[blindkid] LEASH: Child Finder-safety issues

[marcia fanduiz-headley]

The leash was an option but this time it was bad planning on the adult behalf. My son entered a tunnel and he expected his dad to wait for him at the other end. My son is 4 1/2 yrs old. It did not occur to him to get back in the tunnel and find his father at the end he originally started from. He realized he had "lost his father" and went to get help. He reached two staff people who he recognized by their uniform and they took him to the front desk. I met him and the front desk lady when she was getting ready to call on her radio for us. Just when we had just arrived in the museum while waiting to purchase the tickets, a lady came in with a toddler who had a harness on (leash). The kid jumped up and down like he wanted to break free. My son saw that and looked at me with wide eyes. I then took the teaching moment opportunity to tell him that if he dared to run away from our sight, he was going to get one of those. I believe he really lost his father. This is not the first incident. I think for our family situation a child locator will be more effective. The harness would be a good idea if it was a walking outing outdoors. 
Thanks though for the idea. I really considered that one at one point where my son enjoyed just taking off in the hallways at the store or mall. I do not see the leash as "inhumane" or "cruel". Most parents that resort to that option are trying to keep their children safe. Nowadays you can't afford to "blink" with many of our children. They either are way overboard with hyperactivity or they are not aware of the danger of stepping away from their caregivers sight...or they are just toddlers, what do they know! They just want to explore away.
Marcia Fanduiz-HeadleyLa Dominicana en California809-202-1526> From: k7uij at panix.com> To: blindkid at nfbnet.org> Date: Thu, 13 Nov 2008 18:40:13 -0800> Subject: Re: [blindkid] Child Finder-safety issues> > put the kid on a leash. It sounds inhumane but it really isn't.> > Mike> > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Marcia Headley" <madofaro2002 at yahoo.com>> To: <blindkid at nfbnet.org>> Sent: Thursday, November 13, 2008 7:29 AM> Subject: [blindkid] Child Finder-safety issues> > > Hi! I would like to know if any of you can recommend a device that can > be used to detect when your child has gone too far away from your "field > of vision" in a public place. This is actually for my sighted son. He is > four yrs old. I also have a 7 yr old daughter who is blind and we all go > on outtings, my two kids, husband and I, I take care of my daughter and > my husband watches my son. Last weekend we went to a kids museum and my > son "lost his daddy" (it was all the way around) and it was very scary. > This is the third incident and I am very concerned that our outtings are > becoming more of a stressful experience than fun. I don't want my 4 yr > old to feel responsible for being watching the adult in charge of his > safety. I am just very concerned.> > Do you know of something that the child can wear and the adult, at the > other end, can wear as well so that if the child is out of range it > buzzes or something. I was thinking about a walk-talk thing but my son > is very young and I am afraid he might lose something like that. Maybe > something he can wear around the wrist or something.> > Thanks for your help.> Marcia-Mom to Lauren, 7yrs old (bilateral microphthalmia, blind and > developmental delays) and Josh, 4yrs old (typical sighted boy)> > > > _______________________________________________> blindkid mailing list> blindkid at nfbnet.org> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindkid_nfbnet.org> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for > blindkid:> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindkid_nfbnet.org/k7uij%40panix.com > > > _______________________________________________> blindkid mailing list> blindkid at nfbnet.org> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindkid_nfbnet.org> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for blindkid:> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindkid_nfbnet.org/madofaro%40hotmail.com
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