We’ve all been in uncomfortable situations with our children whether it was in public or at home in front of guests. It’s just a fact of life that our children are going to test us whenever possible. It’s not that they’re trying to be bad or disagreeable; they’re just trying to find out what their boundaries are. Below are a couple of common times when parents face difficult parenting situations. Hopefully, you’ll find the suggestions helpful.
1. Long Car Rides – The majority of parents with young children dread taking long road trips with their young children because they know they’ll face multiple issues along the way. Most of the time, this happens because a child is bored. Therefore, if you are traveling to visit a family friend, attend a wedding or go on vacation, think ahead of activities your kids can do on the way.
For instance, you can buy (or make your own) car bingo games. Car bingo is fun for kids of all ages because it gives them things to look for during the car ride in hopes of being the first to get a bingo. For parents, it helps pass the time. There are also a number of other car games and activities available to help your kids make it through a long road trip. Just search the internet for more ideas!
2. Shopping Excursions – It doesn’t matter if you are shopping for groceries or if you’re shopping for
special occasion dresses for girls, boys’ suits, etc. you may find yourself dealing with a feisty child. Many parents have found that these situations are more frequent when they’re out in public than when they are at home. This is because most children figure out that they can push parents farther when they are out than when they are at home.
In order to nip this in the bud, you will need to make a big impression on your child. First, before you leave the house let your kids know exactly where you’ll be going and what you’re shopping for. Then, give each child a task that they are in charge of during the excursion. Finally, lay out the expectations: “I expect you to be good, if you aren’t there will be consequences.”
Now, as a parent, you know your kids. You will have a pretty good idea of how the trip will go before you leave the house. Make up your mind before you leave the house to end the trip and return home if your child throws a fit. If you live a ways away, then ask your spouse, a friend or hire a babysitter to follow you to the store and if the child acts up, send them home.
It’s important for parents to make an impression on their children when they are young to avoid major parenting issues when their kids are teens. To do this, you have to be consistent with discipline methods – no matter where you are. While it may be hard, it shouldn’t matter if your child is in a flower girl dress, getting ready to walk down the aisle in a wedding or if she’s at home in her PJs – you’ve got to discipline when the situation arises to stop the behavior.