How do you get your kids to behave in public??

[Fattytwoshoes]

Up until quite recently my 2 dc were ok when we went out, but last few months they've been right sods when we are out to the point it's really embarrasing to the point i want the ground to swallow me up. iknow it's probably bordom so what do you do to make your kids behave when you're out???

how old?

8 and nearly 7

Everytime we go somewhere where they don't behave I refuse to go back there again for many months. This can obviously be a problem for me so I try and herd them out of places I need to go to before we have a real problem and hope that the problems arise in places like toy shops.

Strap them into buggies, or, bribe them.

threats and bribery I'm afraid

you reckon, maybe i'm over sensative and maybe they are just being kids, thanks for the replys

I go home. Seriously, it depends. They are normally okay for a couple of hours. Once they start getting bored, it's time to go home. Having said that I don't enjoy shopping so usually get bored before them.

are you shopping with them?
maybe they are bored?

Mine are younger but I always tell them beforehand how I expect them to behave and what we are going to do. Use bribery in a rounabout way. Also, I think boys need things spelling out to them so rather than teling them they had better behave (too general, I tell them they have to walk nicely, be kind to other people, tell Mummy if something is bothering them etc. But it does get tiring and I have stopped going shopping with them if I am going to be longer then half an hour because they do get bored.

yes i suppose so, but sometimes i have to take them, they are fine separately btw.

Threaten to take them home. It works but you have to do it at least once before they beleive you.

btw. I also avoid situation that I know will cause problems as much as humanly possible. Shopping being one (I do most of mine online).

I agree Orm - you have to make a BIG THREAT and then follow it through, even if it really inconveniences you

It will only inconvenience you the ONCE, after that they should behave

That's the theory

I try a bit of you do what i want and I'll do what YOU want wth ds. He is 3.5 and being good all around the supermarket means he gets to go onn one of those awful 50p rides. Being dragged around the shops, we go and look at the fish in the pet shop - that ind of thing. I suppose it amounts to the same as bribery...but if he's interested enough and he has little jobs to do whilst we are out and about we all enjoy it a lot more.

I don't - it has got to the stage where I just shrug and say to DP - if those were someone else's children I would be appalled!!

So if any of you were at ILVA at Lakeside yesterday and saw 2 small children bouncing of the sofas, beds and wardrobes - I apologise and say you have every right to question my discipline because with both of them at the moment it is pointless!!

My mum's method when we were small was to hold your hand so tight it hurt, bend down and whisper in your ear through gritted teeth "behave or else". This was followed by a serene smile in case anyone was watching. Never found out what "or else" entailed she was so scary.

I have "the look", "the voice" and should those ever fail... I'm not too embarrassed to put my DC straight in public.

You've got to tell me how to do the look. I thought it was something your body would naturally know how to do once you gave birth. That doesn't seem to be the case. I've tried all sorts of looks and none of them seem to be scary enough for her.

pinch them when noone is looking

Your eyes need to go all cold. Arch one eyebrow. Do not blink! Make your lips go into a single line.

That should do it! lol

I go with "look", fingers counting to three and hissing "pasta" `````````

Ditto to marslady.

Ah yes, 'THE LOOK'!
I also have 'THE WHISPER', which has been known to make my children visibly shudder - it foretells of an iminent 'CHAT ON THE WAY HOME'!

Did that in the mirror and I look slightly deranged. LOL