in public is because they have always been out in public. It is much easier to leave our children home while we go run an errand. This is great and allows us to get things done much faster, however it doesn’t teach our children anything. If we leave them at home most of the time, and then take them out only on occasion, when we do take them out they are not going to know how to behave.

Think of it this way…

If you take a young child to the library for the first time they are not sure how to act. They do not know that libraries are quiet and we are not to speak loudly. We have to teach them this. The more we take them to the library, the quicker they learn. 

I was listening to a christian radio station this morning. 

There was a lady speaker on air talking about service dogs and how they train them. She said that when the dogs are very very young they start taking them into grocery stores, schools, churches and many other places in order to teach them how to behave. She stated that if they start taking them while they are young and continue to take them it is much easier. 

I have to say that when I heard this it reminded me of my thought on how and why some children behave better in public than others. (Of course, you need to set boundaries and teach your children how to behave while they are out as well. If you give into your child’s every cry while in public then they are probably going to continue this behavior. Teaching them what is acceptable and unacceptable at a young age can be very valuable.) 

Do you prefer taking your children out with you, or would you rather leave them with a sitter or at home so you can run errands more quickly?