Child Leashes

[leftcoaster]

Why not use duct tape? It's cheaper.

If, while your kid is on a leash, make sure you train him to lift his leg while peeing into the closest flower pot. If it's a she, then you can train her to
squat in the grass.

If you are using a leash, why not train your kid to HEEL as well? If not, and I trip over your leash, then I have a right to cut it in half.

[SpamPutney]

Not being a parent means you haven't experienced the fear of losing a child that was right before your eyes ten seconds ago. You, and other non-parents, can rant about how horrible leashes are, that it must be child abuse, yata yata yata. Until you have children of your own, your opinion is worthless.

If you’d like you can consider this message the memo on qualifying to vote on the subject.

I suppose the thought of keeping an eye on your child never occured to you? Why act like a parent and watch your child when you can simply tie them up? Hobie16, if you have so little control over your child that you can't keep an eye on them, then you have no business bringing them to a crowded public place like WDW.

I also missed the memo granting you the power to determine whose opinions are and are not worthless.

[kimpossible33]

I suppose the thought of keeping an eye on your child never occured to you? Why act like a parent and watch your child when you can simply tie them up? Hobie16, if you have so little control over your child that you can't keep an eye on them, then you have no business bringing them to a crowded public place like WDW.

You'd be surprised at what some children can do if you take your eye off of them for two seconds. It's obviously a really difficult job to watch your kid, or KIDS, like a hawk for every second of the day. There are probably plenty of stories here of parents who WERE watching their kids but weren't able to run and stop them from causing damage at WDW or DL because that's just how some kids are. Kids can become really hyper that, for some people, a leash is better than literally running after your kid everywhere. And since there's no running in the parks, doesn't that mean you'd have to blame a parent for simply trying to keep their kid out of mischief? It varies with every person.

[SpamPutney]

You'd be surprised at what some children can do if you take your eye off of them for two seconds. It's obviously a really difficult job to watch your kid, or KIDS, like a hawk for every second of the day. There are probably plenty of stories here of parents who WERE watching their kids but weren't able to run and stop them from causing damage at WDW or DL because that's just how some kids are. Kids can become really hyper that, for some people, a leash is better than literally running after your kid everywhere. And since there's no running in the parks, doesn't that mean you'd have to blame a parent for simply trying to keep their kid out of mischief? It varies with every person.

But let's be reasonable here. Is anyone on this board upset about kids running around, excitedly, at WDW? I don't think so. It's all I can do to not run around like a moron myself. :) What I'm saying is, Kids are Kids, and are going to get into a little bit of trouble. Usually, no harm done. I mean, think about it. The vast majority of parents choose NOT to tie their cxhildren down like animals, and life goes on very nicely for everybody.

Hobie, are you telling me that your children are so mentally disturbed that they need to be restrained at all times? In that case, maybe a straightjacket and muzzle would be more appropriate, and you could wheel them around on a handtruck like Hannibal Lecter.

My kids get excited at WDW; I'd be worried if they didn't. But they know the limits, and when they occasionally exceed them, we take a few minutes to sit down somewhere quiet and out of the way, and calm down again.

Look, I'm not claiming to be the perfect parent. Maybe others will find flaws with the way I parent. In fact, I'm sure that somewhere someone thinks I'm a bad parent. And guess what? They are entitled to that opinion. Just like you are entitled to your opinion that leashing your child is acceptable. As long as the law doesn't prohibit it, you are free to do so. But please don't tell the rest of us that we have no right to comment.

[Stduck]

Wow before we stop yelling at each other over this. I was once a kid on a leesh. (Mostly at the beach cause I would go straight for the water cause I wanted to but couldn't swim yet). Its a tool, and for LegoDan (I doubt he remembers this) our mom used it in a reverse psycology maner. She told him that it was so he wouldn't lose her.

I think a leesh could go either way. I like the ones that are from parent's wrist to child's wrist, helps enforce holding hands especially when in a busy place. But your child is not an animal, its not a leesh, its really a tool to help the child not lose you.

[lady ulrike]

What Stduck said, but also for younger kids, for example 2 or 3, maybe even a bit older depending on the kid, it's a great tool because they don't understand logic yet. You can't really tell a 2 year old stay by me or you might get lost. It might work for a little while, but they forget easily, the second they see their favorite character they're gone. That could mean they're in the opposite direction of where you are going. It's not so much a matter of not watching, even for older kids this can apply. You could look, see the child is there, then look ahead to make sure you're not walking into something/one and look back and they're gone. It may not even be the child wandering off, they could just stop for a few seconds and other people walk through you've continued and now the child starts wandering trying to find you again.

That being said, it's not a good thing to tie the kid up with it and it really should be used just as an extra safety net. Parents can get excited at WDW or DLR as well, child's hand is slipped out of the parents hand and it takes a couple of seconds for the parent to realize and react and the kid could be gone. With the leash on, the kid will still be there and can be told, yet again to hold hands at all times, etc.

