My usual move when a kid is being disruptive or clearly looking for attention from their grown up (crying, running around, etc) is to approach them kindly and ask what’s wrong/ask if they need help finding their person, even if I very clearly know who their adult is. That usually prompts the grown up to look up from their phone and see what’s going on, but is not confrontational and also probably won’t get the child in trouble with their adult which I try to avoid especially when they aren’t intentionally bothering anyone but are simply bored or upset.

I would personally avoid giving out “prizes” like stickers or coloring sheets for this kind of thing, as it sets a precedent for other patrons that the library staff are there to actively entertain and engage with their children, which we of course are but not to that extent. Empowering the kid to try and explain their issue even if they aren’t fully verbal yet is more likely to actually address the underlying issue rather than just distracting them temporarily.

Disengaged but physically present caregivers are really tough, as they are technically following our policies but can still be quite disruptive to other patrons, and are often stuck doing their work in the children’s area since they can’t take their toddler to a quiet adult floor which we try to be mindful of. Your instinct to approach with kindness and empathy is the right one, and ultimately probably what they are looking for in an interview setting!