How to discipline your child in public
What’s your discipline strategy when your child acts out in public? Sometimes a child who behaves at home will choose to have a test of wills at the most inappropriate times, and many parents are left scratching their heads trying to come up with solutions.
Dr Patrece Charles, CEO of the National Parenting Commission, said getting physical is not the correct reaction.
She said it is always possible to correct indiscipline children in public without having to hit and embarrass them.
“I don’t think embarrassing a child in public is the proper way to discipline them if parents want it to be lesson that is substantial,” Dr Charles told said.
“Punishing your child in public can make your child become resentful and rebellious. You may actually find that child acting up more in public, just because they think they will be embarrassing you.”
Dr Charles advised that you remain calm when you want to correct your children in public.
“Slapping a child may make it worse, because they will start screaming. The screaming of a child will not only get more attention on you as a parent, but you might get the child even more worked up and that child may just go into a temper tantrum.”
She added: “Calmness is best, but depending on the development stage of the child. Speaking to the child, telling them ‘no’ and what they are doing is inappropriate, and letting them know whatever the consequence is for what they have done is the way to go.”
She said parents should take their children and sit with them in an enclosed environment, and explain what wrong they did, and what would have been the better approach.
“Parents must understand that based on the age of the child, for example in the case of a two year old, they are full of energy, so a two year old is not really going to sit still which many parents may not like. On the other hand, when it comes to infants, children below the age of three, certainly you have to be mindful of how you structure your messages to correct children of that age and stage.”
She said parents should always practise at home the approach they would take with their children should they misbehave in public. Additionally, speak to them about what’s expected of them before going out.
“The best thing a parent can do is to establish discipline at home, so when you are going out in public you remind the child of how you want them to behave in public, and when you actually get where you need to go, you remind them again,” she said.
