As a cashier at a corner store/check cashing place, I welcome children, but I cannot control them, which means that I tolerate monstrous behavior from certain kids.

I've done my best to interpret misbehavior, and I've come up with this:  There are distinctions between "Hey, I just got out of school, I'm happy, and I feel like laughing and making some noise"; "Hey, I'm sleepy, I'm crying, and Mommy (or Daddy) acts like I don't exist" and "I WANT THAT CANDY NOOOOOWWWW!"  The first seems to be boisterous self expression, within the bounds of expected behavior.  The second expresses a need that must be met.  If the parents ignore the crying , I say something neutral.  "Oh, he looks sleepy."  Often, that's enough for the parent to notice the screams, which I suppose parents tune out.  I classify the third request as a family situation and stay silent.

As a clerk, I treat young children as customers.  If I see a kid pointing at something, I ask them to identify by color what they want, after getting adult approval.  I make sure their precious stuff goes into a private bag so it doesn't touch Mommy's nasty food. I praise the parents whose children have nice manners, and I try to praise the kids as well.  I believe that proper public behavior for children can begin in a store, and customers and employees alike should indulge childlike but not disruptive or destructive behavior.

Now for the rant portion of my post.  I can only do the above for a misbehaving child.  I know parents are tired, under inconceivable pressure about work and finances and personal lives. However, the above offenses of children are your fault.   You didn't feed him, you didn't allow him enough sleep, and now he's cranky.  On top of that, parents train children to cry and plead to get what they want.  It's a shock for children to go to school, throw a tantrum, and instead of having their needs met, lose friends and get into trouble.  

I am not a parent.  I know some children have severe emotional and behavioral problems that the best parenting cannot fix.  The above is not meant for these parents, but for the parents and caregivers who can't seem to give a moment's attention to a sad and needy kid.