Harnesses for Kids

[ShannonMB]

Out of the 16 pictures on the link, 9 (more than 1/2) of the kids are doing exactly what they are supposed to be doing. Of course the kids pulling/being ignored are going to be pointed out. But my question would be, how does everyone feel about the pics of the kids whose parents are using the harness properly. Does it look funny/weird or perfectly normal?

 

[Kickapoo Joie Juice]

Well, I can break it down from my pov:

Picture 1: Bored kid with binky stuffed in his mouth is at the end of his rope (literally) while parents ignore him and chat with each other.

Picture 2: Kid is again at the end of his rope crawling towards gross stuff on floor. Mother is apparently not interested in stopping this behavior beyond watching him do it.

Picture 3: Mother who is apparently ablebodied (she's wearing running shoes) and unencumbered by bags or other items watched kid play in the water. Note the blue binky around his neck dragging on the ground. Why does this kid need a leash? Where's the crowd?

Picture 4: Kid walking on leash behind dad, mom, and the dog. Dead last and ignored.

Picture 5: Kid sitting on ground at the end of her leash, ignored. Parent is completely turned away from her. If the woman in the black shirt backs up she'll trip over the leash and the kid.

Picture 6: Kid walking behind parents, ignored. Notice how she's holding the leash, and how it would be so easy to be holding her hand, instead.

Picture 7: Twofer! They're training for the Iditarod.

Picture 8: Again with the kid walking behind the parent. No eye contact, no notice. Kid is at the end of his rope. And the whole thing about parents having more security-she's BARELY holding onto that strap.

Picture 9: This is the only one I think that the leash may be appropriate. Both parents are paying attention to a very young child who may have Down syndrome.

Picture 10: I have my dog on a leash so I don't have to worry about him while I have a chat. Me too, except it's my kid. Notice the other kids are ignoring the kid on the leash.

Picture 11: Both kids are walking behind the parent. No eye contact, no notice. Younger one is at the end of her leash and holding on, probably because the mom is walking too fast. But at least they match.

Picture 12: Son, you're just less important to me than whatever this thing is on the ground that all the other adults are staring at.

Picture 13: Yeah, he looks happy and included. Future unhappy ignored kids of america, unite!

Picture 14: How's that working for you?

Picture 15: He's practicing Ghandi's passive resistance. Well, it must be some sort of a teachable moment.

Picture 16: Worth a thousand words.

 

[Disneenut]

Kickapoo Joie Juice

Popular thread....

 

[Hannathy]

Kickapoo Joie Juice I love it! You have made my point beautifully!

So to all the leash proponents where is the teaching going on? I don't see any of those parents correcting the pulling behavior.

If it is for security why are they 2 feet BEHIND the parent where the parent can not see what is happening to the child.

Why are the kids far away from the parent making a clothesline effect across the sidewalk and also not keeping the child close to them. My children walked closer to me without holding hands or a leash than those kids in those pictures.

 

[BayouMickey]

Bet the parents wish they had a leash...

 

[Kickapoo Joie Juice]

Bet the parents wish they had a leash...

Ah, it's the better neglected than dead argument. Very salient.

The National SAFE Kids Campaign notes that "In 1999, 733 children ages 14 and under died in pedestrian related accidents."

Interestingly, that website (about pedestrian safety and children) mentions nothing about leash use.

So, how many kids are there in the US? Approximate 50 million. 733 were hit by cars. Leashes as a solution to a problem that really isn't a problem is a poor argument.

Tragedy, yes. Preventable, yes. VANISHINGLY UNCOMMON, yes.

 

[BayouMickey]

let's even the score more!
No discription needed

Helping Daddy

If Disney approves....

 

[maxiesmom]

Bet the parents wish they had a leash...

So do you think that leashes should be mandatory until a certain age, because you child may end up in danger? Because that is what you caption seems to be saying.

Kids cannot live on leashes 24/7. At some point they need to be off leash, and the parent needs to be able to care for that child without the leash. A leash in a theme park or someplace crowded, fine. But using one constantly would not be fine. A child has to learn what is appropriate behavior at some point.

 

[Kickapoo Joie Juice]

let's even the score more!

You need better captions:


Don't worry, Sis, I'll have this device figured out in no time and then we'll be FREE from Stepford Mom!

Daddy makes me pick up poop.

If I don't smile nice for the camera, Mickey's going to chew off my head.

[/QUOTE]


Do I even need to point out that two of your three photos are staged?

 

[BayouMickey]

Ah, it's the better neglected than dead argument. Very salient.

Oh sorry it's not as valid as the "oh quick take a shot because the parent is looking away for a second so therefore neglecting the child"
btw if people bothered looking where the source of your pictures came from, they would see it's from other site with "holier than thou people" who must reliquish anything that doesn't appeal to their perfect little perception of the world, such as yourself.

 

[BayouMickey]

So do you think that leashes should be mandatory until a certain age, because you child may end up in danger? Because that is what you caption seems to be saying.

Kids cannot live on leashes 24/7. At some point they need to be off leash, and the parent needs to be able to care for that child without the leash. A leash in a theme park or someplace crowded, fine. But using one constantly would not be fine. A child has to learn what is appropriate behavior at some point.

the child was 4 years old and got away from her parents and ran into the street. I never said all the time.

 

[BayouMickey]

You need better captions:


Don't worry, Sis, I'll have this device figured out in no time and then we'll be FREE from Stepford Mom!

Daddy makes me pick up poop.

If I don't smile nice for the camera, Mickey's going to chew off my head.

Do I even need to point out that two of your three photos are staged?[/QUOTE]

Like yours weren't? please.. All it takes is 2 secs to take a pic that 2 secs does not validate the situation.. it poises.

