RE: need suggestions for child who runs away

[Guest guest]

Kenzie (almost 11 DS) is still running away....she HAS TO HAVE a designated

para at school because she is so quick and wanders FAR AWAY!!!! I would love

any suggestions too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

karen

[Guest guest]

Okay since you are not at home when this happens most of the time I think

you should reward her when she stays with you. This comes from my child

development classes BUT what if you carried a special treat with you -

something she likes - like gummy bears, M & M's ect - you get the idea. When

you get where you are going make sure to tell her that you will give her

whatever it is if and only if she stays with you. At first you will have to

have a large supply of whatever it is and reward her very very frequently

and praise her. Then SLOWLY lengthen the time between treats and then

slowly very slowly phase out the treats altogether. This process should

take weeks from start to finish. At first you should almost reward her

every step she takes with you and not running away - kind of like leading a

puppy (for lack of a better example) to follow you with a treat. Make

sense????

Colleen Stephansen

Colleen's Child Care

NAFCC Accredited Child Care in Riverbank, CA

need suggestions for child who runs away

Our almost 4 year old, , has started frequently running away from us.

It happens on our sidewalk, in the doctor's office, at the store...pretty

much everywhere and seems to be getting worse and happening more often.

We're pleased that she's finally running , but she's gotten fast and with

a 9 month old in tow its hard to catch up with her sometimes. She's put her

life in danger at least once when she ran into the street. She's run down

the block and into a neighbor's garage... you get the idea, I'm sure some of

you have been there and we're looking for suggestions to help stop it. It's

hard to find a consistent consequence since most of the time we're not home

when it happens. Taking toys or videos away is not immediate enough and a

stern talking to doesn't seem to be working. She comprehends a little of

what we're saying. She'll tell me " no run away. hit car. "

But that doesn't seem to stop her the next time. I'm thinking of

installing a security system just in case she decides to leave the house,

too. I'm sure its just a phase, but I fear for her life. Any ideas?

Thanks,

mom to (8), (5), (3-DS), & Tyler (9 months)

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messages to go to the sender of the message.

[Guest guest]

Don't think about installing a security system, do it now - you can buy

cheap alarms at Wal-Mart or Radio Shack. My son was a runner for a number

of years. He does pretty well staying in the yard now - well, my long

argument with hubby about leaving keys in the car was finally won, so issues

about independence continue to surface but just in different ways.

need suggestions for child who runs away

> Our almost 4 year old, , has started frequently running away

> from us. It happens on our sidewalk, in the doctor's office, at the

> store...pretty much everywhere and seems to be getting worse and

> happening more often. We're pleased that she's finally running ,

> but she's gotten fast and with a 9 month old in tow its hard to catch

> up with her sometimes. She's put her life in danger at least once when

> she ran into the street. She's run down the block and into a

> neighbor's garage... you get the idea, I'm sure some of you have been

> there and we're looking for suggestions to help stop it. It's hard to

> find a consistent consequence since most of the time we're not home

> when it happens. Taking toys or videos away is not immediate enough

> and a stern talking to doesn't seem to be working. She comprehends a

> little of what we're saying. She'll tell me " no run away. hit car. "

> But that doesn't seem to stop her the next time. I'm thinking of

> installing a security system just in case she decides to leave the

> house, too. I'm sure its just a phase, but I fear for her life. Any

> ideas?

>

> Thanks,

>

> mom to (8), (5), (3-DS), & Tyler (9 months)

>

>

>

>

>

> Click reply to all for messages to go to the list. Just hit reply for

> messages to go to the sender of the message.

>

[Guest guest]

Okay, I guess I should have added that I used this method (below) with my

own daughter who is now 8 yrs old with Down Syndrome. She stays with me and

my husband where ever we go. It was tough at first but we stuck it out and

now it is not a problem when she is with me, my husband or anyone else for

that matter including grandparents and teachers.

Colleen Stephansen

Colleen's Child Care

NAFCC Accredited Child Care in Riverbank, CA

need suggestions for child who runs away

Our almost 4 year old, , has started frequently running away from us.

It happens on our sidewalk, in the doctor's office, at the store...pretty

much everywhere and seems to be getting worse and happening more often.

We're pleased that she's finally running , but she's gotten fast and with

a 9 month old in tow its hard to catch up with her sometimes. She's put her

life in danger at least once when she ran into the street. She's run down

the block and into a neighbor's garage... you get the idea, I'm sure some of

you have been there and we're looking for suggestions to help stop it. It's

hard to find a consistent consequence since most of the time we're not home

when it happens. Taking toys or videos away is not immediate enough and a

stern talking to doesn't seem to be working. She comprehends a little of

what we're saying. She'll tell me " no run away. hit car. "

But that doesn't seem to stop her the next time. I'm thinking of

installing a security system just in case she decides to leave the house,

too. I'm sure its just a phase, but I fear for her life. Any ideas?

