2yr old runs off, won't hold my hand, won't listen - advice please

[Greyclay]

My lovely, precocious 2 year old DD is worrying me and her father by tending to run off on us when we are out walking with her.

She fights us when we try to make her hold our hands and she fights us when we try to steer her in the direction we are walking. When she runs off on her own, we try to verbally dissuade her but it often ends up with one of us chasing after her to catch her. Which she sees as a funny game of course.

We always try to explain that she has to listen to us and it's not safe to run off on us like that (we live in an urban area) and we diligently explain street safety. But it's only half sinking in and only when she feels like listening. She is very independent and I don't want to squash her spirit by forcing her into her pram every time we go out.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Could you try a rucksack on your dd with a strap you can hold on to if need be? A friend of mine has one of these - think she got it from John Lewis but will doublecheck.

I think we're talking about the same rucksack Extremelychocolate - ours came from John Lewis too. Also means he can carry some of his own bits and bobs!

just marking this one for later

BlueChampagne- I scanned the messages for any reference to rucksacks and when I saw your message start with "reins" thought I was safe to continue!

reins!

LittleLife Toddler Daysack

These are brilliant - they have a removable strap, and are small and light enough that a 2yo will be able to carry her own stuff around DD loves her one!

they're very secure and don't slip down either.

Thank you so much for the rugsack suggestion. I honestly didn't even know those things existed. I think it might be a very good compromise for us. (our DD would probably love carrying her own things) I really appreciate the feedback, thanks.

Keep going with the reasoned explanations too - even if she doesn't understand them yet (one day she will), I imagine it helps keep you calm. I do the same.

I also had a runner and considered using one of those rucksacks as it had worked for a good friend of mine. What I wanted though was for DS to learn. It took a while, and there was a lot of running after him and shouting from me. Eventually, with the use of incentives, regular chats, the followed-through threat of making him get in the pram if he didn't listen, and the introduction of a word that we agreed meant 'stop exactly where you are', he did pick up on this and for the last few months (he's now 3.5) I've had absolute confidence in him and he's repaid that confidence.