We love our children to bits. We really do. But how far can we allow them to go unregulated? At
some point they need to be checked so that they don’t harm themselves or others and they are not
a nuisance in public.

Very often when travelling on a public transport – particularly long distance, I have groaned
when faced with the prospect of travelling with a family with kids. A 22 hour journey on a train
becomes unbearable when in the company of noisy and restless children that are unmindful of
the people around them. I understand completely that spending 22 hours in a confined space is
no easy task for children, but surely their energies can be managed in a way that does not cause
inconvenience to others.

The mantra is starting early with the behavior guidance programme. Your child will respond
much better if checked at an early age. Pestering comes naturally to children. The more you give
in, the more you will give way! It’s not to say that one must stop pampering children, but you
have to decide the limit to which you are willing to give in.

The most important factor in guiding your child’s behavior is consistency. Both parents must
speak the same language. There’s no point if one says “no” and the other one does just the
opposite. This sends confusing signals and children are quick to exploit this.

Teach your children to be sensitive to the needs of others. Eating in a restaurant can be painful
with children running around the tables. Make sure these children are not yours! The important
thing to remember is that children must be clear on behaviour expectations and there should be
no ambiguity. This is especially important when they are at a place where there might be
accident risks, such as at a railway platform, on the streets or even at an amusement park. It’s
difficult to keep an eye on kids all the time so you have to rely on their behavioural training to
keep them safe. This also holds true for when they’ve grown up and are more and more on their
own. You can’t be with them all the time, and then what kicks in to keep them safe is what they
have learnt in their younger days.