Honestly, my thoughts on this is there is no need. I worked in daycare for years. I had many kinds of children in my care. I took every single one of them on a walk while holding onto a walking rope. (Think of a rope with little loops they can hold on to). It is like a child holding your hand, but 20 of them. We walked on busy streets and there were no issues. We talked about what was required and if they did not listen they could not go next time and followed through with it.
With my own son I would hold his hand and walk with him. When I was getting things out of the car he had to touch the car with one finger so that he wouldn't get away from the car and get hurt. Literally touches the car with one finger and I know I can trust him not to bolt. He knows that means he goes back into the car and it is over.
I guess I just do not see the need. Someone enlighten me please.
I have two children 18 months apart. I cannot imagine that anyone suggest that leashing a child is right. What you WILL get are excuses for WHY they do it anyway. No one on this blog suggested it was right---they all told us why they were immune from the judgements. Finally I think we need MORE judgement of acceptable standards. Judgement is a GREAT trait to have and instill in our children. There is so much good on having clear lines of good and bad. Expressing the judgment is an entirely different matter and is based on when and where and how... All that said, I hope you have seen even in this blog I have backed off of my initial tone a bit. I should have stated my opinion in a more intelligent way in post #1. I can see where I (helped) unnecessarily rile people up.
Many parents are overwhelmed with two kids running in three directions. The leash at least prevents them from running into traffic, but doesn't address the root cause of the problem. How much effort and time you put into rearing a child will make a difference in much more than just keeping them on a short leash.
Where the problem arises is with those too overwhelmed by a litter of unruly kids. They do not, or can not spend the time necessary to make every moment a learning experience. A kid dragging a parent behind by the leash isn't really getting the attention and interaction that is necessary for preparing them for life. Following rules, communication skills, manners- I could go on. The point is if one child is too much effort and time, why the hell have more? Kids are not pet rocks. They require time and attention constantly. Yet there are some people who feel "I can raise them anyway I see fit"... Until the rest of us have to pay for his incarceration.
I will tell you that if parents of three year olds are already resorting to leashes---- I am sincerely scared for them when their kids become teens.
Kids are kept restrained in their strollers--why don't you take issue with that? At least with a leash, the kids are able to walk around and explore. They have some level of freedom. The poor kids in strollers have to just sit there and only see what is presented for them to see.
http://www.discountschoolsupply.com/Product/ProductDetail.aspx?Product=30753&rec=PDHbot
I also don't understand why this topic is publicly debated as a though it is a controversial new idea on the market when this type of thing has been used for young children for centuries. There are no collars and a child can remove them fairly easily, so it's not the same as being tied up. They are supposed to aid in helping a child learn to walk properly on their own. Did you have a baby walker in your livingroom?
A very young child has not yet developed discretion or self-control no matter how good a parent is. Theoretically, if all children were well-disciplined we would not need safety caps on medicines or child safety locks on other things. A harness with a strap seems extreme, but it might be prudent with some children. Better safe than sorry.
I think that parents need to do whatever seems to work best for them and not worry about what others think.
"I think that parents need to do whatever seems to work best for them and not worry about what others think." Boy howdy, this is a lesson we all learn with experience, especially as a grandparent. Children are all different. What works with one won't work with another, and they don't come with instruction manuals. My grandson does things his father never did, and while some of it may be nurture, there's some nature involved.
I agree with Tara. They can be a great helper. Using one certainly gives your child more freedom than being in a stroller or carried. There are times when unfettered freedom isn't appropriate for very young children.
I once lived next door to a single mom of a basketball team, and seriously? She would scream in a whiny way and beg her children to behave. No wonder why they didn't mind her. Of course there just those kids who cannot be under control. I just think that kids are pretty cool. They sense that. And they also know when I'm serious, and they are good.