Strollerderby

Gotta disagree with you on the leash question, at least for that period of time between when children are mobile and when they actually learn to listen.  Yes, I completely agree that it is up to parents to teach kids how to control themselves, but it is disingenuous at best to skim over the fact that there is a fairly long period of time between when a child learns to walk (and therefore can really place himself in danger) and when the child will actually listen when you yell stop.  Depending on the kid, that could be a couple of years.  And the alternative is strapping the child into a stroller, which is perhaps more socially acceptable but also seems to limit an inquisitve kid unduly.  Suggesting that kids always hold a grownup's hand is not always feasible either- my daughter listens well for her age (2.5) but rarely will hold my hand.  

I am lucky- my kid is not a runner, and the only times we have ever used a leash with her were in airports, because we didn't bring a stroller and had hands full with other things.  But I have known those kids who run off, heedless of their parents, and I have seen those parents struggle to manage their chid's independence while ensuring their safety.  It's always seemed too bad to me that leashes are so looked down on for those kids and those parents.

That said, I think the GPS thing is kind of weird.

NO!

I am totally with Particia. People who object to leashes obviously have kids who do not bolt in a split second. If I am walking with my almost 2 year-old son near any kind of moving cars (such as walking on a sidewalk) I have to put the leash on. He can get out of my grip and start running with no notice. Recently, a boy my son's age got hit by a car because he got out of his mom's grip and ran into the street. Luckily he ended up OK, but I'd rather look uncool than have my son hit by a car.

Like Patricia said, for some reason people don't object to strapping a kid into a stroller, although it is much more limiting. btw, my son is very active and hates being strapped in his stroller. At least with the leash he gets to walk around.

You talk about teaching a child control, but can you really reason with a 1 to 2 year-old and have them understand immediately? If you can, you are a much better person than me.

A leash may not look cool, but I'll put my child's safety over my own image any day. And I do truly believe the only true objection to the leash it that it embarrasses the parent. There is a huge difference between trying to control a rascally toddler for his own safety and not trusting your child (as in using a GPS).

In saying that, I wonder if there is any other reason for using a GPS on a child. I can't think of one, but my son is not yet the age where I would even be thinking about this.

I agree totally with the previous two posters...You have to determine what works for you and your child.  My oldest would dash off in a minute and be gone, and he was fast.  The leash (the one around his wrist) allowed him to have a little freedom, yet he knew where his boundaries were.  

I didn't need one with my last two kids.  They weren't the dashing types.  

I know it is PC to look down on people who use them, but it is a personal parenting decision and really none of your business.

And would I use GPS on my kid???  Pretty much the same answer.  My oldest doesn't need it, but my younger two...especially my middle son, well, let's just say it is an option.

I'm probably going to sound like my mom, but one day you will know....

I'm another person who's gotta say--loved the leash.  (It was a red harness with Elmo.)  My daughter would simply not hold my hand when we walked when she was little.  I lived in Manhattan and hated seeing kids always in their strollers.  And the possibility of her darting while we waited for the subway made me crazy beyond belief.  She was fine with her harness and loved the freedom.  And she was so gleeful about the whole thing that not many people looked askance at us.  (And in airports other parents often said "we've GOT to get one of those things."

And while the GPS thing feels pretty silly to me, I've know the oblivious parents of teens who could have stood to know where their kids were...

OK, gotta agree with the comments. The leash is a great tool for some kids who really need it. (Like my child!) I really can't add much more than the other posters have said.

btw, I know this is not relevant to this post, but this author has previously written an article entitled "New Study Says Autism is Environmental", about a study that says no such thing. A couple of us pointed this out, and even cited an article, but there has been no response or change in the article's title. I am posting here hoping the author is still reading this post at least.

I know Babble is just a blog, but I wish there was some kind of standard for the "logic" used. In this post, it is more an opinion (about the leash). so I can live with that, but in the other post she is just completely misinterpreting a study and misleading the readers.

I'm not sure how I feel about GPS Trackers but I found this cool product that gives you an alert if your child goes out of a certain range. Probably something that would be good for parents with unruly kids? www.brickhousesecurity.com/locator.html

You need to see the Movie, Taken.  

This is move real than you can imagine.  Human Trafficing is takes place all over the word.  If someone snaches your kid, you can bet that you will never see them again.  If you had gps at least you would have chance at getting them back.