Randi Stone received the following responses re her question about letting little ones walk on the street, gain some independence, while keeping them safe. Thanks, Randi!


More than one person suggested the Eddie Bauer backpacks with tethers. They are backpacks, with so kids can be proud about carrying their own snacks or drinks, etc., but a parent has straps to hold on to.

I know it's nerve wrecking, but try to enjoy your children's newfound independence, and your new freedom to explore the city without a stroller. Here are some things that worked for us:
1. Teach them to listen to your voice commands, even from afar: "stop," "slow down," "wait until I catch up," "hold hands with each other." These commands need to be followed or the kids immediately go in the stroller. Bring the stroller with you until they listen (it took only one trip for us). Have them practice the commands on your block. E.g., ask them to stop at the street light, tree, etc.
2. Let them walk next to you or in front of you, never behind you. Only hold hands when crossing streets and in very crowded situations. They need to learn to walk with an adult but at their own pace.
3. Lots of praise for listening and good behavior work wonders. Make every outing a success. Little rewards like getting to carry a small grocery bag home, etc., are fun. Be patient and be prepared for many stops to look at all the interesting things out there.
4. Consider letting them always run on your block to your house. It gives them the much needed freedom in a safe place.
5. Teach them not to touch, tease or yell at dogs.
6. Teach them about street lights, but explain that they only cross the streets when you do (regardless of what others may).
7. Once you go out regularly without the stroller, get a roomy backpack to leave your hands free.

We have created two handles (we use scarves and create a loop on the end) on our stroller and have the girls hold them when they walk. It gives them lots of leeway but us a security blanket.

1. When we are on smaller streets with less traffic we let them walk with no handle, they just need to be close
2. They must hold our hands crossing the street
3. Any street with four lanes of traffic or more they need to cross in the stroller
4. If streets are super crowded (SoHo on Saturday!) they need to ride in the stroller.

I tell the children to "freeze!" and if they don't stop I put them in the stroller for not listening. I tell them "too far!" if they run too far ahead and if they don't stop again they go in the stroller for not listening, which means, yes, you have to have this stroller along to start with. They know hand-holding is non-negotiable as we get close to corners and big streets/avenues. For the lights at crosswalks we show them the walk symbol changing and say "the hand says stop" and "the man says walk."

I tell mine that if they don’t hold my hands or come when I ask them to, or if they come too close to stepping into the street (never at the corner, mind you), they will have a time-out in the stroller (which I virtually always take with me on these occasions). That keeps them in line pretty well, since they nearly always walk because they want to.

If you are consistent, they generally get with the program. I don't always make them hold my hand (depending on the street), but I always make them hold hands crossing the street.

You just have to correct their behavior every time by keeping a firm hold and then picking them up when they disobey. Try to stay close to home until they learn the rules, or have two people there, so it is easy to turn around and go back with the misbehaving one (or two) of them. We also pick them up when we cross the streets to emphasize that streets are dangerous.

My rule is that they have to hold a hand or the stroller (my stroller has a strap hanging down), and if they let go, they go into the stroller. Usually the threat of having to go in the stroller is enough to get them to hold on. The other thing I've done is hold their hand and not move and tell them that we were not going anywhere unless they were holding my hands.

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