Keeping Our Little Adventurers Safe: Navigating the Challenges of Elopement in Autistic Children

Let's talk about something that can be frightening for parents, and dangerous for autistic children - wandering!

It can be a heart-stopping moment when you suddenly realize your child has disappeared from your sight. They might have wandered out of sight while you were at the park, or maybe your child likes to leave your house without you noticing.

The dangers of wandering are extremely worrying. Your child might venture across a busy street, get lost in the neighborhood, or even go looking for a pool or lake because they like water. That's why it's absolutely crucial for us parents to take proactive measures to keep our little adventurers safe.

Experts agree that there are some things that parents can do to lessen the risk of wandering. To secure the home, parents can use door/window locks and alarms. Identification and tracking devices are also common ways to keep your child safe. This way, if they wander out of the house, you will be able to track where they are. Another extremely important measure to take is to put your child in swimming lessons. Wandering often leads to water, and swimming lessons can save your child's life. With that said, every child is different, and the strategies that work for one child may or may not work for another.

There is an article in Autism Advocate Parenting Magazine, written by Dr. Kim Kroeger that gives excellent tips about how to keep a child safe from wandering. She explains how to set up preventative measures in the home, in the community and for the child.

Our children's safety should always be our top priority. By implementing these preventative measures, we can ensure our children's adventures stay within the boundaries of safety. Stay vigilant, stay informed, and most importantly, stay connected with your little explorers.

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