Elopement Cheat Sheet

A one-page safety plan for when your child runs or wanders: prevention, preparation, and the first five minutes.

Save or print this page. Keep a copy in the car, the school bag, and with every regular caregiver.

The Basics

What is elopement?

When a child leaves a safe area or a caregiver's side without warning. Also called wandering or bolting.

How common is it?

Very. Research found 49% of autistic children eloped at least once after the age of four.

Is it bad behavior?

No. Kids are usually heading toward something they want, or escaping noise, demands, or overwhelm. It is a safety issue, not a discipline issue.

What is the biggest danger?

Water. Most children who die after wandering are found in water, so every search checks water first. Traffic is second.

When does it happen most?

During transitions, routine changes, vacations, and the unstructured minutes between activities.

Why Kids Elope

  • To get to something they love: water, a park, trains, a favorite store
  • To escape overwhelm: noise, crowds, bright lights, too many demands
  • Sensory seeking: running, splashing, movement itself
  • Curiosity: something caught their eye and they went to look
  • They may not see traffic, deep water, or strangers as dangers
  • Almost never spite. Knowing the reason tells you the fix

Make Home Harder to Leave

  • Door chimes or alarms on every exit, so leaving is never silent
  • Locks or chains mounted high, out of your child's reach
  • Window locks or stops on ground-floor windows
  • Fenced yard with a self-latching gate, if you can
  • A stop sign at your child's eye level on exit doors
  • Alarm the door to the garage and any pool gate too
  • Watch the weak moments: deliveries, guests, a parent in the shower
  • Never lock a child in a room alone, and keep fire exits clear

Tell Your Circle

  • Neighbors: your child may wander, and if they see them out alone, act
  • Give neighbors a one-page info sheet: photo, your number, likely destinations
  • Local police: ask about a wandering registry and tracking programs
  • School: an elopement protocol in the IEP or 504 plan, in writing
  • Family and babysitters: walk them through your doors, alarms, and rules
  • Anyone nearby with a pool: their gate latch matters

ID and Tracking

  • ID bracelet or shoe tag with your phone number
  • Temporary safety tattoo with your number for outings and trips
  • GPS tracker your child will actually keep on, charged every night
  • A recent, clear photo on your phone, updated every few months
  • Info sheet copies in the car, the school bag, and with grandparents
  • Tracking shortens the search. It does not prevent leaving

Teach Safety Skills

  • Practice "stop" and "stay" as a game, in safe places first
  • Swim lessons with an instructor experienced with autistic kids
  • Social stories before outings, trips, and new routines
  • Practice their name, your name, and pointing to their ID
  • Teach safe people: police officers, store workers, parents with kids
  • List the places your child would go, and keep the list updated

If Your Child Goes Missing: The First Five Minutes

  • Call 911. There is no waiting period for a missing child. Say your child has autism and may not answer to their name
  • Check the water first. The nearest pool, pond, or creek, starting with the closest
  • Check traffic dangers second. Busy roads on the routes your child would take
  • Alert the neighbors. They already have your info sheet and know what to do
  • Send someone to the favorite place. The park, the store, the spot your child always heads for
  • One adult stays home with the phone. Children sometimes circle back, and responders need a contact who is not searching

Want the full plan?

Read the complete elopement safety guide: the layered plan for home, school, and your neighborhood, the one-page written safety plan, and answers to common questions.

Read the Full Guide →