We went grocery shopping last night- just a short trip. We had previously decided that we were going to use the stroller religiously again since lately Brendan has been either running off or sitting down and refusing to move. So we got out the stroller and made him get in it and strapped him in. He cried, whined, pleaded to get out. 10 minutes into the trip and he was still complaining. So, I pulled him aside and told him the rule- he must hold mommy or daddy’s hand at all times or he’d go right back in the stroller. And it worked! Having the empty stroller there just waiting for him was the key. He was really good walking with one or the other of us for the remaining 10 minutes. If he let go, we’d immediately tell him to get in the stroller and point at it. He’d reply “no…hand!” and hold our hand once more. In the future, I may extend this rule to holding onto the cart.
Oh- one more thing… emptying his bedroom of every single toy or plaything has made time out much more effective as well. All of his toys are in our large living room now.