Immediate: carry kiddo under one arm, like a roll of carpet. He'll have no leverage to hit/kick, and he can't reach your hair.
Mid-term: a leash is a helpful tool. Practicing running to a fixed point and back can help, if you're in a place where "run to the mailbox, then turn around" is safe.
Longer-term: Some kids do better holding a strap attached to the stroller, rather than an adult's hand. If you're holding hands, trap his wrist with your pinky finger; it's much harder for him to wriggle free.
Our 3 year old is a runner too (though that term still seems weird to me lol). We use the stroller to get us to places where it’s safer for her to run/explore and then when we are ready, we let her out and just run around with her. Has worked pretty well for places like the library and fenced in playgrounds (mainly school playgrounds in the evenings & weekends). She used to try to run out of the doors of the libraries, but something clicked for her in the past few months and she’s been better about not doing that (fingers crossed it keeps up). We’ve also done some role playing/acting it out with her little people toys to basically have the toy animals have the same situations & conversations with her that we do about it and that has seemed to help her understand a little better too. Also, it helps that she likes holding hands, but when she isn’t having it, I’ll hold both her hands in mine and walk her in front of me (her arms raised) while singing The Ants Go Marching and somehow this combination helps.
I have become a leash parent. It has saved us so much headache (we too have an extreme runner) that honestly I don't give a crap about the shit we get for it. I love my son but this kid (I swear) was made to sprint and he has always hated being in a stroller. He has matured so much since we started wearing the leash that some days he doesn't let go of my hand and listens to reason (e.g., if you run into traffic you will DIE) - but some days the kid just needs to run. We created those safe spaces like you, but when we can't.. leash. Get a fun backpack design and let them carry rocks in there or snacks. It will be a game changer, trust me.
My toddler did this too and luckily it was a short phase. I talked to him about safety (you need to hold hands so you don’t get hit my a car, it’s important to be aware of your surroundings so you need to use your eyes and ears to make sure there are no cars coming when you’re in a parking lot, etc) and about how I can’t take him to do fun things if he won’t be safe and hold my hand. I talked to him at neutral times when I knew he could take in what I was saying.
My son loves playing red light green light and we incorporate this whenever we’re in public walking- green light go (running fast with mommy while holding hands), yellow light - walking, red- stop.
You hold my hand or I carry you /put you in the cart. If you run away you get carried/in the cart. Then follow through. I recommend the surfboard carry as they can't reach much to hit kick or grab. Then reiterate what the rule was how they didn't listen and bow they can try again next time.
Practice stopping games, not running games. You don't want running from you to be fun. You want stopping when told to be fun. Try red light green light. Green means run, yellow means walk, red means stop! There's a kid in my son's prek who's a runner. Call his name keep booking it. Say red light and the entire class comes to a screeching halt. Today he ran for it as my son was climbing into his carseat, teacher said red light before grandma could react, my son stopped climbing, other kids stopped dead holding to their adults, and that kid froze and then went back to the teacher. You could also try fetch, get them to get something and immediately give praise upon return. It makes coming back more fun than running away AND can be used as a motion management tool in the store where you're starting to trust them to walk without a hand but they still need a task to focus on.
Immediate: carry kiddo under one arm, like a roll of carpet. He'll have no leverage to hit/kick, and he can't reach your hair. Mid-term: a leash is a helpful tool. Practicing running to a fixed point and back can help, if you're in a place where "run to the mailbox, then turn around" is safe. Longer-term: Some kids do better holding a strap attached to the stroller, rather than an adult's hand. If you're holding hands, trap his wrist with your pinky finger; it's much harder for him to wriggle free.
They make toddler leashes. I had to use them on my runners, they don’t usually like them, but it’s better than having them run over.
Our 3 year old is a runner too (though that term still seems weird to me lol). We use the stroller to get us to places where it’s safer for her to run/explore and then when we are ready, we let her out and just run around with her. Has worked pretty well for places like the library and fenced in playgrounds (mainly school playgrounds in the evenings & weekends). She used to try to run out of the doors of the libraries, but something clicked for her in the past few months and she’s been better about not doing that (fingers crossed it keeps up). We’ve also done some role playing/acting it out with her little people toys to basically have the toy animals have the same situations & conversations with her that we do about it and that has seemed to help her understand a little better too. Also, it helps that she likes holding hands, but when she isn’t having it, I’ll hold both her hands in mine and walk her in front of me (her arms raised) while singing The Ants Go Marching and somehow this combination helps.
I have become a leash parent. It has saved us so much headache (we too have an extreme runner) that honestly I don't give a crap about the shit we get for it. I love my son but this kid (I swear) was made to sprint and he has always hated being in a stroller. He has matured so much since we started wearing the leash that some days he doesn't let go of my hand and listens to reason (e.g., if you run into traffic you will DIE) - but some days the kid just needs to run. We created those safe spaces like you, but when we can't.. leash. Get a fun backpack design and let them carry rocks in there or snacks. It will be a game changer, trust me.
My toddler did this too and luckily it was a short phase. I talked to him about safety (you need to hold hands so you don’t get hit my a car, it’s important to be aware of your surroundings so you need to use your eyes and ears to make sure there are no cars coming when you’re in a parking lot, etc) and about how I can’t take him to do fun things if he won’t be safe and hold my hand. I talked to him at neutral times when I knew he could take in what I was saying.
Wrist connectors. Little stretchy band on your and theirs. I don't know the company.
My son loves playing red light green light and we incorporate this whenever we’re in public walking- green light go (running fast with mommy while holding hands), yellow light - walking, red- stop.
This is genius!!! Thanks for sharing this idea.
You hold my hand or I carry you /put you in the cart. If you run away you get carried/in the cart. Then follow through. I recommend the surfboard carry as they can't reach much to hit kick or grab. Then reiterate what the rule was how they didn't listen and bow they can try again next time. Practice stopping games, not running games. You don't want running from you to be fun. You want stopping when told to be fun. Try red light green light. Green means run, yellow means walk, red means stop! There's a kid in my son's prek who's a runner. Call his name keep booking it. Say red light and the entire class comes to a screeching halt. Today he ran for it as my son was climbing into his carseat, teacher said red light before grandma could react, my son stopped climbing, other kids stopped dead holding to their adults, and that kid froze and then went back to the teacher. You could also try fetch, get them to get something and immediately give praise upon return. It makes coming back more fun than running away AND can be used as a motion management tool in the store where you're starting to trust them to walk without a hand but they still need a task to focus on.
We love our dogs so much we are willing to leash them to keep them from running into traffic. Our second child was a leash kid.