Hide and seek help!

[MiaSparrow]

Oh lordy, DD (28 months) has just discovered the joys of hide and seek when we're out and about and so far it's not doing my nerves any good.

Do your DCs know the difference between hiding at home and hiding (and sending Mummy into a blind panic) when you're out? Any tips? If I tell her off she thinks it's even more funny that Mummy's in a flap.

I wouldn't necssarily expect a child this age to understand that she had to keep close to me while out and about: I would either hold her by the hand or use reins.

It's so frightening when they do that. I used reins, I know many people hate them but if she wanted to walk (always refused to hold hands) then reins went on. If she refused that then into buggy & if that kicked her off we went home.
She's 2.10 now & we no longer use them but she understands now how scary it would be for me if I lost her.
Do keep up the explanations as they do go in bit by bit.