Running

I had a similiar problem with both of my kids at this age. My older one would take off down the street, and I had to coordinate with my neighbors at times to snag him (where I was pregnant with my second one, and darn that kid was fast). My youngest son, I had to take after him a couple of times about leaving the yard (while we don't live in a high traffic area anymore, it's still dangerous). What we ended up doing with him, was I stood with him, out close to the roadway as cars drove by. It took a couple of big trucks stirring up the dirt and scaring him to tightly grip my leg, before he started to see the dangers.

That didn't fully work, but we also got him a small "Scooter" (a little plastic motorcycle type) that slowed him down quite a bit as he rolled it through the grass.

But otherwise, all I can think to suggest, is that you maybe take him to a park where he can run free, and make that "A safe place" versus the yard -- "we don't run in the yard, but only in the park".

Good luck.

Oh my gosh this is just like my son! It is so hard and so scary to deal w/ a runner. I go to the park with other moms and their children are great listeners. Actually my son just turned 3 and I think there is hope after all. He is finally starting to be scared of cars and the street. He had no fear for a long time. I give him "lectures" every single time we go to the park or for a walk that he needs to stay close to me - I think it is finally starting to sink in :) So my advice to you - don't give up, don't deprive him of going to the park or going for walks, consistency is the key! Good luck and keep me posted on how it goes!

I played a game with my daughter when she was that age that we actually continue to play now and then just to reinforce that she must stop when I say stop. It's just a game of stop and go. We play it in the yard, at the store, at the park, the zoo, etc. I say that we're going to play a game so that she can show me what a great listener she is, because good listeners get to go to "fill in blank" because I can trust them to be safe. Then I tell her to walk/run/jump ahead of me until I say stop. When I say stop she must stop in her tracks and turn to look at me. She can't go again until I say "go."

For a very brief time I also talked to her about how dogs have leashes to keep them safe and close to "mommy." I explained that there is something like that for children who have a hard time being safe and close to mom and dad, and that they have to wear it not because they're in trouble, but just to be safe. I didn't have to offer to buy one of those leashes very often!

Good luck! I know how frightening your situation is!

J.

Hi, Shawdra. I have the same problem. My son is 3 going on 4. We just keep reminding him that he needs to stop at the corner of every street or sidewalk and look before crossing. I had even gotten him a Backpack Monkey. You strap on like a backpack and hold on to the tail. It's a child leash but it looks cool and he thought it was too.
Just keep postitive and keep talking to him and letting him know the consequences. Good Luck!

Hi S., you didn't mention if he did this why you were in the house or if you were out there.or if it is fenced in,if its fenced in put a lock where he cannot reach it on the gate if its not fenced put a dead bolt on the doors or chain locks on the doors that lead out side.I personally don't think at this age they really get the concept of danger or seriously hurt.they usually cannot remember what they just did 5min ago. so i would take every ounce of protection you can to secure him while you are busy doing other things.or you can get a harness for when you are out with him. I have seen other mothers use them to keep the child next to them while in a store.you can probaly get one at like toys r us or baby store or walmart, k-mart but i wish you luck~L.~

I am in exactly the same situation! My son is almost three, but he still has no concept of traffic. If you are outside, find a word he responds to immediately...I use "Danger!" even when no cars are coming if he gets too close to the road. And I have to keep the deadbolt locked to keep him from going outside on his own (since he's figured out doorknobs). One other thing you might try is a door alarm. We paid less than $20 for a dozen of them, and they go off if the connection is broken (if he opens the door). They are easy to turn on and off, and they just stick up against the molding and the door (I'd put them up pretty high). I keep the one to the back door on at all times (and the bar down) because he knows how to unlock and open the sliding glass doors. We are actually moving to another house with a fenced back yard so that he can play in safety.

Good luck!

As Lisa said, 2 yo's have very little ability to remember. Their brain is still way underdeveloped. Apparently it is possible to teach some to not run into the street or run away. My grandchildren are nearly 7 and 4. We had to hold onto their hand whenever we were near a place that was dangerous if they ran. We did play the stop and go game and the conversation at the curb etc. and that is necessary to keep doing until they understand but I think that you still have to hold their hand. Toddlers and preschoolers are very unpredictable. They may remember one time but forget another especially if the circumstances are a bit different. My granddaughter had stopped running into the street by around 4 but I still have to hold my grandson's hand and he's 4. I started testing my granddaughter first to see if she understood first by playing the stop game. This was around age 3. I would let her run ahead of me with the goal of reaching her preschool (less chance she'll see something across the street and want to run to it) and then yell stop a couple of times in each block. At the lost stop which was several feet from the intersection she waited until I caught up and I held her hand. When she started telling me to stop and look before we crossed the street than I didn't hold her hand but she still waited for me to reach her before walking to the intersection. Then I held her hand. I did this for a couple of weeks and when she seemed to understand then I would let her run a little ahead on quiet streets and saw that she stopped and looked both ways and although she was consistent in doing that I still watched her and stayed close by for several months more.

We're still at the "hold my hand while crossing the street" with my grandson because he is still unpredictable about stopping and doesn't understand the look both ways at all.

We did use a web strap with a way to attach it to her wrist with velcro with my granddaughter for awhile, usually while we were in the mall or a store. She loved to hide in rounders or across the store. At first she objected but I said you have to either hold my hand or wear this strap.
We tried the harness for awhile but it just seemed to difficult to carry around and put on her that we weren't being consistent and switched to the strap.

Two is definitely too young to trust anywhere near danger at any time.

This will sound silly but I told my son that if he ran out where the cars are that one could easily turn him into a pancake. And what happens to pancakes? They get eaten. Scare tactic? yeah, but at least he's not running out into the road or parking lots any more.
I like the idea the other gal gave for the stop and go game. I might try that with my youngest.

I know what you mean I also have a 2 year old son that runs in streets or parking lots and it scares me, I don't know if a child harness would work or not, I really don't like the harness but they may work, it's hard for a 2 year old to understand, just got to keep saying no can't run in the streets it very dangerous you could get hurt and mommy doesn't want you to get hurt, I wish I could tell you more but I am having a hard time with my son too, cause he doesn't listen and I repeat myself over and over, he will be 3 years old in Oct I hope this helped a little good luck take care

Oh my gosh, do I have such sympathy for you. My son was a runner, too. When he was two I was pregnant and had a broken foot, and he wiggled out of my grasp and literally ran into a parking lot. I had no way to catch him. Thank goodness there was a family nearby - the dad ran after my son and scooped him up for me. I was nearly hysterical over thinking how easily he could have been hit by a car, but toddlers just don't understand the concept of danger. I begged, bribed, and threatened to ground him until he was thirty. You name it and I tried it but toddlers just don't get it. After the parking lot scare, I finally broke down and bought a child's harness - something I swore I'd never do. But I only had to use it one time! We were in a crowded building and he wasn't minding me, so I slipped the harness on him. He gave me a dirty look and said, "I NOT puppy, Mama!" After that, I only had to tell him that I would have to put the harness on him if he ran off and he would stay close by!

Wow, seems like little boys have all the fun! I am in the same boat.. i lhave a son who will be 2 in august. He runs every chance he gets, wether we're inside or out. and not only does he run but he thinks its fun, funny... so, when i try to tell him (as best as you can tell a two year old...) about the dangers he just smiles, ignores me, turns and runs again. and then if i get stern or happen to be in frightened mode, and yell at him, he thinks im funny. he just laughs at me. all in all i think i'm in for some fun, what is it with the boys? i never had so much trouble with my daughter! Good Luck!