With warmer weather around the corner, many parents of children on the autism spectrum may be worrying about how to make sure their child enjoys their summer while staying safe and comfortable. Luckily, there are a few easy changes you can make to your backyard to turn it into a safe, accessible and functional oasis for a child with autism.
Wandering
According to the New York Times, the tendency of some autistic children to wander is well-established. People with autism can display a lack of fear in the face of danger and may also be insensitive to sounds, which can be extremely dangerous for wandering children.
Making sure your backyard has an appropriate safety fence is a given. Buy something that is tall enough and smooth enough that they cannot easily climb it. You should also keep any doors that lead out to the yard locked so your child cannot go outside without you knowing about it.
Pool Safety
Summer brings with it a host of pool parties, which can be a source of great anxiety for parents. The water poses a real danger to children, but those with autism may not be able to recognize this. This is why, according to PBS, drowning is the most common fatal injury in children with autism.
This becomes even more concerning when the danger is in your own backyard. You can stop your child from wandering, but you can’t stop them from being curious about their own pool. However, there are a few things you can do.
For one, make sure your child knows how to swim. Either teach them yourselves in your home pool, or book a professional lesson. If your child has sensory processing issues that may make this difficult, there are specialized swimming lessons addressing this.
Second, install a pool alarm. This will alert you if anyone or anything enters your pool without warning, meaning you will be immediately notified if your child falls in. You can simply deactivate the alarm when the kids are using the pool with supervision.
Sensory Garden
Sensory gardens have become an increasingly popular feature for both adults and children with autism. They are designed to encourage sensory exploration through touch, smell and sound, and can provide hours of fun and education for your child.
Grab a pair of garden gloves and turn your backyard — or a portion of it — into a sensory garden by adding plants that are suitable for handling and exploration. Think sturdy and non-toxic with interesting textures and smells. Good options include cooking herbs, lavender, moss, succulents, small trees and shrubs, and heather.
You can then include other sensory elements, such as a small water feature, wind chimes, or a birdbath. A sensory garden can be fully tailored to the sensations your child enjoys, so there is no “right” way to do it.
Prepare for an Emergency
Sometimes, despite your best intentions and efforts, your child may find a way to wander off. There are a few precautions you can take to ensure their safety even if this happens.
First, make sure your neighbors are aware of your child’s autism and that they know about wandering. Not everyone will be clued up on the issues surrounding autism, so it’s a good idea to go around the neighborhood to warn them and give them your number in case they see your child wandering alone.
Second, make sure your child has some sort of identification, such as an ID bracelet or necklace, on them at all times. That way, anyone who finds them will know who to call and where to take them. You could also invest in a tracking device, making it easier to find them wherever they go.
Being a parent of a child with autism comes with its difficulties, and making sure your child can enjoy the outdoors while remaining safe is definitely one of them. However, with some thought and planning, you can design a backyard space that is fully safe, secure and tailored to your child’s special needs — without sacrificing fun.