Am I allowed to go for JUST a drive?

[Teaandtoastforbreakfast29]

Apologies in advance for adding another thread to the 4729859 already.
I'm just looking for clarification.
My little boy is 3, diagnosed ASD. He hasn't napped in bed in over a year. He doesn't even nap much but sometimes falls asleep in the car. Does that mean I can't even take him for a drive to let him sleep for 20 minutes? Some days he's up at 5am and does need a quick doze to tide him over. He's also non verbal and has global development delay so wouldn't understand if I explain to him.

It would literally be quick drive in the car, not stopping or going anywhere, seeing anyone etc. I'm just wondering. If I can't, I can't but what would you do in this situation?

No. It's not exercise or an essential.journey sadly.

If you crash, have a bump or breakdown you put yourselves and othes at risk.

Would he go in a pushchair? Could you take your exercise by pushing him up and down your road?

It doesn't fit the criteria I'm afraid.
Lots of people will be struggling and having to find new ways to do things.

Nope

middle-aged good point. Thank you 🙂 thanks
Going to be a fun few weeks! He's not TOO bad with change so I'll try pushing him in the stroller, good idea.

Under last weeks rules this would have been fine. Sadly, too many people ignored those rules so now we have stricter ones.

No you can’t

The pram might work.. Do you have any symbols you can use with him to explain no car etc?

If you have access to a laptop you can download widgit software for a free trial, you can then make him a visual schedule to help him understand.

It doesn't fit the rules, but who is going to stop you?

The key is to stop the spread of this illness- going for a drive poses no risk. Just do it.

I have a child with asd. I would absolutely do this.
You are allowed to drive to fulfill care giving needs of your child.
Permitted in the guidelines.
Be sensible like you said and have no contact with others.
There's no difference to driving vs push chair, wrt virus spread.

It’s quite unusual for children of three to still nap in the day anyway, but I do get it hard with early risers ( one of mine regularly woke before 6 but dropped their nap well befor3 they were 3)

While they did nap in the day, I definitely second the idea of a pushchair to replicate the car movement. I used to push mine round the patio and up and down the drive sometimes. Also when he wakes early, can you take him into bed with you to doze on for a while? Alternatively, what about an after lunch story time, snuggled down in your bed together so you both try to nap together - when my two were at. the giving up naps stage, this was the best way to get a nap in.

We've just started using PECS/symbols so I will give it a try, not sure if it'll work just yet but worth a go.

Honey wort you obviously don't have a kid with ASD
Once he's up, he's up. If he wakes in the night, he sleeps in a bit later, but if he sleeps through, he wakes early. I don't intentionally give him naps anymore but when he wakes at 5ish, he sometimes falls asleep on the car when we're out and about.
He has zero interest in books and NEVER stops so sitting down for a book?? More chance of me winning the lottery and the moment ,😂

I can’t see the risk personally, how different is it to being in your house? I’d do it, as long as you don’t stop and get out anywhere

If you do go out I’d take a letter with you that explains his diagnosis/needs. So if you were stopped by police, which I think is possible but unlikely, then you’d have evidence to support why you were out.

@donquixotedelamancha it’s not simple. Especially when you throw car accidents, car breakdowns etc into the mix. All leading to people being in contact and use of resources. Unlikely but not impossible. People may think these journeys essential THEY AREN’T.

No. It’s not an essential journey to work

Unlikely but not impossible

And on that balance of risk I would have no hesitation in going for a drive if my 3YO significantly benefited from it.

It doesn't fit the rules, but who is going to stop you? The key is to stop the spread of this illness- going for a drive poses no risk. Just do it.
This.

@donquixotedelamancha that is why the army will probably end up being called in. People can’t follow simple instructions or think of anyone but themselves

Here is a definition of essential to focus peoples minds “Something that is essential is extremely important or absolutely necessary to a particular subject, situation, or activity.”

I won’t pretend to know the answer but it seems a legitimate disability-related query to me, and not just for autistic children (been there, done that too).

Our local hydrotherapy pool just closed and I was wondering when I heard that whether the non-mobile (but not medically vulnerable) would be allowed to substitute a daily drive for their one permitted daily walk. I know it’s not exercise, but it’s good for MH, (not to mention distance vision).

When you start to consider various types of disability and the daily walk thing, it just seems a valid question.

Even if it is permitted, as some PPs have suggested, I would try the pushchair/buggy thing myself.

Apart from anything, it is helping him to experience new things and expand his boundaries. You may have to persist for a while, but anything new that you can get him to accept is a good thing.

Thing is, if you're driving around for 20 mins every day you'll need to fill your car up with fuel regularly. Filling up means going to a service station where you'll come into contact with others, have to touch the pump, the keypad, possibly the door, encounter others while paying if don't pay at the pump, etc. We've been told to ONLY leave the house for essential reasons and to exercise outside no more than once per day. I'd do the stroller idea and choose quiet paths (if you can). Parks are likely to be busy with people walking/running so I'll be heading away from mine.

Sorry this will be so hard for you

Sorry You’ve replied really kindly but I’m sorry I spoke without understanding