[blparent] Child leashes and other thoughts

[Robert Shelton]

Hi.  We raised four boys and never found it necessary to use a leash.  I'm
not saying that there is anything wrong with doing so, but when our kids
were young, it was not a common practice.  My wife is sighted, so she
handled most of the situations such as stores and other public places, and
were I in that situation today with a toddler, I might consider using a
leash.

The original question though was about play with other children, and to that
end, I find it hard to see how a leash would be practical.  How does it work
if all the other kids are running all over the place and your child is
tethered to you?  If the area is safe enough for children to play, then it's
simply a matter of being sure that yours stay close enough to come when you
call, and that they understand in no uncertain terms that they need to heed
instructions from you.  My experience is that kids can learn to pay
attention if doing so gives them freedom to play, and failure to pay
attention results in coming back in the house while their friends are
playing.  



-----Original Message-----
From: Karla Hudson [mailto:HudsonKC at msu.edu] 
Sent: Tuesday, March 16, 2010 4:32 PM
To: blparent at nfbnet.org
Subject: [blparent] Child leashes and other thoughts

Hi, 

I have watched the posts about child leashes. I used one with my daughter if
she wanted to push her doll stroller around the neighborhood which required
two hands on her stroller. Other than that I found the leashes would pull
her over as she was so light. I really believe bells are the answer. Both my
kids have warn them on their shoes. I like them as they are a constant
sound. Also, as a parent you have to just always be following your kids more
than the sighted parents. I have played on more playgrounds sliding down
slides and climbing on head banging equipment than most parents. The
important thing is to not fall in to the trap that others are watching your
child. If my kids do not mind me at the playground we go home. I have also
brought a whistle to the playground and told the children that they must
listen for my whistle and that means come to me. 

As they get older it gets easier to make them check in with you and follow
directions.

Karla