Mumsnet Talk

Ds is nearly 12 and now attends secondary SS ( he has MLD/ASD/ADHD). Other (ms) children in our village walk around/shop/ play in the park/travel to school without an adult from about age 7 and ds wants to do the same often pushing me away or telling me to 'go'! Ds grew out of the running stage a couple of years back and is now appropriatly concerned if he looses us. I am really struggling with how best to allow the freedom he wants especially away from our imediate neighbourhood ( where he plays with children a few years younger) but keep him safe. He has a good sense of direction ( so will not get lost) but a poor awareness of danger/ traffic/social rules/ time/ other people so is vunerable.
We live opposite a small park so he is now allowed to go there on his own ( I see him across the road) and 'front garden' or go for a walk around the park or otherwise keep a discreet eye on things and rarely do I need to intervein now.
How do others manage and take the next step?

how about paying a peer to help ds supervise for safety

or

Do a list of things to do:

1 go to lights
2 press button
3 wait for green man
4 cross road if cars have stopped/none there when 'green man' appears

Do this with ds prob start with number 4 and once he can do No 4 work on 3 and maintain 4...etc till 1-4 achieved. Then start to fade off stand few feet away and eventually other side of road. Then fade off until you do not need to be there...this only good if you have lights crossings to cross in your area? It is following set rules that don't change so ds may pick it up fast...esp as it means he doesn't have to have his dm hanging around (in a good way )

It is as suggested, practice and more practice. Having said that 16 year old has nearly been runover twice in the last fortnight, the second time I literally pulled him out of the way of an oncoming car.
We keep trying.

Dawn also if ds is not ready...no danger awareness the best place to start is in safety at home...I used GreenMan High Cross code on Utube (and the squirrel ones) for ds to see it then did social stories before even attempting roads...he comprhended it all but as soon as we did the 'practical' he was not interested...no motivation. I keep trying....one day he may get the motivation but is still 7 years old and most NT peers don't cross road yet. Start at home first maybe?