Is it common for Aspies to wander?

[Guest guest]

Hi,

My almost 4 yr old g'son (diagnosed with Asperger's) has to be watched closely.

He will walk right out the front door at home or our house if it's not locked.

He will take off at the park or anywhere else he can. This has been going on

for about a year. Is this a common problem? Is there a way to get through to

him how dangerous this is?

Thanks,

Becky

[Guest guest]

My son was never a wanderer b/c he was too much of a stickler for rules at home, at least when it came to safety. But I've heard some other children on here who tended to run off. I'm sure you'll get some advice =)

"Over-optimism is waiting for you ship to come in when you haven't sent one out."

From: becky.desimone <becky.desimone@...> Sent: Wed, March 3, 2010 8:33:20 PMSubject: ( ) Is it common for Aspies to wander?

Hi,My almost 4 yr old g'son (diagnosed with Asperger's) has to be watched closely. He will walk right out the front door at home or our house if it's not locked. He will take off at the park or anywhere else he can. This has been going on for about a year. Is this a common problem? Is there a way to get through to him how dangerous this is?Thanks,Becky

[Guest guest]

I am not sure its that uncommon for any 4 year old to wonder, but I have noticed that aspies of all ages frequently pace as a way of stimming and sometimes while they are pacing they have a habit of wondering off. Maybe that helps.

From: becky.desimone@...Date: Thu, 4 Mar 2010 02:33:20 +0000Subject: ( ) Is it common for Aspies to wander?

Hi,My almost 4 yr old g'son (diagnosed with Asperger's) has to be watched closely. He will walk right out the front door at home or our house if it's not locked. He will take off at the park or anywhere else he can. This has been going on for about a year. Is this a common problem? Is there a way to get through to him how dangerous this is?Thanks,Becky

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[Guest guest]

I have had some experience of this, my son is 6, for a couple of years he has done the disappearing act, when we are at the shops usually we find him in a photo booth, at school if anyone isn't in the classroom he dissappears to look for them without telling anyone. Funnily enough he knows he is not allowed to cross the road near our house and sticks to this rule rigidly!

From: becky.desimone <becky.desimone@...>Subject: ( ) Is it common for Aspies to wander? Date: Thursday, 4 March, 2010, 2:33

Hi,My almost 4 yr old g'son (diagnosed with Asperger's) has to be watched closely. He will walk right out the front door at home or our house if it's not locked. He will take off at the park or anywhere else he can. This has been going on for about a year. Is this a common problem? Is there a way to get through to him how dangerous this is?Thanks,Becky

[Guest guest]

Last summer he walked right out our door and across the street. Recently he

walked out the door at home a few times. They added another safety lock and a

chain up high. Maybe he'll do better this summer since he's older. I guess

we'll have to practice with him and make him go inside if he doesn't listen. He

just started ecdd pre-school so maybe that too will help him learn to obey

rules.

Thanks.

>

>

> From: becky.desimone <becky.desimone@...>

> Subject: ( ) Is it common for Aspies to wander?

>

> Date: Thursday, 4 March, 2010, 2:33

>

>

>  

>

>

>

> Hi,

> My almost 4 yr old g'son (diagnosed with Asperger's) has to be watched

closely. He will walk right out the front door at home or our house if it's not

locked. He will take off at the park or anywhere else he can. This has been

going on for about a year. Is this a common problem? Is there a way to get

through to him how dangerous this is?

>

> Thanks,

> Becky

>

[Guest guest]

I have heard of roaming before, or some other kids that run away from school etc to escape what they perceive as a stressfull situation. Your son sounds more like he does the roaming, I have had friends describe it as their kids aren't intentionally doing anything bad they just don't perceive any danger so disappear off on an adventure, without a thought about their distraught parents who don't know where they are or of they are safe. I think extra vigilence is the only way to protect a child that does this, apparently no matter how many times the idea of staying somewhere safe is explained it just doesn't sink in.

L

From: becky.desimone <becky.desimone@...>Subject: Re: ( ) Is it common for Aspies to wander? Date: Monday, 8 March, 2010, 18:05

Last summer he walked right out our door and across the street. Recently he walked out the door at home a few times. They added another safety lock and a chain up high. Maybe he'll do better this summer since he's older. I guess we'll have to practice with him and make him go inside if he doesn't listen. He just started ecdd pre-school so maybe that too will help him learn to obey rules.Thanks.> > > From: becky.desimone <becky.desimone@ ...>> Subject: ( ) Is it common for Aspies to wander?> > Date: Thursday, 4 March, 2010, 2:33> > > Â > > > > Hi,> My almost 4 yr old g'son (diagnosed with Asperger's) has to be watched closely. He will walk right out the front door at home or our house if it's not locked. He will take off at the park or anywhere else he can. This has been going on for about a year. Is this a common

problem? Is there a way to get through to him how dangerous this is?> > Thanks,> Becky>

[Guest guest]

Mine certainly has in the past. He's 13 now and it's getting better but as soon

as he could walk he would just take off and I'd have to chase him. He never

looked to see where I was. It felt to me like he thought I always knew where he

was. It's a perfect example of mind-blindness. I hadn't heard that term at the

time but I told many people, " It's like he thinks I know what's in his head. "

He still forgets I don't know. He'll be reading a book in the back seat of the

car and he'll say, " Mom, what word is this? " He's pointing as if I can see it.

Last year he tried to leave school. He wasn't upset, just wanted to come home

and play video games. He has had a 1:1 support person with him all the time

since that happened. One year at camp there was an " arms length " rule because

he ripped a sign down at the pool and hit someone then tried to run away.

>

> Hi,

> My almost 4 yr old g'son (diagnosed with Asperger's) has to be watched

closely. He will walk right out the front door at home or our house if it's not

locked. He will take off at the park or anywhere else he can. This has been

going on for about a year. Is this a common problem? Is there a way to get

through to him how dangerous this is?

>

> Thanks,

> Becky

>