Parents of children with autism are most concerned about their children’s safety when going out because children often do not recognize danger and frequently display reckless behavior! They might run directly into the street without looking for cars; climb high or walk in unsafe areas… News reports of children’s accidents happen every holiday, so how can we protect our children’s safety? How can we teach children to be aware of dangers?
01 Establish Rules
Without rules, nothing can be accomplished. We need to teach children what they can and cannot do. Clear boundaries and rules should be set for children. For example, if a child likes to run around while crossing the street, we can teach them to recognize traffic signs and learn traffic rules at home beforehand. We can use nursery rhymes to teach children—“Look left and right, stop at red, go at green, wait at yellow,” and use situational simulations for practice. This allows children to have a certain understanding of traffic safety; when encountering situations where a child runs around outside, we should make it clear to them: it’s okay to run on the soccer field but absolutely not on the road. When a child behaves inappropriately, parents can redirect their attention and guide them to act correctly.
02 Teach Children to Follow Instructions
The importance of following instructions becomes very evident when a child is engaging in dangerous behavior. If we give commands to stop or redirect attention, and the child can follow them, it will further ensure their safety. Therefore, we must train children to understand and execute instructions simultaneously. How can we help children understand and comply with the command “stop”?
At home, arrange for either dad or mom to practice with the child. For instance, dad could hold the child’s hand and walk about 3 to 4 steps before mom calls out to stop. Dad can demonstrate what “stop” is like for the child to imitate. Alternatively, after every step or two, call “stop.” If the child does not understand, the adult holding the child’s hand can prompt the child, encouraging them to follow the command together.
Once children are proficient in this exercise, adults can try letting go of the child’s hand and have them perform actions on command independently. When children succeed, they should receive a big encouragement and hug, or be rewarded with a treat, or play a game they enjoy. Similarly, the command “come back” can also be practiced, the only difference being that parents demonstrate returning when training with their children. Once children understand each command and can act on them, regular practice should continue to prevent them from forgetting. Note that when children do not comply with instructions, we should try to maintain a calm and even demeanor and guide them positively.
03 Substitute Behavior
“Substitute behavior” means when a child wants to engage in a dangerous activity, parents can guide them to do something else that achieves a similar effect while avoiding danger. For example, if a child enjoys looking out the window, you can say, “Sweetheart loves looking at scenery so much, how about we go downstairs together after we finish eating?” To provide another example, if a child loves playing with water and frequently runs towards it outside, you might say, “We can play with water in the bathroom after we get home.” This approach not only satisfies the child’s needs but also improves their inappropriate behavior, achieving two goals at once.
04 Seize Daily Opportunities
Safety education can take place at any time; it does not have to be tied to a specific time or location. It’s best if it is integrated into the child’s daily life.
05 Make Children Aware of Consequences and Costs
Some children may not respond to positive guidance from parents, and no amount of preaching seems to help. In such cases, using “negative reinforcement” can be effective, allowing children to see or perceive the dangerous consequences or costs, so they think twice before repeating the action next time.
For generally dangerous behaviors, like when a child likes to touch hot objects, parents can, within safe limits, allow the child to experience warmth by touching under supervision, helping them realize that it feels bad. It’s important to implement these methods while ensuring the child’s safety to avoid accidents.
