standard jumps when he sees kids

Question
When I take my 5 month old (just-neutered) standard on walks, he bucks like a wild horse when he sees children.  He lunges towards them, jumps really high and is hard to control.  The children of course talk to him very excitedly and in high pitched tones, which makes it worse, it seems.  Lately, I've been telling the kids while they are far off "he's not behaving today, or else I'd let you pet him." But we are pregnant with child #1.  How do we get him used to kids?

Answer
Switch to a head collar so you have control over him.  The leading brands are Promise,  Haltie, and Gentle Leader.  They have a strap going around the dogs nose looking something like a muzzle.  They work by pulling the dogs head around.  No other way gives you such great control with so little force.  The prong collar is now a  dangerous relic of value only for its macho looks.  Do not consider using one without hands on instruction from somebody with plenty of experience with them.

Obedience train him too.  Dogs see all the people and dogs in the household as a pack with each having their own rank in the pack and a top dog.  Life is much easier if the 2 legged pack members outrank the 4 legged ones.  You can learn to play the role of top dog by reading some books or going to a good obedience class. A good obedience class or book is about you being top dog, not about rewarding standard commands with a treat. Start at http://www.dogsbestfriend.com/

Then when the children approach, down stay him.  Insist the children don't pet him unless he is lying quietly.  This will not work very well the first time you try it, or the next, or the next.  I put myself in the position of introducing my 11 week old Lab to a first grad class in front of the professional trainer that supervises us.  She was tolerant of the work still to be done.