How to discourage temper tantrum behavior, I know I am to incourage good behavior but what to do when child will not stay in car seat or shopping cart without a fight?
Dr. Sears has some good advice on temper tantrums, including the grocery store thing. Frustrating, I know! :
http://askdrsears.com/topics/discipline-behavior
advice on specific behaviors:
http://askdrsears.com/topics/discipline-behavior/botherso...
Each of my three kids have been hauled to the bathroom for a swat after a calm warning to nip a fit in public about one time each(actually-my son twice, and my third needed a few hard pinches in addition to a swat or two). To put that in context, I have taken all three of my kids (6,4 and 2 1/2) with me to the grocery store EVERY WEEK since the first was BORN and ALL other errands because my husband always travels. That's about 300+ trips to grocery store ALONE not including all other errands. So a few effective discipline episodes in public (it will only be a few if you are consistent at home) is a very small price to pay for having kids who behave well and don't throw fits-thus enabling me to function and accomplish things, We have fun together out and about every day. The book Back to Basics Discipline by Janet Campbell Matson has great advice that works. If he's just starting this, it's the easiest time to nip it for good. My kids all sat in the cart until they could walk nicely by the cart. No other option. Just one warning. No anger. And no one fights the car seat. Don't allow it. He'll be happier if you don't.
I don't put my kid in a shopping cart unless he is being punished. We use one of those monkey backpacks with a leash, and he knows if he does not behave he will sit in the cart. If I need him in the cart I bring something to distract him while he sits in it. Like one of his little cars. (we have a couple of really cheap ones that is not big deal if he looses.)
I have given my 2 year old a time out in the grocery store. She did not want to stay in the shopping cart. I told her she needed to stay in or else she will get a time out. She had a time out in the produce section - sobbing away. Now she sits in the shopping cart. It all depends on your kid's personality. This never would have worked with our son - he would have just suffered the time out and then kept wanting out of the shopping cart every day. He would never give in. He's 8 now so this is no longer an issue. Anyway - I just let my daughter have her sobbing tantrum and ignored her and then I told her time out was over and put her in the cart. She gave in. It was a little embarrassing but there was not that many people around bc it was morning. Anyway - you could try giving your daughter a time out right there in the grocery store. Or go stand outside for the time out. It's worth a try. Also - make sure you explain to your daughter why she needs to sit in the cart. Then praise her like crazy if she does it!
I agree with Amy J.'s approach and did the same with my 2 children. If you don't show them that you will discipline bad behavior now, you will be fighting it on a much bigger scale later! Also by stopping the temper tantrums at an early age, made them easy to take anywhere I wanted to go! ie: restaurants, other people's houses, etc.
