Leash Kids
I’m going to start a new photo segment here called “Leash Kids” Mostly since I don’t understand the thinking behind it at all. Is it really that freakin’ hard to keep an eye out for what your child is doing or HOLD HIS/HER HAND?!
Here is the first few of my new section.
Nothing like taking up 3 times the space you need while walking through a crowded Zoo.
I don’t even know what to say about this one.
May 29th, 2007 at 3:43 pm
I used to wonder about this when I worked at Disneyland and saw them all the time. Maybe these kids don’t like to hold hands, or like to pull away and run off. Still, it does seem kinda creepy. These kids will probably be into bondage when they’re adults.
May 29th, 2007 at 8:04 pm
I saw a woman with two kids leashed the other day. Mom was tethered to the 5 year old and the 5 yr old to the 2 year old.
Then mom dropped her end and the 5 yr old was in sole custody of the 2 yr old for at least 15 minutes while mom wandered around in the mall.
Yeah for good mommies!
May 29th, 2007 at 10:23 pm
I still haven’t figured out the kind of people that do this. I do tend to see it a lot at big public places like the zoo and the street festivals we have here in town. Maybe it’s out of towner’s afraid of the “big bad city”? I’m really not sure.
I never really noticed Leash KIds until I was at the zoo last year. A 6-7 year old was being led out of the exit and a loud 10-12 year old starting shouting, “HEY A KID ON A LEASH! THEY THINK THEIR KID IS A DOG! HEY KID, YOUR MOM AND DAD THINK YOU’RE A DOG!” and so on and so on. I felt so bad for the little leash boy, it’s not his fault.
May 30th, 2007 at 8:32 pm
[…] Are you a leash parent? […]
May 31st, 2007 at 9:21 am
Funny you should bring this up. I just commented on another blog about whether or not it’s a good idea. (Search Google for “leash or buddy?” and note the lubbockonline entry)
I think a leash is OK when less severe measures have not worked. Little kids sometimes just won’t “heel” like older kids will. Heck, they get 10+ feet of freedom on these, don’t they? Better than handholding for a wandering child.
May 31st, 2007 at 10:15 am
[…] to sillydad for pointing to IANAS’s blog asking the same […]
June 1st, 2007 at 1:11 pm
[…] of the dad blogs I read daily is I’m Not A Slacker. Today, they take a look at those “leash kids.” In fact, they’re launching a gallery of leash kid photos. They write: “I don’t […]
June 11th, 2007 at 9:42 am
I DID wear a harness when my mother took me shopping & bill paying. It was great not having to be by her side while she chatted w/clerks & acquaintances or when she stopped to look at some item that had no interest for me. I also didn’t have to look at her while riding in a cart. I think I had MORE freedom. I personally have never seen a child in a true harness crying. On the other hand I have seem many children screaming while in the crook of a parent’s arm or being held by the hand.
I believe the bad press stems from the incorrect term “leash” which implies being dominant over animals and only having one tether to the subject. The proper term is “harness” which goes over both shoulders of the child–just as the backpack is better on both shoulders rather than slung over one.
June 11th, 2007 at 12:10 pm
I have a two year old Autistic daughter, she is not verbal and vey hyper- active. She likes to run off and I am always scared she will be run over or that she will get lost and will not be able to communicate.
I had seen this leash for kids before and wonder about them, but now this leash gives me peace of mind when we are out in a public place or a parking lot. It’s either that or having her in a stroller. In the stroller she is confined but there is no movement and therefore no motor skills being practiced or reinforced, plus after a while she will start screaming (naturally, it’s not normal for a two year old, less an autistic two year old to be sitting for more than 10 min). So, in some cases this “leashes” do help us mothers have our children under control and safe.
June 11th, 2007 at 12:23 pm
Leash parents are those parents whose kids are just another required appliance to their yuppified lives. If the kid is on a leash, one can still talk on the cell, sip on a hot latte, and munch on a scone, just like the good ol’ days before said appliance was born. Leash parents are the same parents who stuff the kid in the back of the SUV with a DVD (”Baby Einstein,” of course) while yakkity-yakking away on the bluetooth. I live in Hawai’i, on Oahu, where the longest drive possible (unless one plays the island like a Daytona track–’round and ’round) is under an hour. When I see a kid watching a DVD in the back of the gigantamobile, I want to scream out, “TALK TO YOUR KID!”
BTW, my one and only is 15 years old and, although we have our share of angst, we still talk to each other all the time.
