Why will your children hold your hand when out and about? Mine hate it and always have!

[emkana]

Following on from another thread I'm amazed at all these compliant children who hold hands when out and about!
And before you ask I have tried and it just led to on-the-ground-throwing!
I can just about make dd2 (nearly 3) hold my hand when crossing the road, with force on my part though most of the time.
Also it's difficult holding hands if you have a younger child with you in the pram, isn't it?

They seem to go through phases of hating it and not minding. Sometimes I've insisted they hold the buggy, and if they don't then they have to hold hands until we get home.
So hard because it's not natural for them - and in an ideal (car-free) situation, they wouldn't have to.

DS stopped holding hands at 2.4 years.

Solution: bought a double buggy.

I only really get dd to hold my hand if we are in a car park or are crossing the road (she is 2.8years). She likes the independance of being able to walk herself when she is on the path, in a shop, etc. She is normally very good and does not tend to run off too far ahead (except when she is with her 3 year old cousin and then all good walking habits go out the window!!)

DS2 wants to do it! He is nearly 5 and almost always as soon as we set off (for school etc) his free hand - the one not clutching useless toy and lunchbox - reaches up for mine.

He does sometimes run off with DS1 but mostly he holds my hand until we get to the school playground. So I don't know.

DD (15mths) refuses to! we've had to buy some reins, as she obviously is way too young to walk pretty much anywhere without us alongside. i like to think that she is independent...
having said that, in the last week or so, she's worked out that if she holds one of my hands when walking upstairs, then it goes quicker than her previous method of holding onto the bannister and going up sideways, so there is some progress.