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Child 'leashes' are not terrbile
Parenting
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What do you think of kids on leashes? Chicago Parent magazine put that question up on its Facebook page and — no surprises here — some readers went ballistic. “Treating the child like a dog!” was the common theme of said rants. One person suggested that these kids be taught to bark. Don’t you just love people who think with their pituitary glands?
In case you’ve not seen one in use, a child “leash” consists of a four- to eight-foot tether attached to a comfortable harness the child wears around his or her torso. The leash allows the child a limited amount of freedom (the length of the tether can be adjusted) while in public places while preventing parent and child from becoming separated.
In addition to the safety factor, the idea is for the parent to patiently teach the young child how to properly behave in public. As the child’s behavior improves, the leash can be lengthened, giving the child more and more freedom. The child learns, therefore, that responsible behavior and freedom go hand-in-hand. What a concept!
As for “treating the child like a dog!” and other equally absurd pituitary emissions, I’ve seen a good number of child leashes in use in Europe and the occasional use in the United States. Never did the child in question look embarrassed, depressed, angry, downtrodden or catatonic. Without exception, they seemed quite content — pleased, even. And never have I seen a child on a leash who was misbehaving. Actually, the well-behaved child is also the content child, and vice versa. Because the leash helps the child learn to behave properly in public places, it is often unnecessary by the 4th birthday.
Let’s see. The child on a leash is safe, can’t get lost, has lots more freedom than a child in a stroller, is happier than a child in a stroller, is getting more exercise than a child in a stroller and is learning how to behave himself in public places. If this is treating a child like a dog, then every child should want such treatment.
Here’s what’s demeaning: Wheeling a 4-plus-year-old child through a public place in a stroller as he’s drinking from a sippy-cup. Those kids have no idea how demeaned they are, not to mention how absolutely ridiculous that looks, especially to someone my age who remembers the day when strollers were dispensed with by age 3 and children — the intelligent creatures that they are — were taught to walk next to their parents and keep their hands off the merchandise. Ah, but that takes patience, tolerance and effort. Need I say more?
And while I’m on the subject of sippy-cups, here’s a radical notion: Instead of giving your child everything but water to drink, make water the norm. Beginning around age 2, introduce open-topped plastic or paper cups with about an inch of water in the bottom. Believe me, a 2-year-old will master the art of drinking from a lidless, spoutless container within a couple of weeks. And so what if he spills? It’s water! When the child masters one inch of water, increase it to an inch and a half. And so on. By age 3, the child will be drinking full cups of life’s most necessary compound without incident.
He may even be able to walk civilly at the end of a leash and drink from an open cup at the same time.

Rosemond, a family psychologist, answers questions at his Web site: www.rosemond.com.
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Visit with children a real eye-opener
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One of my favorite activities as a state senator is when I get to speak to students at our local schools. This year, I spoke to third-grade students at May Howard Elementary and Marshpoint Elementary in Chatham County and Button Gwinnett Elementary in Liberty County.
The students from each of the schools had been studying civics and were familiar with the three branches of government — executive, judicial and legislative. I explained my role as a senator in the legislative process and told the children how the citizen legislature in the state of Georgia works.
Presenting each of the schools with a Georgia state flag, I explained the three principles for which the state flag stands — wisdom, justice and moderation — and had them recite the pledge to the flag with me. 
The students at all three schools were bright, respectful and well-disciplined — a tribute to their families and especially to their teachers, who had prepared the students for my visit with ideas for great questions.
The students in Ms. Hutchinson’s class at Marshpoint Elementary were impressive in singing the preamble to the Constitution during my visit. What a great way to learn such an important part of our nation’s history — another wonderful example of the great job our teachers are doing.
I was delighted last week to receive thank-you letters from some of the students. Here are excerpts from a few of their letters:
 
Dear Mr. Carter,
Thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to come speak to us. I learned so much! I learned that there are two kinds of Pledge of Allegiances. That is pretty cool.
Do you travel all over the world do you? I really like that you taught me more about the three branches of government.
— Megan
 
Dear Sen. Carter,
Thank you for telling us about your job and your favorite thing about your job. I liked the Georgia state flag. I still have more questions. Do you have to work on Saturday and Sunday? Are you the only one who makes the laws?
Yours truly,
Ryleigh 


Dear Sen. Buddy Carter,
Thank you for coming and letting us have a little bit of your time. I want you to know that I learned something new. The Georgia pledge! Justice, wisdom and modesty! Thanks again!
— Liam
 
Dear Sen. Buddy Carter,
Thank you for coming and helping us learn more about the government and some of your job. Thank you for giving us a Georgia flag. It was fun when you came. Thank you for giving us some questions so we could answer them.
P.S. Did you ride in a limousine? I was going to ask you a question but then I forgot. But now I remember. How many rooms are there where you work? You can send me a note if you can.
Your friend,
Erin
 
I’m uncertain whether the students learned as much from me during my visit as I learned from them. One thing that I was reminded of was the honesty that comes from the innocence of childhood. I wasn’t quite sure how to interpret some of the questions, such as the one asked in this letter:
 
Dear Sen. Carter,
I loved your speech. Thanks for coming to our school. I think my favorite part was when we held the flag. It was so fun! I have a question: How many people voted for you?
Sincerely,
Shelly
 
I also was more than a little concerned about a recurring question in the thank-you notes that was posed to me during one of my visits by a beautiful, brown-eyed girl who, with a very serious look on her face, asked “Did you ever get re-elected be-fore?”


What a great group of young people! My faith and hope in our future has been reassured. What an amazing job our families and teachers are doing on a daily basis to support and encourage our next generation. Thank you for your dedication to teaching our leaders of tomor-row.

Sen. Buddy Carter can be reached at Coverdell Legislative Office Building (C.L.O.B.) Room 301-A, Atlanta, GA, 30334. His Capitol office number is 404-656-5109

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