Start Here: Increase compliance through pre-teaching.

Going to the store can be challenging when you have to take along the children plus figure out what meals to plan for the week. Before you head to the store with your grocery list in hand, try this strategy to best set your kiddos up for success and make this experience one that rewires more positive public interactions!

Has this ever happened to you? You get to the grocery store and your children are all over the place, going down different isles, grabbing things off the shelf, and crying when you respond with "No, I'm not buying that ice cream right now". All you want to do at that point is scoop up the kiddos and head back to the car to break down, scream, or phone a friend. Sound familiar?

This time, don't leave the parking lot! Attempt co-regulation and restate expectations when everyone is relaxed, flexible in their thinking and reasoning, and in a more logical state (you will have to judge that in the moment based on your child's observable behaviors). Act when things are calm and tell the kiddos that you're looking for quiet voices and acceptance of "no" and "not right now", however, tell them that you will be mindful in the established encouragement strategy to earn that incentive of a treat.

While you're in the store, be sure to look ahead and give effective directions throughout your time to head off problems before they happen. Keep it simple and provide one to two directions while providing tokens to encourage compliant behaviors. Spending time to pre-teach behaviors will set your kiddos up for success and increasing those times for positive interactions will increase compliance through love and respect instead of responding through fear. It will work out better in the long run, trust me.

Don't trust me just yet? Contact me and let me be a part of your village!