 

[mjkacmom]

Oh sorry it's not as valid as the "oh quick take a shot because the parent is looking away for a second so therefore neglecting the child"
btw if people bothered looking where the source of your pictures came from, they would see it's from other site with "holier than thou people" who must reliquish anything that doesn't appeal to their perfect little perception of the world, such as yourself.

I think most of those pictures prove why a harness is helpful. For the kids that are running away, pulling on it, what would've happened if they didn't have the harness? It was VERY hard teaching twins to walk next to us, without running or wandering. Try reasoning with an 18 month old. Children never learn if they are forced to ride in a stroller all of the time (and I don't understand why people think leashes are more confining than strollers)

 

[Buzz's Buddy]

My wife and I have 3 children DD18, DS12 and DS3. We haven't used a harness yet, but I've got no problem with anyone who does. In fact, my wife had mentioned getting one for DS3 prior to our next trip to WDW.

However, I just love that someone can look a photo and point out the "bad parenting" and even use a photo to identify a child that may have Down's Syndrome???

I'm sure if someone followed you around, they could snap a photo at a moment when you may have looked away from your child or your child decided to sit on the floor or throw a temper tantrum.

 

[Emagine]

Entitlement and Society has taught us well when it comes to judging others and when it comes to Safety of children it is no different.

Leashes- as referred to are out on the market as a means to help parents protect their children. I admit, like many things on the market, they are not always used as intended.

A picture is worth a thousand words. So what if a child is leaning down and splashing in a puddle - so does a child not on a leash. It is called being a child. Who cares if you walk down a side walk and the one moment someone wants to take a photo of you because they have nothing better to do you happen to be looking up away from the child. Who knows what the adult was looking at, perhaps a light - a car - a stranger - sense of direction? I certainly do not stare my children down 110% in the eyes each step they make.

I say if you think your child and you would be more comfortable exploring your surroundings in a safe manner with or with out some sort or protection then it is of no ones business but yours.

Unless your going to be dragging your child like a dog through Verizon or on the next Nancy Grace then what does it hurt besides someones waste of 5 minutes who have nothing better to do then to judge before they know the whole story of what little spirit walks in those wonderful shoes.

 

[BayouMickey]

My wife and I have 3 children DD18, DS12 and DS3. We haven't used a harness yet, but I've got no problem with anyone who does. In fact, my wife had mentioned getting one for DS3 prior to our next trip to WDW.

However, I just love that someone can look a photo and point out the "bad parenting" and even use a photo to identify a child that may have Down's Syndrome???

I'm sure if someone followed you around, they could snap a photo at a moment when you may have looked away from your child or your child decided to sit on the floor or throw a temper tantrum.

thank you.

 

[Mrs.Toad]

Out of the 16 pictures on the link, 9 (more than 1/2) of the kids are doing exactly what they are supposed to be doing. Of course the kids pulling/being ignored are going to be pointed out. But my question would be, how does everyone feel about the pics of the kids whose parents are using the harness properly. Does it look funny/weird or perfectly normal?

My opinion: meh! A little wierd/funny, but certainly not gawk-worthy! Let's face it, in any given crowd, most kids will not be using harnesses, so it looks different. But then, so do lots of things about lots of people. The child harness just seems be one of the items that brings out the worst in some people.

As far as kids being "ignored" in the pictures, again, meh! Clearly the pictures are being taken in an effort to ridicule harness-users so I will take them with a grain of salt. How long did the picture-taker wait for the adults to look away or for the child to throw himself on the ground to take the picture? We'll never know.

Even if this is SOP for these parents (or grandparents, some appear to be), my guess is they'd be doing the exact same thing without a harness. You can't tell from one picture with a child a step or two behind the parent whether the parent is ignoring him or just watching where they're walking so they don't bump into things. Kids holding hands are often a step behind their parent as well, and some parents will just walk, letting their children trail 30 feet behind, rarely looking back to see whether they are still following. If these parents decide to use a harness instead, thank goodness! The child is much less likely to get lost.

As a wise DISer said earlier in this thread, it's not the product, it's the way it's used.

LOL , though, at "how's that working for you" and "whatever this thing is on the ground that all the other adults are staring at"! (even though I have no problem with an adult taking a minute's attention away from an antsy child to look at something interesting.)

 

[Hannathy]

Bet the parents wish they had a leash...

Ohhh we get to write fiction my turn....

Bet the parent wish they had been watching the child instead of talking on their cell phones with their backs turned.

Wish we had taught a 4 yr old- not a 2 yr old- to not run out into the street.

Parents thinking maybe we should have been outside and not inside watching TV.

You can write anything you want to a picture like this.

 

[BayouMickey]

Ah, it's the better neglected than dead argument. Very salient.

The National SAFE Kids Campaign notes that "In 1999, 733 children ages 14 and under died in pedestrian related accidents."

Interestingly, that website (about pedestrian safety and children) mentions nothing about leash use.

So, how many kids are there in the US? Approximate 50 million. 733 were hit by cars. Leashes as a solution to a problem that really isn't a problem is a poor argument.

Tragedy, yes. Preventable, yes. VANISHINGLY UNCOMMON, yes.

The point I'm trying to make that eludes you, was not about leashes pro or con, but how you decide to criminalize leashes through media out of context.

whether leashes are good or bad, it doesn't matter. What matters is that nilly noses like you should mind their own business..

 

[BayouMickey]

Ohhh we get to write fiction my turn....

Bet the parent wish they had been watching the child instead of talking on their cell phones with their backs turned.

Wish we had taught a 4 yr old- not a 2 yr old- to not run out into the street.

Parents thinking maybe we should have been outside and not inside watching TV.

You can write anything you want to a picture like this.

no more fictional than the previous pictures