Cooper's Cottage Safety

Cooper's Cottage focuses on all aspects of our homes and community. What it takes to keep our children safe, teaching our children schedules, how to transition throughout the day, how to follow rules and consequences for not following rules.

Home Safety:

Keeping doors closed are the biggest issue! Our kids can unlock and climb anything. They are strong and smart! Chains and locks will need to be installed on all outside doors. Just make sure that you have a key placed somewhere outside… they will without a doubt lock you out of the house! If you need to, try the small alarms that they use for pools. They install on the door or even a window and will sound if opened. Another source of headaches was when they learned to lock the inside doors. As toodlers we put duct tape over the locks. When they learned to take that off then we turned the handle around so that the lock was on the outside (bedrooms only). Bathroom doors we made sure that we had the key tool to open the door above every door!

Visual Cues:

This will become you best friend J Even if your child has some language, children learn better visually. A picture speaks a thousand words! Pictures can be found on the internet or through graphic programs. Think of the sequence of doing something, then look for pictures to show the sequence. I found that placing the pictures into baseball card holders protects them and they can be replaced when needed. Velcro can attached to the back of the card to attach them to a chart.

House Rules: For Parents

  • Keep a key around your wrist to open a door that has been locked by a over zealous toddler.
  • Once you have gone out a door remember to lock that door once inside.
  • Keep an eye on bathrooms, faucets, toilets - basically any where there is water.
  • Watch for running faucets with stoppers that have plugged the sink.
  • Flooding is always fun playtime, just not for parents.
  • Allow for lifting time (Hulk Time) - Use a laundry basket filled with stuffed animals, blocks, or  blankets. - As they get older, allow the to help unload the dryer.
    This allows them sensory input and jump starts the body. Not to mention, helps you out too! Added responsibility is good too J
  • Cabinets and contents that you do not want your children in should be LOCKED UP.This can be done cheaply with a small chain link and a small pad lock which you can find at Home Depot. It might be a hassle for you, but it does save a big mess later!
    Just think of how much fun it is to play in cereal, flour, rice and pasta…… It is not fun to clean up!
  • As your kids get older (3-4 yrs) the refrigerator may need to be locked also.
  • Make sure that all medicine is out of reach from little hands. Place into a lock box. Keep it locked and up in a closet. - Watch out for climbers!
  • All cleaning agents & other toxic chemicals need to be under lock and key or high up in a closet, so that they can not be reached. Breaking up a Windex fight is not easy. You are sure to get shot or someone will get squirted in eyes!

REMEMBER as a parent, to keep your sense of humor! It may be hard, but your little explorer needs to see a positive reaction, then explain why what they are doing will but them in harms way. Have your child clean up the mess with you.

PROTECTING your child outside in the communty is also an important issue. As parents, we have tried harnesses that look like animals and backpacks. Restricted our child to a stroller and bought the LOC8TOR. This is a locating devise that the child wears on his / her wrist while you carry the phone size device that can find them in an emergency situation. Our kids are very fast as I am sure that yours are too! They can be pricey, but this is highly recommended. Go on line and look for tracking devices for children. We have used this in the mall, grocery stores, Disney World and Universal. I have also used it to find my child in the house as he hid from me and would not answer my call. It is well worth the investment!

Safety Products by websites

Angel Guard

Keep your passengers safe and their seatbelts on! The safety seatbelt release cover which acts as a safety barrier that deters children from unlocking their seatbelts. www.angelguardbuynow.com

Autism ID Card

The Autism ID Card helps people on the autism spectrum explain their medical condition to first responders in the event of an emergency. www.autismidcard.com

Autism Safety Initiative

The National Autism Association is providing information on safety, bullying, wandering, restraint, seclusion and more. www.autismsafety.org

EZ100 Personal Emergency Notifier and GPS Tracker

The EZ-100 from EYEZ gives families of wandering special needs children added peace of mind and the confidence to engage in activities and adventures with the whole family. www.-eye-zon.com

iKids Fashion

Romper/sleeper that is mad of 100% soft cotton that is tag less. www.ikidsfashion.com  

