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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

I need collective mumsnet creativity and solutions to a soon to be a potentially very big problem....

111 replies

yurt1 · 26/04/2008 20:27

DS1 has had a compulsion to look over fences for a few years now. As he gets taller (he's 9) he can look over bigger fences.

If you look at my profile you will see a photo taken of him today - he can get his knee higher than shown in the photo so he can get practically over the fence.

The problem is that the roofs of the houses behind that fence are level with it. In other words there's a very big drop behind there. He's severely autistic (non verbal) with absolutely no sense of danger. In between doing this today he's been jumping from bannister to bannister 3 storeys up. (am I spelling storey right?)

So any ideas of what I can do? The fences are at their legal maximum height. Removing the chair just leads to him shifting the trampoline or wendy house or anything he can lay his hands on - which is even more dangerous. Or climbing up from the decking. Last year he was satisfied with a periscope, but last year he didn't have the strength to pull himself up - this year it's viewed as a poor alternative.

He can't quite manage it yet, but give him a few weeks and I think he will. And I then dread to think.......

It's a compulsion so very hard to deal with behaviourally. He doesn't have the language for social stories.

OP posts:

Pippo · 26/04/2008 20:29

Contact council OT for assessment? In such circumstances I have seen fences much higher than usual that slope inwards at top iyswim

SorenLorensen · 26/04/2008 20:30

Is it possible to get something that angles inwards - so you're not making the fence any higher but making it impossible for him to get round the pointing inwards bit? I was initially thinking that trellis at the top could be fastened on at right angles to the top of the fence but he might still dangle off that and it could break. What about some kind of inward angled netting on supports?

Blandmum · 26/04/2008 20:30

Oh hell very worrying

Can you link the perisocope use to some sort of pleasurable bribe? like the chocolate buttons that the school used to extend ds's food choices? or isn't that going to be a big enough 'pay back' for him compared to the lure of the fence?

sarah293 · 26/04/2008 20:31

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

nancy75 · 26/04/2008 20:31

dont know if such a thing exists but what about some kind of net 'roof' or fences that go up straight to a certain height then are angled to come back in to your garden at the top.
these both sound really odd, but i can see it in my head!

SorenLorensen · 26/04/2008 20:32

Yes, my solution doesn't help with the compulsion to look over. Could you make a little window in the fence or is that completely bonkers (and would your neighbours object)?

Original poster

yurt1 · 26/04/2008 20:32

nah- seeing over the fence is the biggest reward of all MB It's completely reinforcing unfortunately.

Council have refused to help because they won't help with fencing

Angled might work mightn't it. Although we thought about that before and dh thought it would give him something to hang onto and haul himself up with Who on earth do I ask for that (blasted fence cost 2 grand and its only a tiny garden).

OP posts:

SquonkTheBeerGuru · 26/04/2008 20:33

would you be able to attach a sort of net roof?

Flame · 26/04/2008 20:33

Another one saying some sort of angling.

Blandmum · 26/04/2008 20:33

can you have a fence with a rounded top....where the top overhangs the fence itself (not explaining this very well)

BroccoliSpears · 26/04/2008 20:33

Like Riven I was going to suggest something to make the corner inaccessable.

Or, could you change the fence to something non-climbable? DP put various non-climbable fences in schools a few years ago so they do exist.

LynetteScavo · 26/04/2008 20:34

what would happen if you but burgular proof type wire at the top, while making it possible for him to see over just under the wire...if you see what I mean.

Sorry if that's a dumb & dangerous idea for your DS.

A "sloping in at the top" fence does sound a good idea.

FrannyandZooey · 26/04/2008 20:34

would that anti climb paint work? I have no idea what it does, makes the surface slippery I guess?

Original poster

yurt1 · 26/04/2008 20:34

How do I get a prickly bush to grow along the fence (total black fingers here, kill everything green. Can I buy something ready grown and big?

My parents suggested a porthole window last year. It might work, but it might not- depends on the angles he's looking at and whether he can see those through the window.

OP posts:

BroccoliSpears · 26/04/2008 20:34

What about a peephole in the fence so he can look through without having to climb up?

Hassled · 26/04/2008 20:35

I like the angled-inwards fence idea. You'd have to get to it from the other side to put in a triangular wedge of wood between the fence and the trellis on top to make it as secure as possible if he's hanging off it.

Not an immediate solution but get something growing around there asap - some unfriendly ivy or something, which will just make the whole activity less enjoyable, IFSWIM.

Blandmum · 26/04/2008 20:35

sort of like that, so he can't get a grip to pull himself over the lump at the top

Blandmum · 26/04/2008 20:36

If you want something that grows fast, try hawthorn. Ours grows at least 4-5 food a year and it is like a weed (another with black thumbs)

moondog · 26/04/2008 20:36

I seem to recall you posting about this last year?

Have you thought of Remap? (I know you know of them.)

Original poster

yurt1 · 26/04/2008 20:37

I looked a roof nets before and got nowhere. Non climable fence/slippery paint sounds as if its worth looking at. DH has said to get him a new pair of crocs (he broke his) and hide those shoes.

I might ring the fence people again (they do all sorts) and ask them about making it slope in.

Making the corner inaccessible doesn't really work as he does that all along the fence.

OP posts:

FrannyandZooey · 26/04/2008 20:37

oh dear I guess not such a good idea
apparently it never dries [?] and will stain clothes

WideWebWitch · 26/04/2008 20:37

If he wants to see OVER can you LOWER it so he can see over without climbing? Or will he have to climb over too?

Original poster

yurt1 · 26/04/2008 20:37

They didn;t reply to my email moondog

OP posts:

Pippo · 26/04/2008 20:38

I think the net roof sloping inward would work as that is what I have seen done, does ds have social worker, OT, or sim that could apply to charities for you? Or if you don't think that you would get any joy from said people could you do this yourself?

Original poster

yurt1 · 26/04/2008 20:38

I'm worried he would climb over it then wickedwaterwitch.

He has a crap understanding of size/depth (tries to climb playmobile ladders ffs then looks surprised when that doesn't work).

OP posts:

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