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Public Scrutiny
Disciplining Your Toddler Outside of the Home
By Lyn Mettler
There's no escaping it. At some point, if you're a mom to a toddler, you must face the inevitable tantrum in the supermarket, in the restaurant or wherever you'd least like it to happen. So rather than dreading the unavoidable, why not arm yourself with a plan for the next time your little darling turns into a little demon?
"This is natural behavior for toddlers," says Robert Billingham, associate professor of human development and family studies at Indiana University. "Everything is so new, exciting, interesting and stimulating. They're simply responding in a curious sort of way."
One of the best ways to prevent bad behavior is to pay attention to your little one. Before you head to the supermarket, consider a few things: Is your toddler hungry or tired? Is he having a bad day? Is he feeling sick? It's probably best to delay your trip if the answer to any of these questions is yes. Otherwise, you're just setting yourself up for trouble. But if your toddler seems to be up for an outing, there are several strategies that may help to keep misbehavior at bay.
