How to Handle a Public Toddler Tantrum

“The biggest issue for most parents is that the shame that accompanies having a toddler tantrum in public pushes you to act instinctually and not in a way that is most effective. Tantrums have a function—they’re usually to escape something the child doesn’t want to do, attempt to persuade the parent to grant a tangible reward or privilege, or get attention,” says Dr. Dave Anderson, senior director of the Child Mind Institute.