We're a mobile society, so we don't live by neighbors or relatives whom we've known for a long time and trust to help discipline children. We worry about the safety of our children, telling them not to talk to strangers for fear they'll be abducted or hurt. We have widely varying views on the proper way to discipline children. Myers-Walls says there is a reluctance to allow others to discipline our children, but at some point it makes sense to share those duties. She says rearing children can be stressful, and letting others assist can relieve some of the pressure.
Children make many of their own decisions about behavior.
Knowing when to offer assistance to a parent can be difficult. If he or she wanders away from a parent, follow and guide the child back. If the child does something dangerous, try to protect him or her. If a parent looks exhausted, embarrassed, angry or desperate, ask if you can help, or just talk with the child and provide a distraction so the parent can relax for a minute. Even if you use certain strong techniques with your kids, it is good to avoid those with other peoples' children.