Give them 1 calm and assertive warning: can you walk with me while in the store. If we can’t do that then we will go home and I can’t take to you to the store until you are ready to do that. If they don’t listen after the first time follow through with the consequence so they do actually believe you the next time you give a warning. The consequence should be “natural” i.e removing them from the situation. Also important to remember kids are kids though, their brains are still growing!

Relationship = respect. That’s the crux of gentle parenting—fixing the relationship fixes the behavioral problems. That being said, there will always be new factors—other kids, over-stimulating situations, emotions—that make your kids have behaviors that surprise you. They know better, but that doesn’t mean they don’t need reminders. Holding their hands and removing them from the situation, warnings, consequences, clear communication of expectations, are some of the techniques.

Take them home, no prizes, no desert, trip over

Leave the store.

If your kids are running around a store and not listening to you at 5 and 6, you're late in the discipline game. It doesn't make you a bad parent - but it is what it is. Put them in the car and go home, no treat from the store until they follow directions. If it happens again, back into the car and home. Same consequences. Be consistent!!

Super Nanny always said to get down to a child’s level so I would round them up, crouch down to eye level, and when they are calm and paying attention, look them In the eye and explain why we shouldn’t run in stores. It’s easy for a child to feel overstimulated in certain situations and they sometimes can’t ‘hear’ us when they’re riled up or riling each other up. If they continue to run you could separate them by putting one in a shopping cart and ask the other to help choose groceries.

I work at a pool. Yesterday an 18-month old kept trying to run from the baby area to the water slide catch pool. His parents calmly picked him up each time and brought him back. After the fourth or fifth attempt, I saw them sign “all done” and they left, peacefully. That kid will never go wild at a grocery store bc he knows.

Cut my grocery shopping short, leave the basket and go home. After 2 warnings about the store is not a playground. But boundaries should be spoken when leaving home and before entering the store as a reminder. It's not the kids fault they have abundance of energy and need to run it out. So I suggest finding ways to calm their God given nature to be children 😐

If/then “IF you cannot stay with me and the cart, THEN [consequence here]” — the “then” should be age/child specific. Letting your child run amuck in a space like that isn’t cool and kids who have been gentle parented can/should still learn which behaviors are appropriate in which scenarios (just like we all learn). No spanking necessary.

parenting coach & behavior analyst here! spanking has been scientifically proven to do nothing but harm. if my kids were attempting to run around and not listen i would fist redirect and give a warning: “it’s unsafe and inappropriate for you to run around the store. you can walk near me or sit in the cart/ hold my hand. this is your first warning.” i would redirect using the expected behavior two more times and on the third warning they would lose the option to walk & would sit in the cart/ 1/3