Originally Posted by Unregistered:
I’ve done the choices and have said the part about having to pick him up to help him leave nicely and it ends in him screaming and kicking while I’m carrying him away 
and it’s definitely not just school where he runs amok. He does it at home and other public places too and never wants to listen to me. That leads me to yelling and feeling bad. This all just started a couple of months ago when he turned 3 and I haven’t been consistent 24/7 so I know it’s my fault too. But I’ve finally had enough and want to help him (and myself) know how to act properly.
My son was very much like that at 3.
My daughter was so good about listening and not running off that I just didn't understand why my son didn't "get it" too.....
When we went places both my kids got a reward for listening and behaving.... IF they did. My daughter got a $1 and she'd buy a Little Golden book. My son also had the opportunity to earn a $1 (he would buy a Matchbox car) but usually within 10 minutes of entering a store, he was darting off or touching things etc... and then lose his reward. It got to the point that I don't think he even bothered to try any more.
Then one day I approached the whole "do X and get Y" a different way....Instead of making my son EARN his reward, I gave it to him ahead of time (10 dimes) and explained that every time I had to remind him of the rules or redirect him he had to pay me 1 dime. IF he had any money left at the end of the shopping trip, he could buy something. If he didn't have enough left over, he couldn't bay anything and had to save the remaining dimes for his piggy bank at home.
It worked perfectly!
Basically some kids operate by rewarding and some kids operate by consequence but bottom line was no matter the method of teaching the results were the same; compliance.
So now your role as parent is to figure out your child's currency. Once you have figured that out, you have figured out the answer. Unfortunately it's different for everyone but you can do it.... The great news is those kids that are sometimes the hardest, teach us the most.
Hang in there.... Parenting is tough.
