Re: Escape!!

[Guest guest]

My kids (both with autism) liked 'escaping' when they were younger.

My daughter escaped when she was seven (she is 15 now). I was at

work, and she was at my house with the babysitter. We had a walk-out

basement and a very high privacy fence around the yard. When the

sitter went up to the kitchen to fix some food, found a

stepladder, propped it against the fence, climbed over and escaped.

This was the day before Thanksgiving, and she had no coat or shoes

on. She went to a Pizza Hut about four blocks away on a very busy

street. Fortunately the workers there could tell she was 'different,'

and they called the police. was home less than 30 minutes

after her escape. I got home from work a little while later, not

knowing anything about it (that was pre-cell phone), and I found a

police officer sitting in my living room. He told me he would not

charge me with child neglect " this time. "

Anyway - after that, I installed KEYED deadbolts on all the doors

(meaning, you need a key to unlock it from the inside as well as the

outside), including the sliding glass patio door. I also had keyed

locks installed on the windows. I had a locksmith do the patio door

and window locks. After that, the kids could not get out of the house

by themselves. (Of course I had to wear the keys around my neck for a

while. :-) That really helped give me peace of mind when the kids

were younger.

Hope this helps,

Pat J.

[Guest guest]

My kids (both with autism) liked 'escaping' when they were younger.

My daughter escaped when she was seven (she is 15 now). I was at

work, and she was at my house with the babysitter. We had a walk-out

basement and a very high privacy fence around the yard. When the

sitter went up to the kitchen to fix some food, found a

stepladder, propped it against the fence, climbed over and escaped.

This was the day before Thanksgiving, and she had no coat or shoes

on. She went to a Pizza Hut about four blocks away on a very busy

street. Fortunately the workers there could tell she was 'different,'

and they called the police. was home less than 30 minutes

after her escape. I got home from work a little while later, not

knowing anything about it (that was pre-cell phone), and I found a

police officer sitting in my living room. He told me he would not

charge me with child neglect " this time. "

Anyway - after that, I installed KEYED deadbolts on all the doors

(meaning, you need a key to unlock it from the inside as well as the

outside), including the sliding glass patio door. I also had keyed

locks installed on the windows. I had a locksmith do the patio door

and window locks. After that, the kids could not get out of the house

by themselves. (Of course I had to wear the keys around my neck for a

while. :-) That really helped give me peace of mind when the kids

were younger.

Hope this helps,

Pat J.