how to nip running off in public?

mlf625 · June 2011

DS's faaaavorite thing to do is run away from me. Not so much in stores- I confine him to the cart or stroller, and he's generally pretty cautious in places that aren't super familiar, anyway. More like when we're leaving the Y or park or someone's house. Yesterday we were leaving my parents' and he yanked his hand out of mine, darted around the house, and was halfway down to the dock before I was able to set DD and my bags down and catch up. SO frustrating. At home we've been doing the 'count to 3' thing and time outs. Counting to 3 usually works great at home. Time outs are a big fat joke to him, no matter where we are.

So, mamas, what's the trick to getting your kid to stay with you in public? It's super embarrassing and obviously a safety concern. Choke collar?

ec3under4 · June 2011

With my kiddos, I picked a word(in our case, STOP) and the ONLY time I use the word is when my kids are doing something dangerous. They know that when I stay stop, I mean business. If one would run away from me then ANYTIME that we were walking, I hold their wrist. That is their consequence for running away from me. Until they prove to me that they are not going to run then I hold their wrist anytime we are away from the house. They learned really quickly. Now, I have a "one finger" on the car rule. Anytime they are waiting outside the car for me everybody must have one finger on the car at all times. I used to do one hand but for some reason, my kids are more entertained by the one finger rule.

thethomps · June 2011

Dude, no advice from me yet, but I totally understand those moms who put the bungee leash things on their kids or the backpacks where the animal has a long tail that the mom can hold. I used to think they were cruel and unusual punishment but I definitely see the need for them now. Tongue Tied

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