On the surface, putting a toddler on a leash seems
like such a degrading thing to do to a child. It seems almost as if
these parents are treating their children as little better than dogs.
Indeed, that is a common view to adopt especially for individuals do
not have children and have never had to fear losing a child at a public
venue. To put a little more perspective to this view, let's look at the
reasoning behind toddler leashes and how it compares with other child
restraining devices.
Why Do We Need Toddler Leashes?
Toddlers are little explorers. They love to
examine new things and often pay very little regard as to the
whereabouts of Mummy or Daddy when they are in the midst of an
important discovery. Toddler leashes fulfill a toddler's need to
continue the quest to learn everything possible about the strange new
world around him (or her) while helping to keep him (or her) within the
reach and relative security of a parent.
If you are a parent or if you have ever had to
watch over a toddler, you may recall that it only takes a moment of
distraction for a toddler to disappear from sight. In a crowded
shopping mall with distractions abound, losing a child is a very real
and frightening possibility. Not only is it extremely distressing for a
parent to lose a child at a busy venue, it is also a traumatic
experience for the child (once the child has discovered he has lost his
parents), and a hassle for security to assist in the search for the
child. In countries where child abductions are a real concern, toddler
leashes on roaming children becomes a critical requirement.
Are Leashes Really Any Different to Other
Child Restraining Devices?
The main issue with toddler leashes is the idea
that a child is being treated like an animal. However, let's examine
this from a toddler's perspective. If you were a child curious about
the world around you and eager to see, touch, feel, hear and taste it,
would you rather be bound to a parent or guardian by a string attached
to your hand or be strapped into a stroller? For isn't that the other
purpose of a stroller? To keep toddlers from wandering off on their own
so parents can focus their attention onto other things?
Being stuck in a stroller would be terribly
frustrating to a toddler whose urge is to pick up the pebble on the
grass, touch the flowers in a garden, or do any of the myriad of
activities that toddlers do to satisfy their curiosity. While some
toddlers might be happy to sit in a stroller on occasion, all toddlers,
at some point, will desire to be free to move around on their own. From
a psychological point of view, it would be preferable to allow a
toddler some freedom of movement with a toddler leash than to leave him
(or her) screaming and crying in stroller.
The purpose of many child restraining devices,
such as the car seat, is to keep a child safe. Some toddlers do not
agree with them and many dislike using them, however, parents still use
them because it is necessary. Would that not also describe the function
of a toddler leash - to keep toddlers safe? Even if the concern for
child kidnapping is irrelevant, a toddler who is lost without adult
supervision is in greater danger of getting hurt.
Conclusion
Toddler leashes provide parents with another
option for keeping their toddlers safe and within reach. Considering
the nature and need for a toddler to wander, a toddler leash fulfills
both parent's and toddler's requirements. Toddlers are free to roam
(within reason) and parents are not tasked with the duty of keeping
their eyes on their child one hundred per cent of the time.
Article Source: http://
www.articlesbase.com/parenting-articles/toddler-leashes-
degrading-or-practical-1036859.html About the Author
Shen-Li is a stay-at-home-mum dedicated to the
pursuit of excellence in parenting. She has a formal educational
background and former work experience in healthcare. If you enjoyed
this article, visit her blog
Babylicious
and follow her as she learns how to raise a happy, confident and
successful person. | 