if a kid is so young that they don't understand the danger of cars, then you should be holding their hand near the road. Putting them on a leash is degrading to you and them and should be unacceptable.
Sorry, but in what way is putting a child in a backpack with an 10 foot tether an "Extreme control"? And how does that differ from confining the child to a stroller, child carrier, or playpen?
Perhaps its more aesthetic than practical, but a person should not be treated like an animal. Some methods of controlling kids are acceptable because it's how we treat kids, a leash is how we treat dogs. Putting kids on the same level as dogs is degrading, thus you shouldn't do it.
A child leash has a fundamentally different structure than a dog leash, but serves a similar purpose; Kids need to be kept near at hand and under observation at all times when in public spaces for their own safety. Dogs, likewise, need to be kept on leash because off leash it is very easy for them to become seriously injured, killed, or lost.
I find the leash preferable to strapping the child in to a carrier or stroller because it gives the child some autonomy while still protecting the child. The child is free to walk alongside you, look around, interact with things near them, and generally do kid stuff while being kept within sight and within a safe distance. It strikes a balance between control and freedom, giving the kid autonomy that they might not otherwise be able to have. For instance, if the parent or caregiver has to carry bags or other items they cannot hold the child's hand and would have to confine the child in some way for their safety. The leash, then, allows the child more freedom and agency than would otherwise be possible.
if a kid is so young that they don't understand the danger of cars, then you should be holding their hand near the road. Putting them on a leash is degrading to you and them and should be unacceptable.
Why?
A person is not an animal, and should not be subjected to such extreme controls unless they pose a risk to others.
Sorry, but in what way is putting a child in a backpack with an 10 foot tether an "Extreme control"? And how does that differ from confining the child to a stroller, child carrier, or playpen?
Perhaps its more aesthetic than practical, but a person should not be treated like an animal. Some methods of controlling kids are acceptable because it's how we treat kids, a leash is how we treat dogs. Putting kids on the same level as dogs is degrading, thus you shouldn't do it.
A child leash has a fundamentally different structure than a dog leash, but serves a similar purpose; Kids need to be kept near at hand and under observation at all times when in public spaces for their own safety. Dogs, likewise, need to be kept on leash because off leash it is very easy for them to become seriously injured, killed, or lost.
I find the leash preferable to strapping the child in to a carrier or stroller because it gives the child some autonomy while still protecting the child. The child is free to walk alongside you, look around, interact with things near them, and generally do kid stuff while being kept within sight and within a safe distance. It strikes a balance between control and freedom, giving the kid autonomy that they might not otherwise be able to have. For instance, if the parent or caregiver has to carry bags or other items they cannot hold the child's hand and would have to confine the child in some way for their safety. The leash, then, allows the child more freedom and agency than would otherwise be possible.