As I was watching TV the other day, a special came on similar to the old TV show Candid Camera, where an adult was leading a child on a leash. Now in this scenario the adult was treating the child almost like a dog, and the cameras were recording the actions of those observing the situation. This TV special appeared after a lady was videoed dragging her child through the store by the leash because the child refused to stand up. In both situations, I do not believe the leash was the problem, but the method the parent was using the leash. These products are known as child leashes, child safety harnesses, wrist links, child tethers, kid keepers, harness buddies and more. Some parents swear by these products and others detest them.

Leashes have been around for many years. Twenty years ago I used one on my 18 month old and her 16 month old cousin when we went to Disney World. They only lasted so long in the stroller before they wanted out to walk. My daughter was so independent, wanted to explore everything, and do it herself. The leash that I attached to her arm provided the opportunity for exercise and exploration, and kept us both happy. At this time the child leash was not socially unpopular. In fact, many people that had not seen one before even asked where I had found the one I was using with my daughter.

Nicki Heskin, BllaOnline’s Early Childhood Editor,has determined certain circumstances that would be appropriate for use with the child leash.

Use Only as a “Just-in-Case” Some children are prone to dash off at the slightest distraction and rebel against holding your hand. In certain instances, these products provide a safety net when out in public with your child, but they do not replace supervising your child’s behavior. The leash is not intended to lead or guide as we do with an animal. Using a leash does not preclude holding hands with a child, picking them up, or using respectful guiding words with them just as we would if not using the leash. Under no circumstances is it appropriate to pull on the leash—not subtly to guide a child in a direction and certainly not forcefully. Nor is it a good idea to have a child tugging on the leash. Children should be using their words if there is something they want to do or see or touch.

Freedom to Explore and Develop Using leashes is less restraining than keeping kids cooped up in a stroller all the time. They provide freedom to roam around, but allow parents to control boundaries and limit danger. They significantly, reduce the risk of children wandering away from parents, into the path of danger. Pediatricians have stated that many common injuries are to shoulders and arms from parents pulling up when a child falls while holding their hand. The harness allows you to gently guide your child while supporting them in their strongest place, the chest. Many supporters identify the hands-free aspect of leashes as the biggest benefit.  Also, holding children’s hands for an extended period of time can be uncomfortable for small children—-imagine how you’d feel keeping your hand raised above your head. As a child walks, he is developing gross motor skills. His right arm should swing forward as the left leg steps forward and the left arm swings forward with the right leg. To do this, the arms need to be free as he walks.

Some children are more manageable than others. So each child or family has a threshold of when safety is truly a factor that may be different from others. But just because a child is willing to wear the leash doesn’t mean they should.  When there is no realistic safety issue, that’s a great time to slow down and learn appropriate boundaries for exploration with your supervision, ad to practice more manageable behaviors that may preclude the need for the leash in the future.