June 11th, 2007 at 12:26 pm
RE: the link to my site is off…umm, why is the semi-colon key so close to the period key?
June 11th, 2007 at 3:46 pm
I was against leashes until I became an aunt. Before that, I didn’t realize how fast a toddler could move. The little suckers are quick. Now, I know better. Not that I’ve used one on any of the nieces or nephew, but I no longer judge those who do.
June 11th, 2007 at 6:18 pm
For those who believe that only yuppie parents use harnesses, please check out the movie The Weeping camel. There, in present time the family goes into it’s hut where the child is tied by a beautiful red long scarf which is tied to the middle pole supporting the roof. Close by grandma is cooking their meal in a huge pot. These people have all members of the family in the tent so no one can tell me that they are yuppies or are too busy for the child, or are being mean to the child. The child can wander near the pot but she is out of reach of the hot metal. This is not a new custom.
Just last week a child in a shopping mall wandered into an area that was being sand-painted by monks. The child, whose mother was visible, went under the rope and ruined the painting that had already taken them three days to get that far. The harness makes happier childless shoppers.
June 13th, 2007 at 8:54 am
When the kids start wandering off I just whip out the tazer and give them a little zap. Stops them cold.
July 22nd, 2007 at 12:42 pm
I AM A MOTHER OF 2YEAR OLD TRIPLETS I HAVE JUST PURCHASED A HARNESS FOR THEM FOR OUR VACATION.I THINK PEOPLE DON’T REALIZE HOW DIFFICULT IT CAME BE TO ENJOY DOING THINGS WITH YOUR TODDLERS WHEN THEY ARE ALWAYS WANDERING OFF AND DON’T WANT TO HOLD YOUR HAND. IF I HAD ONLY ONE CHILD MORE THEN LIKELY WOULD NOT FEEL THE NEED FOR SUCH . HOWEVER I DO FEEL THAT UNLESS YOU HAVE A CHILD WITH SPECIAL NEEDS THESE DEVICES SHOULD BE USED FOR TODDLERS 4 AND UNDER. THIS IS MERELY MY OPINION I FEEL EVERYONE IS ENTITLED TO THERE OWN.
August 6th, 2007 at 9:28 pm
I also used to think that ‘child leashes’ were the sign of lazy parenting, now I understand. I think the old bright colored phone cord looking ones, were a little out there, but the stuffed animal backpack harness type is a more acceptable to me. Being in a crowded public place with a child who thinks they can run anywhere they want, and refuses to hold a hand, and if they don’t get their way they fall to the ground limp and screaming….it can be very stressful, not only for the parent, but for the non-parents around them. Either be judged by having your kid on a harness/leash, or be judged for the way you discipline your kid for slipping out of your hand and running off, or for they way you handle them falling to the ground in 100% temper tantrum because they don’t want to hold your hand. At least with the backpack, you can still teach your kids to stay close to you in crowded places, and not have to deal with the stress of chasing them all over the place.
August 9th, 2007 at 12:51 pm
I work in the mall and see kids with leashes constantly, and it’s not only the little stuffed backpack kind but actual dog leashes strapped to these toddlers. I feel this is a form of child abuse! I have seen children injured from a careless parent tugging on the leash and causing the child to fall. If a parent is concerned with thier child’s safety then simply place the child in a stroller or how about holding the little one’s hand?
August 11th, 2007 at 10:14 pm
I was one of those people who couldn’t figure out why a parent would have to leash thier child until I became a mom. Since that day I have felt more love for one little person than I ever imagined. He is two and I had people comment more than once that he’s a furture track star. His little hands can pull right out of my hand, and I find myself in stores struggling to keep a death grip on his hands, to keep him from screaming because he wants out of the cart, and carrying a screaming and kicking child. Have you ever tried to push a shopping cart while holding a toddlers hand? I do not have a leash but plan to purchase one because my worst fear is that my son’ will get his hand out of mine and run in front of a car in a parking lot someday. He is well behaved most of the time but they don’t call it the terrible two for nothing. I cannot imagine my life without him so I’ll choose the leash and too those who give me funny or disapproving looks I would like to think that they would rather see my son wearing a animal back pack with a leash for a tail than a toddler being spanked or yelled at in the middle of a store for not listening and I would rather keep my son safe and alive.