Thanks,

mom to (8), (5), (3-DS), & Tyler (9 months)

Click reply to all for messages to go to the list. Just hit reply for

messages to go to the sender of the message.

[Guest guest]

This came to me and not the list..so here is another

response.............

Re: need suggestions for child who runs away

Our son ran too. I had to use different things to get him to stop.

Red light/green light worked for a time. Letting him walk next to

me without holding my hand worked for a time - as a reward for not

running away - if he ran, he had to hold hands. Having him help

carry a shopping bag worked for a time.

We bought i.d. bracelets for both boys from this site.

http://www.roadid.com/id.asp?referrer=2258

I'm sure there are other places to get similar products but we had

coupons for this site. They still wear them when we go anyplace

that will be crowded - especially Disneyworld last summer. During

that trip, I dressed the boys in similar clothing so that if I lost

one, I wouldn't have to try to remember what he was wearing. I also

dressed in the same color as them - so they could look at what

they're wearing and find me wearing the same color.

Fortunately, we've outgrown most of the running so I can say it gets

better but I know it's tough while it's happening.

[Guest guest]

In our last issue of MOSAIC WORLD, we featured this very danger and what to do

if your child runs away. This is a very common problem in children with Down

syndrome. We do offer subscriptions to our newsletter for only $10.00 a year if

you are interested, and you can look at past issues with the subscription. (if

interested, just email me)

But, if you would like to just read about some suggestions on the subject, you

can go to Disability Solutions and they have a whole newsletter dedicated to

" WANDERING OFF "

Kristy Colvin

IMDSA President

www.imdsa.com

________________________________________________________________________

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Message: 1

Date: Sun, 16 Apr 2006 23:50:06 -0000

From: " "

Subject: need suggestions for child who runs away

Our almost 4 year old, , has started frequently running away

from us. It happens on our sidewalk, in the doctor's office, at the

store...pretty much everywhere and seems to be getting worse and

happening more often. We're pleased that she's finally running ,

but she's gotten fast and with a 9 month old in tow its hard to catch

up with her sometimes. She's put her life in danger at least once when

she ran into the street. She's run down the block and into a

neighbor's garage... you get the idea, I'm sure some of you have been

there and we're looking for suggestions to help stop it. It's hard to

find a consistent consequence since most of the time we're not home

when it happens. Taking toys or videos away is not immediate enough

and a stern talking to doesn't seem to be working. She comprehends a

little of what we're saying. She'll tell me " no run away. hit car. "

But that doesn't seem to stop her the next time. I'm thinking of

installing a security system just in case she decides to leave the

house, too. I'm sure its just a phase, but I fear for her life. Any

ideas?

Thanks,

mom to (8), (5), (3-DS), & Tyler (9 months)

[Guest guest]

Thanks, Colleen! I carried a pocket full of Teddy Grahams with me today and

as we ran some errands I let her walk (instead of putting her in the

stroller with her brother) and told her she would get one for every time she

stayed with me. I told her how big she was and gave her some extra

responsibilities like holding a bag and she did great! It's amazing how

often we forget the powers of positive reinforcement. We give her M & M's for

using the potty (still training, but almost there), but I didn't even think

of it for dealing with the running away. Thanks for reminding me!

mom to (8), (5), (3-DS), & Tyler (9 months)

need suggestions for child who runs away

Our almost 4 year old, , has started frequently running away from us.

It happens on our sidewalk, in the doctor's office, at the store...pretty

much everywhere and seems to be getting worse and happening more often.

We're pleased that she's finally running , but she's gotten fast and with

a 9 month old in tow its hard to catch up with her sometimes. She's put her

life in danger at least once when she ran into the street. She's run down

the block and into a neighbor's garage... you get the idea, I'm sure some of

you have been there and we're looking for suggestions to help stop it. It's

hard to find a consistent consequence since most of the time we're not home

when it happens. Taking toys or videos away is not immediate enough and a

stern talking to doesn't seem to be working. She comprehends a little of

what we're saying. She'll tell me " no run away. hit car. "

But that doesn't seem to stop her the next time. I'm thinking of

installing a security system just in case she decides to leave the house,

too. I'm sure its just a phase, but I fear for her life. Any ideas?

Thanks,

mom to (8), (5), (3-DS), & Tyler (9 months)

Click reply to all for messages to go to the list. Just hit reply for

messages to go to the sender of the message.