Bolting/wandering - until what age is this normal?

[SquashedInTight]

My 4 year old bolts in crowded places or if overwhelmed by noise/colour. She also wanders off randomly and does not stay with us - literally turn around for one second and she is gone. Her big brother is amazing at helping us to keep an eye on her (and catching her if necessary!) but I am beginning to wonder if she really should have grown out of this by now!

If she gets overwhelmed by noise and colour have you looked into that? Sensory processing issues are traits of autism. In answer to your question yes she probably should have outgrown running off in public by this age, my ds has just turned 4 last week and he will dander off slowly if he's engrossed in looking at stuff in the shop but he won't run away from me needing to be chased iyswim.

She does have sensory processing disorder, but so do her dad and brother and they don't bolt like she does! When we moved away from the city environment, the OT said she was fine and didn't need more therapy. She is a lot better at home now, but as soon as we go back into a town or anywhere with shops and noise, she reacts badly.