August 23rd, 2007 at 8:41 am
I am a parent that is about to buy one of those leashes for my 3 yr old and let me tell you I always thought they were stupid too until my kid ran away and hid and we couldn’t find her for a very intense 10 min. Yes you can hold there hand and we do keep an eye on her regularly but its that half a second when your not watching cause you have other kids or something else needs your attention that you can lose your child. With all the sickos out there that take kids and do god only knows what with them its important that these kids be safe and if putting a leash on them means that you will never have to go through that scarred panicked feeling then its worth it no matter how odd it looks!
August 24th, 2007 at 2:18 pm
My child has been through brain surgery. She had 20% of her brain removed to stop the seizures she would have about 10 times daily. She is now doing alot of learning and catching up, as the seizures were getting in the way of her development. Now she is fine and very smart. She is in first grade, reading on a second grade level. But she has behavior problems. I have yet to get an accurate diagnosis, maybe PDD and ADHD. The ADHD meds are helping a bit. However this child is a danger to herself even on good behavior. She doesn’t understand the concept of danger. She has a very high tolerance for pain. She will run right into the busy intersection, if I don’t have a death grip on her arm. She often wriggles out of my hand. Holding someones hand (especially a child that does not want to be held) is exhausting if done for a short wild. All the while that she is out of the house, I must hold on to her. Granted we do stay indoors behind a locked door–so she doesnt dart up the street–BUT we do have to go out sometimes. This is where the leash is a big help. I like to call it our “come-along”, because leash sounds so awful, but either way it is literally a LIFE SAVER.
August 29th, 2007 at 11:44 am
An exercise for those of you who oppose kid leashes…Try walking around the mall for an hour and a half with one arm held up in the air, as high as you can reach, for the full hour and a half (as if you were the child holding your parent’s hand), and see how your arm feels. These leashes are great for kids who don’t quite yet respect the dangers out there.
August 30th, 2007 at 8:24 pm
Go ahead and judge…snicker…glare…even take pictures to put on your website so people can do the same. When you love someone more than life itself, you will do anything to protect these little people from all the bad out there. As a parent of 3, I LOVE knowing that I am doing everything I can to keep my children safe. And if that results in having people judge my parenting skills, go for it. Just remember parents do this out of love, not laziness.
August 31st, 2007 at 11:29 am
We have alway thought the harness would be great. Our 14 month old hates to be tied down in the stroller. She is very active and loves to walk and run. Being 6′3, its very hard to hold my daughters hand all day as we wander around theme parks, malls, etc. As she grows older, and teaching her not to run off is an option, we will stop using the harness. Anyone who thinks it bad is more than welcome to come to Disney World with 40 thousand other people, and try to help keep watch over our 14 month old.
September 19th, 2007 at 12:17 pm
I do not have children, but I don’t see anything wrong with trying to keep them safe by using a leash. I used to work in a mall and had seen one too many children wrestle out of the mother’s grip and take off. With all the weirdos out there who prey on children, if I had a child, I would use it!
And THIS IS NOT SOMETHING NEW, people! My aunt, who was born in 1921 tells me that since she was one of those children who used to like to wander (or run) off, that her mother–my grandmother–used a leash on her! She’s normal (not “into bondage” or anything), has no bitter feelings about this and knows that it was for her own protection. Leashing a child not “abuse”…its a way of protecting your child.
September 22nd, 2007 at 4:29 pm
you people are uptight and crazy. a leash gives a child freedom while keeping them safe from danger. my nephew doesn’t want to have to hold my hand every second of the day. with a leash he can have some ‘freedom’ and independence without running into the street or disappearing into a crowd. I was on a leash as a little kid after i took off in an airport running across the tarmac (my dad was in the airforce) I am not damaged by it. Oh and ‘Phil’, I am not into bondage. Good grief.
September 26th, 2007 at 9:59 am
I have a very rambunctious and adventurous 8 month old who has just learned to crawl. We have always taken him everywhere with us, in the sling or in our arms, and he loves to be out. People comment all the time on what a happy baby he is. Now that he can crawl, though, he does not want to just sit in our laps or a high chair playing with toys; he wants to crawl around and explore. (And, simply pulling him away from every alluring crack and crevice does NOT work- it is constant negative interaction, with him upset at being told “no” all the time, and frustrated.) A “leash” would allow him to explore and socialize with a good degree of freedom with us and people around us (he loves befriending strangers- it’s one of his favorite activities). Why would we want to curtail the social “outside” life he loves? We haven’t tried it yet, but for his safety and freedom, a child harness sounds like a great solution. And, no, it’s not a new thing- people from other cultures (without the luxury of not having to work and being able to pay 100% of their attention to their children) have been using simpler versions for centuries, as well as devices like strap-on baby carriers for the tiny babies.
