Do you ever use a stern voice with your kids ( especially in public ) ?

[shoutylouty]

My DD is 4 in Jan. Sometimes when we are out and about she likes to mess around a bit and runs off a bit. I am very very very vigilant and she's never actually run off and got lost, but I do tell her off when she does it.

Not hugely shouty, but stern voice kind of thing

I never see anyone else doing this with their kids in public.

I somehow feel it's always my kids having tantrums and running off. I have seen some tantrums from kids but I haven't seen parents having a stern words with kids like I have had to do in public, a number of times.

My DD's tantrums have got a lot better and she's able to accept when she can't get her way much better. The only issue is that she gets silly and wants to be chased sometimes ( I don't chase her ). She also sometimes doesn't want to hold my hand and wants to walk by herself next to me. Everything at the moment is ' no I want to do it myself, on my own ' etc.

Anyway, is it just my impression that kids never seem to be getting told off in public or is it that all kids are so well behaved that there's no need to tell tell them off OR do parents no longer tell kids off ( especially in public ). ? When I've used stern voice ( not shouting ) I have got looks.

Never shouting in public but yes I have been very stern in supermarkets and the like.

I never shouted

it was a whisper ‘you wait til we get home’ and they stopped or I’d count down - a parent once asked me what happened when I go to 0 - it never happened!

All the bloody time 😬

I have used the stern voice but it was a bit pointless with the eldest, she just used to laugh and run off. She was better in reins or a buggy or allowed to do something if she behaved well, all attempts to make her feel bad/worried/ashamed were futile, she once went in the sea and refused to get out and that was very entertaining for the small crowd watching me (I waded out and got very cross indeed).

The only thing that ever truly stopped her in her tracks was not being allowed on the computer. It took til she was 7 to find that leverage (did not care about toys, stern voices, kindness, on the naughty step, all counting threats).

Couldn't believe it when I had a second child and they didn't even require a stern voice, I just used to say 'I'll count to three...' and never got to two.

Children differ, but it's fine to use a stern voice as long as it's not nasty or abusive (have heard children threatened before, which is something quite different).

Maybe it's your definition of stern voice. When I was giving my 4-yr-old into trouble, I'd get down to their level and use a quiet voice.

Even my mum's stern teacher's voice didn't work on my eldest. My mum was most upset, it worked on practically all the children at school!

When one of my kids was running too far ahead on a seaside promenade I bellowed at him “Stop!” in my best Maggie Thatcher voice. Everyone within a half mile radius froze to the spot………🤣🤣🤣

Yes the teacher voice was often used.

Yes. Not so much with DD1 but I have toddler twins who I can’t physically wrangle/always have eyes on - so they are trained on “Stop” and “come here” like dogs, to be blunt.

DD 1st born, golden child, never needed to raise voice, if you did she would have instantly cried and been devistated, now at 9yo she gets a stare or two or a slightly deper raised voice and thats all is needed but its rare and never if it's just the two of us.
DS 2nd child amazingly funny but an absolute nutter and often need to be told more sternly to stop, this would be audiable to others. I have friends who just seem oblivious to their childrens behaviour, which just pisses me off frankly (not that I'd ever say anything to them), I have friends who openly say they'd never be stern in public but are at home. Dont believe everything you see!

God yes. Find me a parent who hasn't done this from time to time?

I’m not sure I use any other voice..