Image: Shutterstock
Have you ever been at a restaurant and the table beside you has kids who refuse to sit still? Or visited a museum and seen a parent try to track down a child who’s screaming and running away from them? As startling as this must be to you, it’s even more embarrassing for the parents. Throwing a fit and having tantrums at the drop of a hat are very common occurrences with kids. They’re tired? They cry. They’re hungry? They cry. They can’t find their favorite hot wheels? They cry. And parents don’t always know how to calm them down. Contrary to popular belief, parents don’t control their kids, and children rarely listen to their parents when they have an outburst. So what can you, as an onlooker do to help alleviate the situation? Read on to find out!
Here are 5 things you can do when someone’s kid has a tantrum in public:
1. Don’t Judge Them
Image: Shutterstock
The situation is bad enough as it is. Staring at them with judgmental eyes will do nothing but make their parents feel even more panicked and stressed. This will cause them to agitate the little one even more which will make their reaction worse. Besides, everyone has bad days. Calmer kids can get overwhelmed and cracky too. And parents don’t always know how to deal with everything. So when a baby does have a meltdown, keep the judgment to yourself. We’re sure you and your child have been there a couple of times too. It’s common and nothing to be ashamed of.
2. Be Empathetic
Image: Shutterstock
Take in the plight of the parents and try to be empathetic. Their child might seem like a mini monster right now but chances are that they’re just a sleepy or hungry 4 year old. And which four year old do you know who exhibits perfect behavior all the time? Even adults struggle in that department. Sometimes people, even kids, just have bad days and need a good cry. Sure, maybe aisle 6 isn’t the ideal place to have a little breakdown, but that’s okay! Their parents probably feel really bad too. Firstly because their child is crying and they probably have no idea why but also because they know this is an inconvenience to everyone else in their surroundings. So just do them a favor and instead of frowning at them, smile. A small kind gesture makes all the difference when you’re in a tough spot. Moreover, putting the parents at ease will help them focus on the kid and rectify the situation faster.
3. No Criticism Please
Image: Shutterstock
Here’s one thing you can definitely do when someone’s child is throwing a fit in public, don’t do anything at all. We’ve all heard the phrase “If you have nothing good to say, don’t say anything” and this is the perfect opportunity to practice this principle. If you’re a parent, you know how annoying it is when people come at you with unsolicited advice, especially at a crucial moment like when your child has decided to roll around the floor, kicking and screaming in the middle of a department store. So take a page out of your own book and mind your own business. Telling parents how to handle the situation or simply complaining about it won’t fix anything. In fact, a stranger approaching the scene and criticizing the parents only makes things worse. So next time just act like you didn’t see anything wrong.
4. Offer To Help Or Don’t Get Involved
Image: Shutterstock
If you see someone struggling to get a hold of their kid, you can always walk over and ask if they need any help. Sometimes it doesn’t even have to be with the kid. Hold their place in check out as they deal with their toddler’s temper tantrum or carry their bags for them if their child has decided to be a very clingy Koala. Whatever the case may be, helping out someone who is clearly struggling is never a bad idea. Chances are that the parent was probably dying for an extra pair of hands anyway. So, if you do decide to get involved, make sure it brings about some positive change. You could turn their entire day around in a matter of minutes!
5. Say Something Kind
Image: Shutterstock
It’s easy to feel like an absolute failure of a parent when something like this happens so hearing a kind word works wonders. A simple “You got this” or “ Don’t worry, we’ve all been there” will help them feel a lot better instead of wanting to disappear into a hole in the ground and never come up. Remember, we all have bad days, so be kind to people who are having a hard time.
Parenting is never easy, especially when kids decide to be extra fussy, So give parents their space to figure out the best course of action. Support them and be kind to them when they’re stuck in unfortunate situations. Is there something we missed out on? Let us know in the comments section!