September 30th, 2007 at 12:13 pm
Call me sheltered but I never really saw this whole leash phenomenon until I moved to LA metro. I’m married and we have a seven year old daughter who also thinks it’s weird and would hate if we put her on a leash. Of course, she also thinks it weird when she sees other kids throwing temper tantrums, so maybe we just have a great kid. I don’t know. This is just one guy’s observations… but from what I’ve seen so far, it’s these either really overweight, loudmouthed parents too busy stuffing their faces, or snooty cellphone-constantly-in-the-ear self-centered yuppie types using the thing on their kids. I doubt it does any harm to the kid, but it’s just funny how ‘parents’ (gotta use the term loosely, maybe I should just call them ’successful breeders’?) can’t seem to be bothered with actually paying attention to children after they have them and the ‘newness’ wears off. Is it so hard to just turn off the cellphone, unglue your fat butt from the couch/TV/Big Macs, and socialize with your kids? If anything, I feel kinda sorry for what they’re missing out on with raising their kids.
October 1st, 2007 at 1:59 pm
’questionably successful breeders’
Fixed it for ya.
November 1st, 2007 at 6:38 pm
there’s definitely a problem with harnessing a child, to me it says the parents aren’t good at being parents and can’t control their children. a harness is an excuse. now if the child is hyperactive or has some kind of disability, then i can see the need but for a normal child? somethings wrong with the parents, not the kid.
November 2nd, 2007 at 8:56 am
I never thought that a leash was good it always looked very cruel to me But recently were taking are six children youngest child three years old to Europe to a country that has tones of people and this scares me to death if you are a parent you know how fast children are you can let them go and they are gone in seconds or turn your head and theve disapeared hiding in clothes racks ect to them it’s a game and fun but to the parent it’s panic for the minutes you can’t find them. I have decided mabe these parents weren’t so terrible that want to know were there children are at all times it’s alot better then losing them in a croud and don’t know language or how to find them because it’s so big. I love my children and want to keep them very close to me so I might buy me a couple so they can’t get away. Mabe some parents have them cause there to busy talking on cell phones ect but I talk with mine constantly I’ve never even thought of leashing them but in a new country that weve never been to I now think it’s a good idea even my oldest child wants something to be close to us in case she gets lost and she’s 16 years old so my oppinion has changed at least if your taking your children out of the country!
November 16th, 2007 at 6:59 pm
In October at the Grand Canyon a 4 year old girl fell 400 to 500 feet to her death. Video footage show her parents keeping a watchful eye on her, holding her hand, and even her mother scolding her warning her of the dangers of their surroundings. The child (like all children) wriggled away, ran to the edge, and fell in. The father scaled down the edge and tried to revive her but sadly she died. Imagine what kind of memories this family could have taken away with them had they used a harness. The parents don’t hold an ounce of blame, children are little Houdinies. A harness allows a child some freedom while keeping them safe. Children only last so long before they cry and have a fit when holding someone’s hand. Can you imaging holding your arm over your head for an extended period of time? I’m sure part of their complaining is because their arms are sore.
November 24th, 2007 at 8:44 pm
In my opinion the harness is one of the best thing invented for a toddler’s safety.
People that criticize it sure do not have kids.
November 27th, 2007 at 3:35 am
Why the hell can’t people just hold their kids hands? Don’t demeanor your children they are not dogs. I work at a daycare and it is not that hard to hold you kids hand…plus children benefit so mutch from human contact.
November 30th, 2007 at 1:28 pm
So whats next don’t put kids in strollers because they have strollers for dogs too. They are in public places everywhere are you kidding me. I love my child and could never live with myself if something happened because of not taking all precautions necessary.We live in a busy city and my 17 month old that is 35 inches and 32 lbs he is strong and when he wants to get away he is off he does not like to hold hands and my husband is 6′4 and I am 5′10 not comfortable even if he would hold hands properly. I watch my child intently I didn’t even take him to a mall or public place for the first 6 months of his life. We are going to Disney again he has been 3 times already but he was in his stroller we will take the stroller this time but plan on getting the backpack with tether because when so many people are around and he is running not holding our hands he gets bumped into and knocked over by people and it is very stressful for everyone involved it takes 1 second for something to happen why not do everything in your power as a parent to protect children in anyway. Let people have what ever ideas they want if they are protecting there child.