Grabbing food off the shelves in the grocery store.
"Don't touch anything without my permission, because everything here belongs to the store and some things can break."
Mainly, distract your child on arrival by getting her a snack, such as animal cookies.
Praise your child for helping.
Often children have temper tantrums when they are not given a toy or candy at the store after they beg for it.
"We buy only food at the grocery store, not toys."
Ignore your child and remain firm. If your child is having a temper tantrum in a safe place, walk on and he will stand up and follow you. If your child is near breakable objects or is a reckless child, take him outside for time-out. If he is annoying other people (as in a restaurant or church), take him outside.
No yelling or tantrums in the store.
"Stay close to me in the store so you won't get lost."
Time-out. First try putting your child in the grocery cart for 2 or 3 minutes if she doesn't stay near you. If she won't stay in the grocery cart, take her outside and put her in time-out facing the wall of the building or sitting inside your car while you stand by. Consider buying a harness and bringing it with you to the store. Harness your child only if she wanders off. Remove it every 5 minutes, giving her a chance to prove that she can control herself in a public setting. As a last resort, leave your child at home with a sitter and be sure to tell her before you go to the grocery store that she can't come this time because she didn't stay near you.
Praise your child for following you through the store.