All families can benefit from planning and prevention for safety outside the home, specially those with neurodivergent family members. Children that are considered neurodivergent are those with ADHD, autism, dyslexia, dyspraxia, etcs who can be more susceptible to getting lost, traffic accidents, drowning, and abductions due to their difficulty picking up subtle environmental cues and problem-solving in unfamiliar environments.
Elopement
Elopement, or running away from a designated area without permission, can be a real danger while in stores or out on the street. Kids can elope as a form of escape (from an activity, place, or person), to obtain access to something (be it a place, item, or person), or even because they just like running. Understanding the reason why elopement happens can help us prepare in planning for future scenarios.
If they are trying to escape something, find out why and avoid the cause to the greatest extent possible. If they are scared of the Halloween inflatable decorations at the hardware store, maybe it’s best to avoid that aisle all together and go around.
If the goal is to get something tangible, communicate to them at what point of your trip they can get the item and make sure they get it when you tell them they will get it. If an elopement happens, avoid allowing it to continue. As an example, imagine you’re at the store and your kiddo really wants to go check out the toys in the next aisle. Try to communicate when you will stop by the toy aisle in your shopping trip, and if he does wrestle free and runs to it before it, do not think “Well, we were close enough, might as well let him”
If your kiddo just loves the actual act of running, try to incorporate this activity somewhere in your trip. For example, a trip to the local We Rock the Spectrum – Kid’s Gym before your shopping trip might get the running all out of their system.
Getting Lost
The very thought of your child being missing is a nightmare to every parent, specially if they have a hard time communicating or are non-verbal. If they cannot communicate their name or address locating them when they are found could be another layer to the entire situation. Consider a lanyard ID or ID bracelet with the child’s name, address, and your information. With the advancement of technology, we now have a wide array of options in terms of GPS tracking devices. There are ankle/wrist bracelets, apps for smartphones, tag like devices, devices with an alarm that goes off when the individual leaves a preset perimeter, and even shoe insoles with GPS tracking components installed. You can even take the precaution of going door to door and notifying your neighbors to contact you if they ever see your child wandering outside alone.
Traffic Safety Skills
Developing basic traffic safety skills will greatly reduce the risk of traffic injury. Skills to work on include knowing the difference between the footpath and the road, to hold hands with an adult, when to stop, which places are safe to cross in, and which places it is not safe to cross in.
These skills can be worked on by using social stories with short descriptions of situations and what to expect, visual aids like photographs or cue cards, and by role-playing with toys/signs and making a game out of it.
Water Safety
Many children love playing with water and even seek it out. The local neighborhood pool, a nearby stream, or even a waddling pool can be very calming and soothing to kids. It is when children elope and go near a body of water without supervision when they are in great danger of drowning. Consider teaching water safety at an early age through swimming lessons, ensuring nearby pools are gated, waddling pools and buckets are drained, and laying out strict rules regarding when they can be near a body of water.
Stranger Danger
Every child should learn the risks of talking to strangers, but this can be difficult for some children due to social and communication barriers. While child abductions are statistically rare, teaching your children what is considered a stranger and what to do when approached by one will lower the risk of being abducted. Explain to them that a stranger is someone you hardly know or don’t know at all. Someone they see in their neighborhood once in a while but do not know is just as much a stranger as someone they have never seen or met before. Role playing scenarios can be a great what to teach this. Role play scenarios such as when they are waiting at a bus stop, when they are home alone and the doorbell rings, when a stranger asks for personal information online, when they are riding their bike outside and a car slows down and follows them, and when a stranger approaches them at the park.