Raising children these days can be quite the challenge. Young parents don’t just have to field opinions from family members but also endure the comments of random strangers on the internet about their parenting methods.

Jordan Driskell is a young father of five quintuplets, all aged 5 years old. As you can imagine, looking after 5 children the same age can be quite taxing, especially at that curious age when kids love to explore.

31-year-old dad, Jordan Driskell, decided to find a creative solution to this conundrum. He bought leashes made for children to help manage his energetic little ones when they are out in public together.

Previously, Driskell used a 6-seat stroller for their large family outings. However, that quickly became impractical because the kids often felt confined and uncomfortable inside it. The stroller was also a hassle to take anywhere.

With the leashes, the kids get to wander and explore their surroundings, while Driskell can keep sight and control of them, ensuring their safety!

Driskell posted a video of the family’s outing to an aquarium, which garnered a lot of negative feedback from the public. The video, showing the children on leashes, went viral with over 3 million views. Hundreds of people criticized the parents, saying the children were not animals and should not be leashed.

Critics harshly commented, “If you can’t manage the pressure, don’t have so many kids.”

Others offered disdain masked as advice, saying, “Can’t you just properly train your children? Explain to them why running away is dangerous.”

Dr. Deborah Gilboa, an expert in parenting and adolescent development, had a different perspective. She believes that using a leash does not make a child think they are an animal. And if the alternative to a leash is to stay at home, then of course, the leash is the much better option!

Dr. Gilboa said that a leash is a useful tool for younger children or neuro-diverse children to stay under control in a public environment. However, she added that if a neurotypical child is still on a leash by the age of eight or nine and hasn’t developed decent listening skills by then, that could be concerning.

By that age, parents should be able to communicate effectively with their children without relying on tools like leashes.

Parents should have the freedom to raise their children in their own way without facing unnecessary judgment from society.

What do you think about children on leashes in public? Let us know in the comments below! Share this article with friends and family and find out what they think too!