Won't stop running off

[STOPstopSTOP]

LO is 2 and a half and keeps running off when we're out in public.

I feel like we've tried everything from calmly explaining why it's so dangerous for him to run off to time outs and other non-physical punishments.

He has quite a short attention span so once he's exhausted all the toys on the play area for example, his favourite game is making a run for it and watching mummy frantically run after him. If we're in a safe place I tend to let him run off because he soon realises that I'm not chasing him and gives up.

Restaurants, cafes and pubs are the worst. He seems to manage to find any open door or door to the kitchen and makes a break for it.

No matter what we say he won't listen. It's getting to the point where there is a real danger of him running in to the road and getting hit by a car. Help please.

Do you not use reins or a little life backpack reins?
In cafes etc make sure he is sat between you both.

Reins, at two they have no impulse control so you can discuss it until the cows come home and it will have no effect on a bolter.

This may sound terrible but treat your child like a puppy, you wouldn't expect a young dog to walk to heel next to a road, you'd keep them on the lead and teach them to walk next to you with a loose lead, stopping when needed.

Another vote for reins. Like others have said, he’ll have no impulse control at this age.

My DD1 was like this. I was pregnant as well so running was interesting. Reins and we avoided eating out to be honest. She grew out of it eventually and is now very cautious crossing roads. Reasoning with them doesn’t work at that age. My DD scared herself by losing me at the age of 4. She got it then.

It will get better as he gets older. 2.5 is a hard age maximum mobility, minimum sense. My first was like this and we missed the window on the reins and he never really used them.

I personally don't think time out works at that age and wouldn't use it on older children either, but that is just how I do it.

We just used to take him places where he could run off, lots of wide open space etc and it does get better as they are old enough to listen and understand consequences

Yup, reins. Absolutely no point in expecting him to remember and have the impulse control to stick to something that you explained calmly (or indeed in any other way) on a previous occasion. Your job to keep him safe, he's too little to do it on his own.

And as pp said, have him sitting between you in cafes, or next to the wall. And keep him occupied, talk to him all the time while you're in there. Don't let him put feet on the floor in a café.

It may confuse him if allowed to run off somewhere but not elsewhere- he won't know the difference between safe and not safe.

If you're happy to let him run in a safe place, maybe explain why that's ok (ie no cars here, not lots of people) but keep reinforcing the message about not running off when not safe (and why it isn't safe)