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Public Scrutiny
Disciplining Your Toddler Outside of the Home
By Lyn Mettler
First, before you arrive, tell your toddler exactly what you expect of him and the consequences if those expectations are not met. Billingham suggests a style of parenting where a single cue lets your tot know that you're reaching your limit. That could be your tone of voice, a gesture, clapping your hands or a certain word. "There is a very clear signal to the child that very specifically says the behavior has to stop now," he says.
Another strategy is to keep your toddler entertained. Make a game out of grocery shopping, such as asking him to find an item with a certain picture on it. Douglas also suggests bringing along a "trick bag" with hand puppets and other toys that you can pull out at a moment's notice.
Billingham feels that rewarding children is a great strategy because it 
teaches cause and effect. Douglas agrees. "We get rewards in adult life for good behavior," she says.
You may be thinking that rewards could get a bit expensive, but they don't have to be. Barbara Polland, professor of child and adolescent development at California State University, Northridge and author of No Directions on the Package: Questions and Answers for Parents With Children From Birth to Age 12 (Celestial Arts, 2000), suggests uying a bag of cheap party favors and then wrapping them individually in tissue paper. When you're on your way out, tell your child that after he behaves he'll get to open the gift. But be sure never to give the reward if he does not have good behavior.
