I dont know how to get Jack to stop barking at little kids that come to my house.  It is so frustrating, because he's not play barking...it's an intense, I dont like you kind of barking (if that makes sense).  It will scare kids too.  He doesnt go after them like he's going to bite them, but he barks and backs up.  He has never been traumatized by kids like being forced to do something he doesnt like or kicked at or anything. I never let my daughters friends take him to anouther room without me there.  He's always with me.  I know the lady who I bought him from when he was 8 wks and she totaly socialized her pups, tho there wasnt many kids around.  We got him at 8 wks and he's been around little kids ever since.  He loves my daughter who is 7, but that is the ONLY kid he likes.  He will lay with her and every thing.  But if another kid (girl or boy) enters our house he expresses his dislike by barking.  If they make noises (as kids do) he will bark.  If they run, he will bark at them.(my daughter runs in the house all the time and he doesnt do this).  If the jump he will bark.  You get the point.  I had my friends little boy over the other night and he will be 5 next month.  I told him to move slow and come to me and let Jack smell your hand.  He did and Jack was timid, but smelled him and let him pet his head.  Then the boy got up and started walking away and Jack came behind him barking.  The boy screamed because it scared him and of course Jack barked more.  I even have had kids here over night and Jack has spent 24 plus hours with them and he still will bark at them when they come down the stairs.

I guess what Im getting to after all this is does anyone think a spray bottle will be a good option to try and teach him not to do this.  I was hesitant before because I dont want him to associate kids with displeasure, but I guess he already does.  If I tell Jack to come to me and stop he will, but he will bark again after a bit, but he ALWAYS comes when hes doing that and I call him to me.  So that is a positive, but how do I get him to not continue to bark after I let him know the child is ok to be here?

Sorry this was so long!!!  Bless you if you made it through all this!

Please don't apologize for any questions being too long.... most behavior issues aren't "short".   Same as responses can't always be short.

First and foremost... I think your primary concern should be for the children.  If  Jack seriously does not *like* the children who are coming into your household (his territory...) then I would definitely crate him.  After the children have been there for awhile... you can let him out and see how he acts.  

Please remember that your household is HIS territory from his perspective.  Anyone other than members of his own pack (your family members) are intruders into his territory. 

After the kids have been in your environment for awhile... let Jack out of his crate ON A LEASH... and have the kids offer him treats... or toys... or something Jack is crazy about. 

It's a step-by-step process... but to me doing it this way is a bit more positive than squirting him with a water bottle, which you can always resort to if the crating method doesn't work.

I'm not a trainer and only have my 2 1/4 (Mitzy, Mayfly and Skipper may be 1/4 rattie) to go by but I totally agree with what Nora is saying.  It works much better to go the positive training method first.  I tried the "putting them on their back" submission thing that Cesar Millan does (I used to watch a lot of him) with Mayfly when she growled and wouldn't give up a bully stick once.  It caused her to growl more and start to become agressive at that time!  And I know, without a shadow of a doubt, if I ever was really harsh with her she would just crack....obviously I never have been but it's easy to see what would happen if someone was. 

I got smart (after reading someone's advice on here) and if I want to take a bully stick from her now she will give it to me right away....I simply trade her another treat or toy for it.

No, according to Mayfly there's not much of anything better than a bully stick!   I do give them the sticks when they will have a long time to chew them.  The first time I tried to get the stick from her it was because she had stolen one of the other dog's sticks.  And just over the weekend I took one from her because they'd been chewing for a while and I was ready to take them for a walk....and Mayfly would have just taken hers along on the walk. 

I agree with Mary Beth about the individual child.  I think sometimes our dogs can sense things we can't.

MY ADVICE IS GET HIM OUT! take him every where you go till it gets too hot! petsmart!! petco! anywhere they let pets go! and do the crate thing to or put him in a room, till folks come in and then let him out tell folks to ignor him!!! he'll figure out it ok! Caesar is this way too but after they get in he settles down!!! really just ignor him, it a powere strugle! caesar doen't like little kids too! never has ,won't hurt them! just doesn't like 'um! 9-10! ekk! I make all the little kids come over and pet the pups and ingnor him he can't stand it!!! he'll start coming to them! also have them get down to his level this help too! especially kids they must sit and not move and give treats!!!don't try to touch pup only give treats this works!