Dad shamed for unconventional way he keeps his kids under control: ‘You’re treating your children like dogs’
- Father Jordan Driskell used child leashes on his five kids
- Opinions were divided as a furious debate erupted
A father-of-five has been slammed by parents for using leashes to control his children in public.
Footage reemerged on social media showing Jordan Driskell, from Kentucky, walking with his five young kids – six-year-old quintuplets Zoey, Dakota, Hollyn, Asher and Gavin.
The busy dad asked others to ‘walk a mile in his shoes’ after sharing a video on Instagram but was criticised for ‘treating his children like dogs’.
The short video showed Jordan holding on to five ropes – which were each connected to a harness that one of his kids wore – as the family all walked calmly together outside of an aquarium.
A furious debate reignited as to whether parents should use leashes to prevent toddlers from getting lost or running off.
A furious debate has reignited after footage resurfaced of a father-of-five using child leashes in public. The short video showed Jordan Driskell holding on to five ropes – which were each connected to a harness that one of his kids wore (pictured)
Many parents claimed Jordan was a ‘responsible dad looking after his kids’ while others criticised the US dad for treating his kids like ‘animals’
A post shared by Jordan Driskell (@driskell_quints_dad)
Many parents claimed Jordan was a ‘responsible dad looking after his kids’ – and some admitted they too would opt to use leashes if they had five children.
‘They’re your kids. Who gives a flying f*** what these people think. You’re protecting your children,’ one woman wrote.
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‘There’s nothing shameful about keeping your kids safe,’ another said.
‘This is smart and responsible. Good job,’ a third added.
‘There’s nothing wrong with this, I think it’s brilliant. I always used baby harness with reigns on my two so they were always by me,’ commented a fellow parent.
‘Not going to lie, some kids really need leashes, nothing wrong with not wanting to lose your child every time you look away,’ agreed someone else.
While chatting with the Today show, Jordan explained that his kids love to ‘run off and explore’ due to their ‘curiosity’
However, others were not here for child leashes and criticised the dad-of-five for treating his kids like ‘animals.’
‘Are they rescue?’ asked one user, referring to rescue dogs that come from a shelter.
‘But teachers can look after 30 kids without using leashes,’ someone else pointed out.
Another person added, ‘They are not dogs. How about teaching [them] what to do?’
‘Are you gonna train them to pull a sleigh next? Which one has the red nose? Are any of them rescue?’ read a different comment.
‘Don’t have so many kids,’ quipped one commenter, while someone else said, ‘Those kids are way too old to be walked on a leash like a d**n dog.’
While chatting with the Today show, Jordan explained that his kids love to ‘run off and explore’ due to their ‘curiosity,’ so he and his wife use leashes for their ‘own peace of mind and sanity.’
What professionals say about child leashes
Benjamin Hoffman, a pediatrician who is also chair of the injury prevention council at the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), told Good Housekeeping that he advices against child leashes due to the risk of falling.
‘From an injury standpoint, I would worry about entanglement or choking – we know the risks of other loose cords, like on window blinds,’ he said. ‘I’ve personally witnessed parents pull back forcefully on a leash, resulting in a fall, often backwards. I worry about injuries to head and limbs in that scenario. As a pediatrician, I would never recommend them. I would rather see a child in a stroller than on a leash.’
However, another doctor, named Deborah Gilboa described the leash as ‘creative problem solving’ while speaking to Today.
‘This isn’t treating kids like animals,’ she insisted. ‘This is creative problem solving. The alternative would be just staying at home. It’s a great system for a parent with a neurodiverse child or a child who hasn’t nailed all their listening skills. 99.99 per cent of moms and dads want what’s best for their kids and they’re doing it to solve a problem. Just because you can’t identify the problem, doesn’t mean it’s not there.’
Paige Safyer, Assistant Professor in the School of Social Work at Arizona State University, told Famly.com that it’s important to let your kid explore so that they can learn about safety.
‘Children need to be shown what’s safe and what’s not, and talk through these explanations with an adult. A leash can’t take the place of these conversations,’ she explained.
‘When they’re young, children are able to understand a lot more than they can express, so it’s really important for adults to take the time to explain how things work.
Just as you would explain to a child why you hold their hand as you cross a busy street, I think the same information should be given if the child is put on a leash.’
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