Children in public

[lvstephanie]

I think also a part of the problem is some type of chaos in their lives... More families are getting a divorce and so the child, feeling that their lives are going out of control, try to exert some type of control by acting out. This sometimes gets exacerbated if the parent that is present at the time tries to curry favor with the child (esp. if there are custody issues involved) and so will let the child do what they want for fear that the child may tell the courts at a later date that they'd rather live with the parent that doesn't discipline as much. As unfortunate as it is, there are times when the children are used as a weapon in an ugly divorce, pitting the child against the other parent out of spite to their ex instead of doing what is in the child's best interest.

[reiddb]

There is work and diligence and consistency that needs to be going into raising children...I now some people who have better behaved dogs than their children.  Our society is telling everyone that kids acting out is just a phase, but they are wrong...it is character that is being delivered.
You take God out of society and then wonder what is happening?  You reap what you sow.

[rainman306]

Yes, more children are probably acting out in public because parents are not as strict as before.

[dancer139]

it isn't you.  I see it happen all the time anymore and usually the parents don't do anything about it.  its sad to see this happening.  children screaming at their parents because they can't have something,  or the kids are running up and down the isles,, and no parents to be seen.   its a shame

[6265AT99]

Is it just me or are more and more children acting out in public? It seems every time you go into a Wal-Mart, all you hear are screaming children, seeing them running around...while the parents just act like nothing is going on and ignoring it.  I know that its difficult to discipline kids these days without hearing child abuse being screamed left and right, but I just don't get it.  My son is 17, polite to everyone...opens doors for women, says yes ma'am, no sir.  If he sees an older person in a store having trouble, he voluntarily goes and asks if they want help with their bags.  He's done that more times than I can count.  He doesn't talk back, and is a good student in school.  All this being said, not ONCE have I ever had to spank him.  His dad and I just made it known as he was growing up what he could and could not get away with.  It just really saddens me seeing parents now letting kids run wild and not putting the time and energy into them to teach them the proper way to act in public. Am I the only one that feels that way?

I agree with you 100% and feel the same way.  My children were always taught to "respect others and their property" and to have good manners when speaking to others.  Kids today are not to blame - IT'S THE PARENTS WHO ARE TO BLAME~!!!!!!  Sometimes I wonder why certain people even have kids when it becomes obvious they don't really care about them.  It upsets me to see that these children will one day be the adults of the world but yet, they will have no scruples because they were never taught by their parents.

[lguzman1]

I know I just don't understand how parents just let their children run around in the stores. I had 4 girls and I had them well behave everywhere we went. It could be done; I know! 

[debidoo]

Totally agree.  My sons were so well behaved that parents actually kind of "fought" over them for field trips.  I never remember them "pitching fits" at stores and my husband would have not tolerated it and they knew it. They are adults now and people still rave about how neat they are.

[PGS28]

I think the fear of being accused of child abuse is an excuse. I've actually heard a cop tell the mother of the juvenile delinquent down the street that she actually can physically discipline him within reason.  I whips mine. The least they will do is respect me, it is not an option; it is a requirement. If more parents thought that way and stopped being preoccupied with other stuff and stop trying to be their kids' friend the teachers' jobs would be a lot easier.

[kapeh12]

It is not just you.  Children are acting out because laws have changed.  There was a time when it was okay to discipline your child(ren) in public; now, if you do, it is deemed child abuse.  My daughter told me, when she was a kid,  she would call the police on me and I told her she didn't have to worry about it because, when she did that, she was going to make a mistake.  Yesterday, my daughter, now 27,  called me yesterday and got on me for not calling her.  I told her I thought maybe she was with her husband and I would give her some space.  She reminded me that, whether he was there or not, I am her mother.  

I knew a co-worker who had a son that said the same thing to him once - that he would call the police.  My co-worker said his response to that was to pick up the phone and said he'd dial the number for his son - that his son was welcome to roll the dice with the foster system if he really thought living in his house was that horrible.  His son backed down right away.

[camellia0]

I totally agree. Parents go shopping (and what little child wants to stand by mommy while she's buying dresses and handbags! So the kids are pushing other siblings in the carts really fast around the store and throwing merchandise everywhere and damaging it. I think parents need to drop the kids off at someone else's house if they want to shop...and sometimes i go to Wal-Mart after 11pm and you can still see kids in the store when they need to be in bed.

[rainman306]

I would almost not have to go to grocery stores or Wal Mart of Malls with how bad kids act out now days and some of the rif raf that at those places now days.

[vp44]

I see this all the time with people and sometimes they seem to want to ignore them because they are not bothering them. I put my son in the basket because I do not want him to get stolen and sometimes he has a tendency of touching things too much lol.

[Tresbn00]

Congratulations on bringing your children up right!  It sounds like your children have learned to behave like my children have which is to have respect for everyone.  I have always treated my children with respect, listened to what they had to say and didn't judge them...which I think sets precedence for how they will treat others.  I don't raise my voice if they are making poor decisions.  I haven't noticed any change in the number of ill-behaved children.  They will always be there because there are so many bad parents out there.  I wouldn't blame the children.  It might be that Walmart has more poorly raised children.

[PGS28]

"I put my son in the basket because I do not want him to get stolen" -- isn't it a shame you actually have to worry about people stealing your kids now?? I have that same fear. I'm extra cautious when my kids initiate conversations with strangers and I hate to feel that way but it's unfortunately a valid fear.   

I see this all the time with people and sometimes they seem to want to ignore them because they are not bothering them. I put my son in the basket because I do not want him to get stolen and sometimes he has a tendency of touching things too much lol.

[Garydh]

Screaming kids in a restaurant. I was pleased when the parents took turns taking the screaming kid outside, so the rest of the reastaurant patrons could enjoy their dinner. I watched this switch back and forth for about 15 minutes until out dinner arrived. The parents took turns, and finally the child quieted down, and I saw, they were able to enjoy their dinner.   But we are planning on flying sometime in the next month or two. What can parents do then?   I don't know, but I have been on many flights even with my own children. You can't stay in the little bathroom on the planes that long. Hummmmm.