We have a lot of trips planned for the summer, but I’m so afraid my child will run off. I just want to learn how to try and get him to stay with me.
That is a feeling I’m sure no parent wants to feel.
What if he runs off?
What if he gets hurt?
How can I help him learn to stay put?
Will he be ok to walk with me around the store?
Wandering, also known as elopement, is a common and potentially dangerous behavior among autistic children. It involves leaving a safe space, such as home or school, without permission and often without a clear destination.
This can lead to various risks, including getting lost, exposure to traffic, and encounters with strangers.
In this blog post, we will explore effective strategies and practical steps to prevent wandering in autistic children, ensuring their safety and providing peace of mind for parents and caregivers.
If you like what you read here, there are more informative posts on our page, there is more information about ABA, and how to use it in the home. Subscribe here to be in the know and be notified about new posts!
Understanding the Causes of Wandering
Remember those functions of behavior? This is where knowledge and understanding are important.
Sensory Seeking
Many autistic children have unique sensory needs and may wander to seek out sensory input. This could include the need for certain sounds, sights, textures, or movements that are not present in their current environment.
Remember, sensory seeking means that your child does not require anyone else to achieve this type of reinforcement.
This means that elopement behavior feels good for them, or sometimes, too good.
Escaping Overstimulation
Conversely, some children may wander to escape overwhelming sensory stimuli. Loud noises, bright lights, or crowded places can trigger a need to flee to a quieter, less stimulating environment.
Sometimes, your child may find that the best way to get overstimulation to stop is to simply run away from the source.
Curiosity and Exploration
Autistic children often have a strong sense of curiosity and a desire to explore their surroundings.
This natural inclination can lead them to wander if they are not closely supervised or if the environment is not sufficiently engaging.
This may be as a way to gain access to something, or an activity occurring, without letting anyone know.
Communication Difficulties
Children with limited communication skills may wander as a way to express unmet needs or to find something they cannot articulate.
They might leave a safe space in search of food, water, or a preferred activity.
Gaining access to things falls under the tangibles function of behavior. This is a way to meet a desire or need.
Preventive Measures at Home
Secure the Home Environment
Use Locks and Alarms
Install locks and alarms on doors and windows to prevent easy exit. Consider using door alarms that alert you when a door is opened, and window locks that are out of the child’s reach.
Another thing to consider is to communicate with your neighbors so that others can keep an eye out and inform your family if your child does manage to escape the home.
Create Safe Zones
Designate certain areas of the house as safe zones where the child can freely explore and engage in activities without the risk of wandering.
These areas should be engaging and filled with sensory activities that cater to the child’s preferences.
Implement Visual Supports
Social Stories
Use social stories to explain the importance of staying in safe areas and the dangers of wandering. These stories should be simple, visual, and tailored to the child’s level of understanding.
Social stories are to be done before your child attempts to elope. Take time in the day to read a social story together.
The idea behind social stories is to work on these targeted skills outside of the targeted behavior.
You’d want to talk about things to do instead of eloping when the child is not attempting to run away.
Visual Schedules
Implement visual schedules that outline daily routines and activities. Knowing what to expect can reduce anxiety and the impulse to wander in search of something different.
Using a visual schedule can aid in keeping your child on track and less likely to wander off.
School and Community Safety
Develop a Safety Plan
Collaborate with Educators
Work with teachers and school staff to develop a comprehensive safety plan. This plan should include strategies for preventing wandering, such as keeping doors locked, using visual supports, and closely monitoring the child during transitions.
This is also an opportunity to learn safety skills from other adults. This will aid in generalization. Working on safety skills is not beneficial if the child can only do so with one person.
Emergency Protocols
Ensure that the school has clear emergency protocols in place. Staff should be trained to respond quickly if a child wanders, and they should know the specific needs and tendencies of the autistic children in their care.
Keep in mind, everyone should be responding in the same way. If a child enjoys the attention that eloping brings, try to get everyone to make the response more neutral.
This doesn’t mean to not do anything if he runs off. It means to not yell and make a scene with the child.
Use Identification and Tracking Devices
Wearable ID Tags or GPS Tracking Devices
Equip your child with wearable ID tags that include important information such as their name, diagnosis, emergency contact numbers, and any medical conditions.
This can help first responders and strangers assist if your child is found wandering.
Consider using GPS tracking devices that can be worn as bracelets or attached to clothing. These devices allow you to monitor your child’s location in real-time and can provide an added layer of security.
Engaging the Child to Prevent Wandering
Create a Stimulating Environment
Sensory Activities
If your child is not getting their needs met, they’ll seek them elsewhere.
Provide a variety of sensory activities that cater to your child’s interests. This can include sensory bins, fidget toys, swings, and interactive apps.
Engaging in sensory activities can reduce the urge to seek stimulation outside the home.
Safe Outdoor Play
Create a safe outdoor play area where your child can explore under supervision. Fenced yards, play structures, and sensory gardens can provide a secure space for exploration and play.
Using preventative measures can create a sense of safety and relief. This doesn’t mean unattended, but rather that you, as the parent, won’t need to be right on top of your child while they play.
Build Communication Skills
Alternative Communication Methods
Introduce alternative communication methods such as picture exchange communication systems (PECS) or augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices.
These tools can help your child express their needs and reduce the likelihood of wandering. All behavior is a form of communication. Sometimes that means it’s unsafe, but we need to work on teaching safer ways to communicate wants and needs.
Monitoring and Continuous Improvement
Regularly Review Safety Measures
Home and School Assessments
Regularly assess the safety measures in place at home and school. Make necessary adjustments to locks, alarms, and visual supports as your child grows and their needs change.
Children learn and are often watching us without our knowledge.
I’ve seen children learn how to unlock things after one or two times observing another person unlocking the mechanism.
Update Safety Plans
Update safety plans periodically, especially after any incidents of wandering. Ensure that everyone involved in your child’s care is aware of any changes.
Keeping everyone in the loop can create additional people keeping a lookout and ready to assist if anything goes wrong.
Encourage Independence Safely
Teach Safety Skills
As your child grows, teach them basic safety skills such as recognizing traffic signals, understanding stranger danger, and knowing how to seek help. It will be more beneficial to teach better and safer behavior as a replacement for elopement.
Use role-playing and visual aids to reinforce these lessons. Social stories are another good way to teach safety skills.
Another method of teaching safety skills is to fade out physical prompting. I’ve taught children to respond to “stop” by being right in front of them in the beginning and then stating, “stop” and having the child then stop. I’d then gradually fade back as he made more progress with this safety instruction.
Gradual Independence
Encourage gradual independence in a safe and controlled manner. Allow supervised exploration and gradually increase the boundaries as your child demonstrates understanding and adherence to safety rules.
As with the responding to “stop” safety skills, you can fade yourself out in more controlled settings, such as your home.
Conclusion
Preventing wandering in autistic children requires a multifaceted approach that combines environmental modifications, engaging activities, communication support, community involvement, and continuous monitoring.
By understanding the causes of wandering and implementing these strategies, parents and caregivers can create a safer environment for autistic children, helping them to thrive and explore the world securely.
Remember, the goal is not to restrict their freedom but to ensure their safety while allowing them to grow and learn in a supportive and understanding environment.
Remember, safety first. Safety is the number one priority and while we want children to have independence in walking next to us in the grocery store, that’s not always the best option.
If you liked what you read here, don’t forget to subscribe for more ABA in the home content! Subscribe here to be in the know and be notified about new posts!
Take a deep breath. You’ve got this!