Some children with special needs, such as autism, can be wanderers. One second your child is there, the next, he is completely out of your sight. Panic sets in as you try to find him. Not knowing where your child is is a horrible experience and can mean life or death. Here are some ideas on how to keep your little wanderer safe.
* Install secondary locks to all exterior doors and place them high on the door and out of your child’s reach.
* Install alarms or chimes to exterior doors so you know when someone is coming in or going out.
* Install window locks to ensure your child can’t get out through a window.
* Get your child an ID bracelet so whoever finds him knows how to contact you.
* Use a baby video monitor to watch your child while you are in a different room.
* If your child is young enough, have him wear a “backpack” that has a “leash” for you to hold onto when you are in public. My daughter wears her “bear backpack” with pride and we hold onto its “tail” for her as we walk.
* Install a high fence around your yard to keep your child out of the street.
* Consider getting a dog that is trained to both keep your child from wandering and to track him if he does manage to wander off. There are groups across the country that train autism dogs that the child is attached to when out in public so if the child tries to take off, the dog stays put and the child can’t go anywhere. If the child does manage to get away, these same dogs will track his scent and find him faster than you ever could on your own. As a plus, these dogs act as calming force for a child having a meltdown.
* Can’t get a dog? Consider a GPS locator bracelet for your child so you can track him down wherever he goes.
* If you have a pool, make sure it is on lockdown at all times. You can read the American Academy of Pediatrics rules for pool safety to make sure you are taking all the right measures. In addition, you can purchase a water safety bracelet that lets you know when it gets wet.
These are just some ideas on how to keep your child safe. Talk to your child’s specialist for more ideas.