How do you get a toddler to stop when they think running away is funny?

Question

My daughter loves to be chased. In the past it has been a fun game, but now that she's 2 years old she's quick and sometimes she gets away when I'm holding her hand. When she starts running my husband and I try and coax her to come back instead of chasing her since she will only run faster. She thinks this is hilarious no matter how many times we tell her its not good. I'm at the end of my rope. I try not to take her in busy public places because of this problem. It's very frustrating.

Answer 1

I just want to say that I love Junebaby's answer!  

Make up new games to get her to stop.  

Then, start teaching her why it is dangerous and impolite to run away.  Right there, eye to eye & hand in hand, is the best way to make sure that she's paying attention & the best way for you to see, in her eyes, that she understands how serious & concerned you are.  

Answer 2

Spank her. It is a dangerous situation if she thinks she can defy you and run away from you. Just think it happens in a parking lot and a car comes. Will you be one of the parents that say: "well i thought time out worked". It hurts less to get a spanking than to get hit by a car. Trust me I know from own experience (not necessarily got hit by a car but had a lot of accidents when i was young)

Answer 3

put her in a stroller so she cant get out.. see you have been running after thinking its a joke for the past 2 years.. and she doesnt understand that this is wrong... she thinks it is a game because thats what you have taught her..  

Answer 4

It is very hard for toddlers to learn that once something was a game and now it is not. I find sometimes I laugh at things my sons do (because it is sooo cute but really they are doing something wrong) and my laughing the first time encourages the behavior. Now I have to be careful not to laugh even if I want to.

Like you said chasing after them only makes it worse. My sons loved to play Red Light and Green Light or the game Freeze now wiggle. For example: I would yell Red Light and they would stop then I would ask them to beep and back up. We would practice this at home as well. Freeze and now wiggle in place works as well. Because it gives you time to reach them and hold their hand. As they get older you will be able to reinforce the dangers of running into the street or running away from mommy.

Once I am holding my toddlers hand. I get down to his level and look him in the face and tell him that running away from mommy is very dangerous. I tell him that I don't want cars to hit him or a stranger to take him. I know it sounds a little harsh to tell a young child that they could be hurt but it is the truth. My son is three and he now makes comments about other people like they should not be on the street or that person should be holding their mommy's hand.

Hope that helps.

Answer 5

Hey I know how it feels like

My son was pretty much like this also

Now he is 4 years old.

I have an umbrella stroller that i put my 1 year old in.

When were not going anywhere crowded or just going to have a walk.

My son just loves holding on to the handle and just loves walking.

Like sometimes i would be sitting down with my 1 year old girl on my lap and my 12 year old daughter and my 4 year old son would have relay races and stuff like that

My daughter is very careful about her little brother and sisters

so shes extra careful because she is like a role model for them.

My daughter would make a starting point and a ending point.

And if he went farther my daughter would like chase him.

Answer 6

You can get reins from childcare stores, so you can hold on to the child.  I probably haven't described them accurately but they are worn and have a strap that a parent or someone can hold on with.

Answer 7

I have a 2 1/2 year old.  If I'm going to be someone where it's busy, I always put her in a stroller.  Otherwise, I have to carry her and she's heavy.

Otherwise, coaxing her back doesn't show her it's wrong.  What else have you tried?  Maybe try scolding her when she does it.  

Answer 8

your obviously not being strict enough about saying no when they run away... otherwise they wouldnt think it was funny.

Answer 9

Get serious with her right away. Be stern but don't over do it. If she cries, let her cry. She has to listen to you because you don't want her to go into traffic laughing and thinking it's a game. A little boy I used to take care of dropped his ball and it rolled down the hill into the street. He was 5 years old and laughing the whole time while I was trying to get him to listen to me. He got to the end of a block and a car was half a foot away from hitting him, when he fell and screamed and recoiled in terror. So don't feel guilty if she cries. You have to be a little stern with them for their own good sometimes.  

Answer 10

In public, use a stroller if she cannot understand that she can't run off. If she runs off, chase her down and catch her (whatever it takes) and then spank her HARD and tell her in a stern voice that she is not allowed to run off, and explain that someone could take her if she ran off. This might scare her (the spank and you talking to her), so if she cries wait a bit before comforting her.

Answer 11

As a toddler my sister was fast as lightning and took off at every opportunity.  As a last resort a baby harness with a lead was put into use.  Made things safe for her and easier for my parents.

A stroller is also a great idea.