[blparent] Blind parents traveling with kids

[Danielle Antoine]

that's what I did. I used a harness for quite some time maybe until 3
or 4 with all my kids wehn they were younger. Worked great. I also put
bells on their shoes so I'd know where they were. As they got older I
trained them to answer when I called their name so I'd know where they
were....they needed to be within earshot at a level 4 voice and they
must absolutely stop and wait at the curbe!
We had no accidents or mishaps. HTH,
Danielle

On 4/1/13, Bridgit Pollpeter <bpollpeter at hotmail.com> wrote:
> Ross and I are both blind, so we have no other option than to do things
> nonvisually. In certain situations, a pair of eyes would definitely be
> convenient, but it can also be done nonvisually just as safely.
>
> The leash is great for when kids are still too young to understand
> certain dangers, and they don't always follow parental advice. Our
> three-year-old is old enough to follow directions (sometimes, giggle) to
> the point where we are confortable not using a leash with her, but once
> the baby is walking, we will use the leash until we are comfortable that
> he can be safe without it.
>
> Once at a destination, we don't always keep the kids tethered, so to
> speak, but while in transport, it's just good for our peace of mind. And
> especially in crowded situations; even sighted parents use a child leash
> in large crowds.
>
> We do the hold hand approach too, but kids get to that point where they
> want to move on their own free of mommy or daddy. The leash provides
> them this freedom, but gives the parents some control and peace of mind.
>
> Strollers are just as effective though, and a child can be in a stroller
> up to the age of three or even four. Or any mobile product like a wagon.
>
> Bridgit
> Message: 1
> Date: Sun, 31 Mar 2013 14:01:11 -0500
> From: "Robert Shelton" <rshelton1 at gmail.com>
> To: "'Blind Parents Mailing List'" <blparent at nfbnet.org>
> Subject: Re: [blparent] Blind parents traveling with kids
> Message-ID: <002401ce2e42$1d2ab360$57801a20$@gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain;	charset="us-ascii"
>
> We had four boys, but my wife was sighted, so when we traveled with the
> kids, she was there.  I remember taking the boys to the park, but where
> we lived, crossing city streets was not a part of the equation.  I'm
> just saying that I never realized how challenging it would be to do real
> mobility with small children.
>
> I also find myself rethinking my initial aversion to the idea of using a
> leash.  I insisted on the hold hands approach, but how would that work
> with more than one child?  I'm pretty sure that if I were rasing kids
> now by myself, I'd consider using a leash.
>
>
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