The ‘Leashing’ of Children

To all the people, Katherine Manabat included, who think that children in harnesses look like leashed dogs, think again! As Manabat says, “when young children are developing their ability to walk and explore their environment” a harness allows them to do just that while maintaining a vital contact with Mom or Dad.

For those of you who feel that it is “dehumanizing for a child to be tied to a parent,” I suggest that you bone up on children development. Young children have a strong need to be tied to a parent, most children like the security and freedom of a harness and most parents use them because a “leashed” child is better than a missing child.

Why is it acceptable to restrain a dog (who is trained to heel but occasionally succumbs to impulse) but not acceptable to restrain a child (who is also trained and also succumbs to impulse)? My child is a thousand times more precious to me than any dog could ever be!

GINGER M. EISEN

Garden Grove