- Pre-teaching expectations before activities, like grocery shopping, helps children understand rules and reduces conflict.
- Example: telling a child before entering the store that groceries will be bought but no toys today.
- Positive reinforcement during the activity is essential—acknowledge and praise specific good behaviors (“I love the way you’re holding my hand”) rather than general praise (“Good job”).
- For longer outings, ongoing reinforcement can be used, such as praise, stickers, or small rewards.
- Clear communication paired with consistent positive feedback helps encourage cooperation and positive behavior in children.
How To Prevent Children's Tantrums in Public
Setting expectations about what an outing will be like is a great way to minimize tantrums in public
Nina Sand-Loud, MD, Child Development
