Pro Tips provided by Gretchen Abdulla, Supervising Clinician-Behavior Support and the Behavior Support team.

Elopement is a safety concern for many parents and caregivers of children with autism. It’s something they need to be prepared for at any given moment and can make outings with their child more stressful. However, there are steps parents can take to teach their child to stay with an adult while out in the community. Read our tips below:

1. Practice often with your child.

Start with short, frequent practices in a contained, familiar setting, such as a fenced-in backyard. Provide positive reinforcement with verbal praise or preferred items when your child follows directions.

As they progress, you can make the practices longer, and if you feel comfortable, you can try practicing at a park during off-peak hours. If appropriate, create a social story about staying with adults before you go out in the community together.

You can also discuss creating a “stop” plan for your child with their teachers and support staff so they can practice the same safety skills at school.

2. Communication is key.

Before you head out into the community, explain to your child that they can receive a preferred item or food if they follow directions. For example, you might say, “While we’re at the zoo you need to stay with me and then you can have some Skittles.”

Outings are a great way to practice communication and asking permission. If your child is interested in an activity and it’s safe to do so, you can prompt them to ask for permission. For example, if they want to go on the swing set, prompt them to ask for that activity and then honor their request.

When you’re going from one place to another, give clear directions and reminders throughout the transition, such as, “Remember, we’re walking back to the car.” Give verbal praise to your child when they stay with you by saying something like, “I love how you are staying with me,” and then give them their preferred item.

3. Be prepared.

Ensure your child has a form of identification on them, such as a bracelet or shoe tag, just in case they do get away from you. If possible, try to anticipate what your child might run towards, and make sure to position yourself between your child and that destination or activity. Pack some of your child’s preferred items, like a toy or food they really enjoy, to give them when they follow directions.

Elopement is a safety concern for many parents and caregivers of children with autism. It’s something they need to be prepared for at any given moment and can make outings with their child more stressful. However, there are steps parents can take to teach their child to stay with an adult while out in the community. Read our tips below: