Anyone else's toddler refuse to behave in public?

eilatan&nhoj88 · April 2013

My 3 year old has never done great in public. We thought over time that he'd get used to going places but it's only gotten worse the last few months. We've tried everything we can think of for warnings, punishment, discipline and nothing works. If we go to church, the store, out to eat, etc he keeps running away from us if he's not in a shopping cart or on a child leash. He doesn't care how far he gets or if he can't see us. When we go to eat, he refuses to eat, climbs under the table, and tries to run around the place. He tries to run out in the road with cars coming. He won't talk quietly or sit still no matter where we are. He knows he isn't supposed to be doing these things and even tells us for days afterwards how he did what he wasn't supposed to and got in trouble but he keeps doing it. We're at a loss as to what to do.

MammaBear81 · April 2013

What kind of warnings do you give? How many do you give before the punishment? What kind of punishments are you giving? Does he only misbehave in public or at home too?

countrymice06 · April 2013

I know I am going to be alone in this, but a kid that runs away on purpose in public needs a spanking. There are plenty of times for warnings and natural consequences and choices, but running away is not one of them. My DD's only

Emilia0101 · April 2013

Do you practice explaining how he is suppose to act ahead of time to set the expectations? I have a small backpack that goes out with us. It has a few special things that only come out during that time (church, dinner, etc). As far as running away. I woul

eilatan&nhoj88 · April 2013

We've done all of this. We warn 2-3 times usually. We put him in the cart (which he hates) when he doesn't listen, but he still does it the next time. We spank him sometimes (especially if its a dangerous situation, cars etc) but it doesn't change anythin

TiffanyBerry · April 2013

eilatan&nhoj88:
We've done all of this. We warn 2-3 times usually. We put him in the cart (which he hates) when he doesn't

honeybee111 · April 2013

I feel like we had to work on DD's running away thing for a month or 2 before she really got it. I don't believe in spanking or pinching, so we didn't go that route, but we did a LOT of consistency and reinforcement. You don't hold hands? &

sugarbear0524 · April 2013

My son (22 mo.) isn't allowed out of the cart or stroller. I carry him through the parking lot. I don't let him walk. I think sometimes that I'm treating him like a baby, but I don't have the running issues. At the grocery store, we get a cart that