I've got a little boy who's 3 with GDD. He doesn't speak and his understanding is limited. We've always had real trouble getting him to stay still - he really enjoys running around - but he's recently started to run much faster. He's also started to drop to the ground, hit or headbutt when you try to hold his hand, and would do the same with a wrist strap or reins.
I'd just like him to walk calmly alongside me but it seems like he is literally unable to walk at a normal pace unless holding a hand!
He wouldn't tolerate a backpack. He's also starting to really understand the concept of "chasing" and thinks it's funny to run away. He doesn't reliably come back to his name when called, but he does know it and understands "stop" and "wait" to an extent.
I'm feeling a bit down about it because this behaviour is becoming more and more limiting to what we can do. We went out with a new neighbour for a walk in his favourite park and I couldn't even speak to her for more than 30 seconds at a time before he had run off. She laughed it off but I was so embarrassed.
Does anyone have any tips or ideas?