Quote:
Originally Posted by Griff
I had a highly mobile child of three years in my summer program who was operating at something south of a 16 month level, almost no auditory processing, climber, pica... the works. A leash would have been useful but bad form from the standpoint of brain development.
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There was a period where we only avoided a leash by avoiding the places it would have been necessary. I remember specifically realizing that if we had to take him to an airport for some reason, I would have no choice but to buy a leash, and it upset me because I'd always hated the things. But I think like most parenting decisions, motive can make all the difference. I honestly think even toddlers can sense if you're doing something in a specific scenario for safety reasons, or if you're using the leash as a lazy substitute for self-discipline. In the right hands it can be a tool rather than a shortcut, but you're always going to be walking that line of temptation.