How to pacify or otherwise deal with public meltdowns (without punishment or force)

Many parents have to deal with it. A child kicking and screaming in the store. This is a common happening in parenting. Most parents think that the answer to dealing with that sort of behavior is punishment. However, the fact of the matter is that parents can pacify meltdowns by way of swaddling blankets.

The use of swaddling blankets is a part of the Christian doctrine of mutual submission. See Colossians 3:20-21 KJV

Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord. Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.

The Greek root word translated "obey" is υπακουο (Latin: hupakouo) and refers to secure, vulnerable rest in the love and submission of parents. This word ultimately refers to a secure attachment between parent and child in the family home. This secure attachment comes from parent submission, where parents are to submit to children just as they would to God, from beneath yet from above, expecting absolutely nothing in return. See also Matt. 22:35-40, 25:31-46.

The Greek root word translated "provoke...to anger" is ερεθιζο (Latin: erethizo) and refers to damages of offenses, namely the slightest of personal offense perceived by a child, including, but not limited to, the slightest of offensive touch or speech perceive d by a child, stemming from entitlement. This commandment was intended by the Apostle Paul, and was understood in its original context, as a moral statute prohibiting all forms of punitive parenting, including, but not limited to, any punishments, reprimands, or other controlling demeanor towards children. In the Old Testament, punitive parents were put to death by way of bloodletting, after punishing their children one last time. The parents who punished their children were charged with kidnapping, with "kidnapping" being defined under the Law as the slightest of damages or offenses stemming from hostage-taking - child punishment was seen in biblical times as holding your child hostage merely for things that they did wrong, thereby treating your child as a quartered slave. Paul here was lifting up the Law in order to convict a group of Greek Christians who brought their pagan custom of spanking and punishing children into the church. Paul, contrary to popular legend, was anti-spanking, and opposed any and all punishment of a child in his secular writings. Paul may not have gotten along with the women of the church, but he sure loved children, and even took in a few orphaned children during his time as a deacon.

Swaddling blankets helped to pacify the upset of children, while soothing them with a spectacular view from resting in mom's bosom. When mothers were out and about with children under age 6, the child was wrapped up next to the bosom of mothers in swaddling blankets. The swaddling blankets - and the child with them - were then tucked underneath the loose-fitting, revealing dress worn by mothers that resembled an apron. Beforehand, the swaddling blankets were tied to the left breast, and then across the dot to the right leg, or vice versa, or both in the case of twins. Whenever children cried, they were held even closer to mom's bosom after mom cooed at them, with children being able to hear mom's heartbeat. Usually. at some point, children wanted something off of the shelf, and so the child pointed to the item, and then mom got the item off of the shelf. 

The main reason for children throwing temper tantrums in public is hearing the word "no". However, children growing up in the Early Church were given the word "no" rarely, meaning almost never. According to customary law, parents were prohibited from saying "no", with few exceptions. The only valid reason for saying "no" to a child was if the petitioned request was unsafe, unworkable, and/or immoral. Even when parents said "no", the child was afforded an explanation and reassurance. Even then, most parents came to a compromise with children. 

The depraved and entitled parents who provoke their children to anger through punitive parenting will not inherit the Kingdom of God! Let them be cast forever into the lake of fire and burning sulfur, which is the second death prepared for Satan and his accomplices! Let them descend into the abyss which is the ever-burning Hell of fire and torment, suffering God's Wrath day and night forever and ever! Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!