Kid Safe Child ID Card

The Kid Safe ID Card is designed like a credit card to carry in your purse or wallet. It has a built in usb flash drive which contains all of your child’s personal and medical information. This usb pen drive  hold 2 different pictures of your child, emergency contacts, medications, doctors, immunization records and a “What to do” list if your child goes missing. www.medinfopronto.com

LoJack SafetyNet

Try these personal locator bracelets for individuals with autism that have a tendency to wander. After contacting the authorities, they use LoJack search to track the radio signal and locate your loved one. It may be worn on the ankle or wrist. www.lojack.com/safetynet

Medical ID Store

Products include custom engraved medical jewelry ID, medical ID bracelets sports bands, shoe tag alerts and more. www.medicalidstore.com

Seat Belt Buckle Guard

This seat belt lock is designed to prevent children with autism and other related disabilities from releasing the seat belt while the car is in motion. www.especialneeds.com

WanderID

 With our smartphone app (free), first responders in the community can quickly identify lost children. Upload your child’s picture, input contact information, and you have a way to protect your child. www.wanderid.com

Disclaimer

 

Autism 4 Parents does not provide medical or legal advice or services. We provide general information about autism as a service to the community. The information provided on this website is not a recommendation, referral, or endorsement of any resource, therapeutic method, or service provider and does not replace the advice of medical, legal, or educational professionals. Autism 4 Parents has not validated and is not responsible for any information or services provided by third parties. You are urged to use independent judgment and request references when considering any resource associated with the provision of services related to autism.

Cooperative Kids

In order for children to understand what you want from them, as a parent you must teach the skills needed to achieve this.  This is true for ALL children!  For our kids, you may have to you may have to go over it more often.

Take a look around the house and find your “NO TOUCH ZONES”. What I mean by this is anything that you do not want your child to break or you think that they might get hurt by is a No Touch Zone.

  • When passing through the zone – Teach your child to place their hands behind your back or on their belly. Example: Walking through a store with glassware or a friend house that does not have a child.
  • Use your “ET” finger to touch if they just have to touch.

TAKING TURNS:

Sharing is hard for any child, but when your child has Autism, Sensory Disorders or Explosive this is a skill that has to be taught.

  • Sit down with your child to play using a basket filled with blocks, shapes or any other toy that will hold your child’s interest.
  • Ask you little one if you can play with them. Then pass a bean bag or a small floppy stuffed animal to them to show them that it is their turn.
  • This can also be done with playing a game.
  • Your child must also pass the bean bag or stuffed animal to you.
  • This may take a few times for your child to understand. Repeat this each time you play.

STOP:

Teaching your child to stop or freeze is very difficult. This is a safety issue that needs to be taught right away. A child that is a runner may not hear you when you call their name. If you have a secret freezing word then they know that you mean business.

  • To practice this use with music. Turn the music on (dance), turn off (Stop).
  • Make sure you have a freezing word. 
  • Freeze, wait, hold it……….

EXPLORING:

Our kids are pros at getting into everything! They are natural wonders, natural explorers, and very good at getting into anything that you do not want them in! Protecting them is the most important thing that you can do.

  • Take a walk around the house with your child.
  • Show them the places that you do not want them to explore in. Say this is not ______ Name’s Place. This is Mommy’s or Daddy’s. Not for __Name__.
  • Then show them places that are safe for them to explore. This is ____’s space.
  • Repeat as needed. At first do this every day.
  • This does not take the place of Kid Proofing your place.
  • Places you may want to explore:The kitchen, Master Bedroom, Bathrooms

CALMING THE SILLINESS:

Kids are Kids! When you need them to be on their best behavior someone gets SILLY. Although they may get away with it at home, when you are out the silliness may need to be controlled.

  • PUT THE SILLIES in your POCKET! 
  • Get your child’s attention, tell them the sillies must go to their pocket.
  • Afterwards take the sillies out of your pocket and have fun!

 

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