[hobie16]

“But I'm not a parent and I vote yes for leashes too....how come my vote doesn't count??”

You’re a very rare exception. Most non-parents are against them.

“If you are using a leash, why not train your kid to HEEL as well? If not, and I trip over your leash, then I have a right to cut it in half.”

Are you ten feet tall? Do you always carry a knife while you’re in the park? What are you afraid of?

“I suppose the thought of keeping an eye on your child never occured to you? Why act like a parent and watch your child when you can simply tie them up? Hobie16, if you have so little control over your child that you can't keep an eye on them, then you have no business bringing them to a crowded public place like WDW.”

Keeping an eye on my child does occur to me quite often. Unfortunately, interruptions come along. Mundane stuff like, “How many in your party?” Or how about, “That will be $12.99. Please sign here.” And then there’s always, “Wow! Look at those fireworks. Cool!” I maintained great control of my kid by opting for a leash.

“I suppose the thought of keeping an eye on your child never occured to you? Why act like a parent and watch your child when you can simply tie them up? Hobie16, if you have so little control over your child that you can't keep an eye on them, then you have no business bringing them to a crowded public place like WDW.”

I have a great fear, call it paranoia if you will, about my daughter disappearing or being taken. When she was younger, a leash was an excellent tool to maintain physical contact in park or mall settings.

“Just like you are entitled to your opinion that leashing your child is acceptable. As long as the law doesn't prohibit it, you are free to do so. But please don't tell the rest of us that we have no right to comment.”

I’m saying that someone that has no kids does not have the background and experience to offer an informed opinion about the use of leashes. If, in fact you do have kids, you’re the first parent I’ve run across that has been against them.

[SpamPutney]

First, I'd like to apologize for some of the things I've said. I came off a bit harsher than I intended.

I understand that there are many distractions while enjoying the parks. But with children that young, aren't strollers generally called for?

I've managed to keep my kids around without the need for a leash. Personally, I find the idea abhorrent. However, I recognize that you do it out of love and concern for your child, and I can respect that. I don't agree with it, but I respect your intentions.

[hobie16]

First, I'd like to apologize for some of the things I've said. I came off a bit harsher than I intended.

I understand that there are many distractions while enjoying the parks. But with children that young, aren't strollers generally called for?

Don't apologize. Making sure your kids are protected from harm can be a very polarizing subject.

Stroller? Maybe. When my youngest was at the age where we used the leash she probably wouldn't have put up with being confined to one. The leash was a good alternative between that and running loose.

In addition our middle kid has been in a wheel chair for all of his life so the logistics of transporting/setting up/pushing/parking more than one wheeled contraption made the leash even more attractive.

[kimpossible33]

I respect your opinion, and I never told you or anyone else that you have no right to comment. I don't even know how that was implied. I see no harm in trying to change your opnion, however, if I feel it's for the better (at least, to some extent). And that's just my opinion. :D: I also see no harm in having a healthy argument, so long as there are no personal attacks or anything. I disagree with everyone on some things - my family, my best friends, perfect strangers, so I understand.

But let's be reasonable here. Is anyone on this board upset about kids running around, excitedly, at WDW?

Why not check a few of the many threads that criticize the parents who, after their children run off, blame the CMs for not watching their kid? Otherwise, maybe there's no one HERE that's upset about having someone else's kids run off excitedly, but what about the parents who worry constantly that they'll lose their kid? Like I said, it varies with every parent and every kid. Some people take the leash thing way too seriously and yank at their kids to make them follow. Others simply wear it out of fear they might get separated, which is very probable in one of the Disney parks.

What I'm saying is, Kids are Kids, and are going to get into a little bit of trouble. Usually, no harm done.

Yeah, usually. Why not take the extra precaution? In which case, I don't see how there's EVER any harm done, so long as it's done properly.

The vast majority of parents choose NOT to tie their cxhildren down like animals, and life goes on very nicely for everybody.

Uh-huh, that's why we have the "Parenting at its Finest" thread.

Hobie, are you telling me that your children are so mentally disturbed that they need to be restrained at all times?

But you just suggested the use of a stroller. How is that any different, other than the fact that it restrains the child even MORE than a leash would? Think about it, a lap bar and a buckle. Basically all they can do is move their heads and arms. If you ask me, burning off excess energy by walking is a good thing - that's what Tom Sawyer Island is for. :p:

My kids get excited at WDW; I'd be worried if they didn't. But they know the limits, and when they occasionally exceed them, we take a few minutes to sit down somewhere quiet and out of the way, and calm down again.

It's not so much about getting excited - some kids who aren't excited at all just wander off on their own, or are separated simply because of the many crowds in the parks, within a matter of seconds.

Look, I'm not claiming to be the perfect parent.

Nor am I. In fact, I'm not a parent at all. Hey, hobie16, since I vote leashes, can you make an exception for me, too?