Being able to choose is a neat thing for kids, but it should be done within your parameters. A small child doesn t have the judgment to be able to walk into a shoe store and choose a pair of shoes, for example, but if offered a choice between two or three pairs that you have already tried on and determined to be suitable for him, the result is much more pleasant. Table Manners I remember as a child never getting out of my seat and running around in a restaurant because I knew that it was not permitted. In other words, the option was never there, so it became natural to me that this is not done. And it was not permitted at home, either.
Some parents like to let their children explore and be free spirits.
They don t want to suppress natural curiosities or high levels of energy. Or maybe they feel too pooped and defeated to deal with it. Potty trips can be made right before everyone is seated in order to eliminate that excuse. Talk it up. Mention the idea several times before each meal, and especially before you go to a restaurant or someone s home.