How do you handle screaming kids when out in public?

I just ignore them, as long as it isn’t obvious that something is horribly wrong. In which case, I may try and help. Otherwise I just tune them out.

I ignore them, a screaming kid is better than a screaming, offended mother (or worse, father). Although, I sometimes would like to do what this guy did. Haha. Just kidding.

I usually try to engage them with a smile or making a funny face. If the parent seems frazzled, I usually make a little joke about kids being crazy.

It will always get my attention (is the kid being snatched, beaten, etc.). When it turns out to just be poor parenting, I usually just simmer and glare or walk away so I don’t have to deal with it.

Most kids who end up screaming do it to draw attention toward them because they are either neglected or they want more attention [ drama queens ^^ ] .

It may be something the kid do and being penalized for it but most calm down after a few seconds of whining .

But when they scream for attention I mostly “join in” and start screaming too [ not loud but loud enough near him to make him see I’m there ] . Most calm down easy after .

I pretend that I’m their parent, so people wont get suspitious about me dragging them off kicking and screaming. “no candy for you” and such.

… oh, wait.

Serious answer, I just ignore it.

I ignore them. If however, I need to stay near them for a certain period of time, such as in a bus, I try to smile at the kid or give them a sweet to calm em down.

I ignore them and try to get away from the situation.

I guess I was blessed. I turn off my hearing aids and just smile.

Hehe. I was about to ask this question an hour ago.

I’m answering assuming it’s not the “I’m getting kidnapped” type of screaming.

I hear kids screaming often during summer and after school. I cannot ignore it – no matter what. How can anyone (who is not entirely deaf) ignore a shrieking screaming high pitch noise such as that – especially when it’s a flock of kids?

I usually remove myself from the situation if possible. I do not get upset with the kids – it’s the parents who are to blame. Seriously, there really is no reason for your child to be screaming in public (unless something is wrong and they need help). I’m on the same page as @Kayak8.

Last screaming kid I saw was the one I spanked for throwing rocks at my dogs. I smiled.

Depends on why the kid is screaming. If they are just playing it don’t bother me, in fact I prefer when the kids are loud…it is when they get quiet you have to look and see what they are doing.

If they are crying and screaming cause their parents disciplined them, I offer the parent some sweet tea or a beer.

If they are screaming just for attention, and are close enough, I generally turn the garden hose on them if it ain’t too cold.

If they are my kids they are warned to get control of themselves and if they cannot we leave. When they are other people’s kids I smile sympathetically and if the chance arises try to distract the kid.

Other people’s children, I move away as much as possible. My children, I go home.

@SuperMouse I wish everyone would do that. I’ve been in stores where kids are screaming their heads off because they want something and the parent just strolls through the store as if it is normal. Take them out to the car and let them know their actions are not acceptable!

@chyna I guess sometimes parents ignore bad behavior hoping it will discourage the child from exhibiting it for attention.

I slap the shit out of their parents if they aren’t doing anything about it. LOL
OK, I don’t really do that, but that is the movie that is playing in my head as I glare at them and walk away.

To answer the question regarding someone else’s children. I ignore it usually. If I think I can give them a smile and a wave and distract them from their rant, I sometimes do that. If it goes on for a very long time I might give the parent a look if they are doing nothing. If they are trying their best, and they are unale to leave, like on a plane or train, I would not be angry or annoyed, rather feel bad for the parent and child.

I can ignore a child crying pretty well, as long As I know they are not suffering and are being tended to.

I pretend I’m Harry Potter, point to the kid and utter the words, “Silencium annoyum!”

Put on my headphones and turn up the volume.

I act as if there are no such beings as children and leave as quickly as I can.

Two words…duct tape & lots of it!
Nah, I just ignore & move on…....quickly.

It depends on the situation. Having been in a store with a crying/screaming toddler, I know how awful it feels to have people glare at you while you do your best to deal with the situation. I never glare at other parents because I don’t presume to know their situation or what it’s like to be in their shoes. I have seen my own kids do things that I could never predict, prepare for, or think to tell them not to do in advance, so I really try not to blame the parents for a child’s mistakes. If the noise is bothering me, I’ll just walk away.

Sometimes, if possible, I’ll do what others have suggested and try to distract or cheer up the kid, offer the parent some sympathy or encouragement.

When my own kids were little, they were luckily easy to calm down or distract. I think each of them had one public meltdown and I’d just leave with them as quickly as I could. Once I had no choice but to stick it out and pay for my things before leaving, and I will never forget how awful it felt to have people glaring at me and shaking their heads while I tried to manage an upset toddler and a crying infant while paying for my purchases (things I really needed and could not make a second trip at another time). Not one single person tried to distract my toddler, offered me a word of advice or encouragement. Just dirty looks for doing the best I could with the situation. No, I wouldn’t do that to another parent.

Astutely said, @MissAusten ! It seems to be easy for so many to make harsh judgments; kind of makes me wonder if they ever have had (or ever were, for that matter) children. On occasion the parents are ignoring them, rarely the kids are just badly behaved, but most of the time it’s a specialized situation, the parents are mortified and doing their best to get out of there or calm things down. When my daughter was teething, or had an ear infection, or something, we still had to eat and couldn’t always get a sitter, sometimes I had no choice but to finish the shopping if she was crying or yelling. The people that were nice to me, distracted her, helped me juggle the baby and the purchases won my undying gratitude. The ones that gave me those “looks”, I hope you enjoy the attitude you get the next time your car stalls in an inconvenient place, or you find that you forgot your wallet, checkbook, credit card after the cashier has rung up a huge shopping and there are 10 people behind you in line.

I try to remove myself from the situation as quickly as possible. I can’t stand screaming kids.

I agree with @MissAusten and @JilltheTooth on the rare screaming children. I feel very bad for the parents. As for parents who are continuously ignoring the unruly screaming children, I still feel bad but I also find myself annoyed by the parents. Usually, I find it’s easy to tell the difference between the rare tantrum child/parent and the commonly unruly child/parent groupings. My only difference with @Kayak8‘s response was that I don’t glare – lol, my glares would look silly (I’m not good at glares).
Note: When I say children, I mean young kids – not babies/toddlers (or mentally challenged children). I also took the question to mean the former (screaming kids – not babies/toddlers, etc). I never look down on a parent for their infant’s public crying/screaming – that’s an entirely different matter.

@JilltheTooth I was never a screaming child FTR.

@chyna : You didn’t have to be, I’m pretty sure I was loud enough for both of us! ;-)