Question:"At the grocery store my toddler pointed at someone and
said "She's fat!" loud enough for that person to hear. Is there
any way to teach my child not to be rude and say such
embarrassing things in public?" What's the best way to handle
your tactless toddler? Until you teach him tact, he has no idea
what’s appropriate conversation and what’s not. So don’t ignore
the incident or cover up for your toddler (for example, by
exclaiming loudly, “No, silly, that lady doesn't have a cat”).
And don't scold your child for his honesty, call him rude, or
discourage him from speaking his mind, either. Instead, take
advantage of this teachable moment as you stroll down the next
aisle. First, explain to your toddler that, yes, people come in
different sizes and shapes, but it’s not nice to point out their
differences. Then explain that words are powerful: They can
communicate information (“I'm hungry”) and can make people happy
(“You’re the best little guy in the whole universe!”), but they
can also hurt people’s fe