
What Is Elopement, and Why Does It Happen?
Elopement, also known as wandering or bolting, refers to the act of a child leaving a safe environment without permission or supervision. This behavior is common among children with developmental disabilities, such as autism or ADHD, but can also occur in neurotypical children. Elopement can stem from various causes, including sensory-seeking behaviors, curiosity, a need for escape from stressors, or a desire to access something desirable outside their current environment.
Understanding why a child elopes is crucial. For example, some children might wander because they’re overwhelmed in a noisy setting, while others might bolt impulsively when excited. Identifying these underlying causes helps create targeted strategies to keep children safe and reduce the frequency of elopement.
The Dangers of Elopement

The risks associated with elopement can be severe, making prevention a top priority. Children who wander around and especially off campus may encounter busy streets and cars that where they could become lost or injured. For children with limited communication skills, the dangers increase as they may struggle to ask for help or provide identifying information.
Beyond physical risks, elopement can also create emotional distress for families and caregivers. The fear of losing a child or the stress of constantly monitoring them can take a toll on overall well-being. This underscores the importance of developing strategies to manage and prevent elopement effectively.
Strategies to Reduce Elopement

Reducing elopement involves a combination of environmental adjustments, behavior management techniques, and proactive planning. Here are some effective strategies:
- Identify Triggers: Observe patterns in elopement behavior to understand what situations or stimuli precede an incident. As the teacher, you need to take data, observe patterns, and work with your school psychologist, who may be needed to do a formal Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA), to help develop a plan, or BIP (Behavior Intervention Plan). Once triggers are identified, caregivers can create plans to address or avoid them.
- Use Visual Supports: Social stories, visual schedules, behavior systems, and signs can help children understand expectations and reduce anxiety in various settings.
- Teach Safety Skills: Role-playing scenarios like asking for help or staying close to an adult can empower children to make safer choices.
- Secure the Environment: While it may not be allowed to lock the exit of a door, or put a baby gate in, placing strategic items that are not permanent structures, but can slow the child’s elopement attempt down are OK. As a school psychologist, I’ve seen teachers put painting easels, low book shelves or the classroom trashcan in front of the door, such as to make it more difficult for a child to leave without slowing them down a little. If you have multiple classroom aides, then placing an aide strategically near the door is also a good help.
- Reinforce Positive Behavior: Use positive reinforcement to encourage safe behaviors, such as staying in designated areas or following rules.
- Develop an Emergency Plan: Ensure that all classroom and school staff members know how to respond quickly in case of elopement. This plan might be part of the child’s Positive Behavior Intervention Plan is the child has an IEP.
Tools and Counseling Services for Emotional and Behavior Regulation
In addition to preventive strategies, specific tools and professional support can play a crucial role in reducing elopement. Social stories are one of the most effective tools for teaching children about safety and boundaries. These personalized, visual narratives help children understand social expectations and develop safer behaviors in a variety of settings. For instance, the I can stay in my classroom social story coloring book directly addresses elopement and other unsafe behaviors.
Counseling services can further support a child’s emotional and behavioral regulation. School Psychologists and Counselors can help children identify and manage emotions that may lead to elopement, such as anxiety, frustration, or sensory overload. Through techniques like cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), children can learn coping skills to handle challenging situations without resorting to elopement.
Here are some Counseling Activities that Counselors can use for supporting students with Elopement:






Combining tools like social stories, behavior and emotional regulation games, and behavior systems with counseling services creates a comprehensive approach to addressing elopement at its root causes, promoting safety and well-being for the child and their family. With these strategies, children who have developed eloping as a behavior will hopefully extinguish with continued effort and time.