How to Get a Two Year Old to Hold Your Hand in the Street

Two year olds are independent. Anyone who has tried to get one to hold hands when crossing the street knows what a challenge this can become.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• To be smarter than them.

1. When a toddler balks at holding your hand crossing the street ask them for help. You need to act to change this behavior. There is a way to outsmart them using child psychology.
2. By now you have told them about looking both ways and they think they can do it alone.
3. The problem is that most of us warn children that a car will "hit" them but they don't understand what this means. There friends have hit them and they recovered quickly and so it is not much of a threat.
4. Tell them that you are afraid to cross alone and ask for their help. I have never seen this fail.
5. They don't mind helping you. It makes them feel grown up.
6. Ask them what to do next. They will talk you through crossing and all the while you have a firm grasp of their hand.
7. Show them something that has been squashed flat and explain that when a car "hits" you that is the result. Adults know what there is to be afraid of but children are operating in a state of ignorance.

Tips & Warnings

• I used this method with my own children and they never ran in the street.
• Always with children try to think what their limited perception of a situation maybe and act accordingly.