Autistic child climbing on window sil! Help!

[Gemmahearts94]

My daughter is 4 and has autism! She keeps climbing up on any window sil she can find, it's causing me so much anxiety, I can't walk out of a room for fear she will be on her window sil the second my backs turned all windows are locked obviously but still I can't let it go on, she also breaks the blinds and rips the curtain poles down, our house looks awful atm as a result, I'm at a loss of how to fix the problem 😢

Also I need a solution for blinds/ curtains but untill the climbing is sorted it's pointless as they will be ruined in a day atm. But her sleep is awful because her rooms still light at 10pm

If you can get an OT appointment they may be able to help with ideas and solutions.

You can put kitchen foil on the actual glass and it just stays. Easily replaced if it’s ripped off.

Can you work out what she is enjoying about it/seeking out? Can you replicate it in a way that’s more acceptable. Is she liking to climb, or jump off? If so an indoor climbing frame might help. Is she trying to look out? Could you put something up against the window that she could easily get on to to look out so she isn’t on the window sill and is less likely to break the blinds? Does she need extra help to unwind at bedtime?

I second an OT assessment. You can request a home OT assessment to look at how you can make the house safer for DD.

To keep DD safe at nighttime, look for a specialist bed e.g. safe space bed or similar.

Could you use a magic black out blind? Does DD take melatonin to help sleep?

Do you have sensory toys/equipment at home? Some find a trampoline helps too.

We had an OT assessment and they supplied window inserts to stop access to windows and its lockable also.

How do ypu go about getting an OT assesment?

If you google OT aids and adaptations and your local council you should find who to contact.

Alongside this, you can request a referral to the NHS children’s OT services. In some areas you can self refer to these. If you can’t, the GP will be able to refer.