"After about 10 minutes, Leo stopped trying to leave altogether."
I think there is another possible explanation: by stopping to chase Leo, it stopped being a game for him. It might not have been her sterner "no" at all.
Also I'd like to point out that the French are famous for putting their kids into kindergarden from the age of 3 months. From my perspective (dad of a 16 months old who is still at home) that seems rather cruel.
I was also wondering why the kindergarten aspect was completely missing in the article, as if it did not happen.
It could well be that French children do not see their parents so often and are ready to do whatever is needed to have a comfortable atmosphere during the few hours they see them, in particular if their parents don't play those games.
The cynical might suspect that the idea of providing state-subsidized kindergarten to the very young, in order to promote happier children and less-stressed parents, might be something that wouldn't make it into the WSJ.
I think there is another possible explanation: by stopping to chase Leo, it stopped being a game for him. It might not have been her sterner "no" at all.
Also I'd like to point out that the French are famous for putting their kids into kindergarden from the age of 3 months. From my perspective (dad of a 16 months old who is still at home) that seems rather cruel.