Being a parent can be a very stressful and challenging experience. This is especially true for parents that have wild children. While it is already hard dealing with wild children at home, it can be even more stressful and challenging to take them out in public. For those with wild children that cannot sit still in public environments, there are four tips to follow that will help you teach your children how to behave in public.
Provide Expectations
Before you even take your kids into public, it would be a good idea to explain to them the environment that they will be facing and what the expectations are. This would include explaining to them where you are going, what the setting will be like, and how long they will have to sit quietly. If possible, you could even practice good behavior with them before you go. By doing this, you will at least allow them to know what will be expected of them. This will make it easier for them to adjust to new surroundings.
Encourage Problem Solving
To help you manage wild children in a public environment, you might want to encourage them to focus on problem-solving. The main reason why kids act out in certain situations is that they are frustrated and do not know how to express themselves otherwise. You should encourage your children to spend time thinking about why they are upset and then teach them to articulate differently. This could help your child develop a new way to deal with their frustrations in a manner that is quieter and more productive.
Keep them Entertained in Waiting Rooms
One of the most challenging situations that parents face when they have wild kids is a waiting room. Whether it is a waiting office for your doctor or a family dentistry practice, there tends to be a lot of sitting around and waiting to be called in to your appointment. In these situations, it is extremely important that you make sure that your kids are entertained. Even well behaved and calm kids can get antsy in a quiet waiting room environment. For your kids, it would be a good idea to have several different types of entertainment prepared for them. This can include bringing some quiet toys, books, or even a portable gaming system. All of these will keep them distracted and entertained while you are trying to wait in a quiet environment.
Reward Good Behavior
Finally, another tip to follow when you are trying to figure out how to handle wild kids in public is to reward them when they behave properly. While it may seem like your kids are never quiet and calm in these difficult situations, there are undoubtedly times when they are at their best. It is important to identify these situations and point out to them exactly what they were doing well. You can then provide them with a small reward, which can include a treat or small toy. However, if they are not acting well, you need to make sure that you let them know what behaviors were not good and explain why they will not be getting a reward.
One of the hardest jobs that many people will have is being the parents of wild children. While it can be a big challenge to deal with wild kids while you’re at home, it is even more stressful and challenging if you are in public. Fortunately, there are four tips that you can follow that will help you teach your children how to behave while you are in public.
