When a Child with Autism Wanders: What One Mom Wishes You Knew

What would you do if you saw a child running away from their parent? Would you help? One mom shares what she wants you to know about autism and wandering.

Have you ever read something that made you question how you’d act?

This week I came across a Facebook post from my cousin about her son, who is on the autism spectrum and has a tendency to run off. Reading her experience made me pause and ask myself:

If I saw a child running in a store, would I step in to help? Or would I assume the parent had things under control?

Before reading her story, autism and wandering weren’t the first things I considered when I saw a child behaving wildly in public. But now I’ll look at those situations with different eyes—and I hope you will too.

I asked my cousin for permission to share her words because many people don’t understand how common wandering is for some children with autism. That lack of awareness can turn a scary moment into a dangerous one. Knowing more could save a life or, at the very least, help another parent in a frightening situation.

Autism and Wandering — What One Mom Wants You to Know

“An autism diagnosis can bring a lot of unexpected challenges. For the most part, we’ve been fortunate that my son doesn’t show many behaviors commonly associated with autism. But one thing he does is run—he’s an escape risk. When I tell his therapists or teachers that ‘he’s a runner,’ they immediately understand the danger.

It’s a serious safety concern, especially around automatic doors. My son could easily dash through those doors and into a parking lot without thinking. Water and the risk of drowning are another constant worry.

He tends to run in large open spaces—schools, grocery stores, and malls. On this particular day he was at the mall with my sisters and my mom. I usually use a safety strap to keep him close, but I forgot it this time.

My sister let go of his hand for just a second and he immediately took off…

She chased after him. He moves so fast you can lose sight of him in an instant. While my sister ran, she was surprised that nobody stepped in to help or try to stop him. People just laughed and assumed it was an ornery child.

My sister is seven months pregnant and was alone trying to catch him—no one offered assistance. She briefly lost him in the mall, and I don’t even know exactly how long it took before he was found; she was too shaken to say.

Sometimes I forget how little others know about autism because it occupies my whole life. There have been moments where I’ve had to leave my younger son in a stroller to chase my older son before he got through an automatic door.

No one has ever helped.

People just stare, and that’s heartbreaking.

I wanted to share this so that if you ever see a child running from a caregiver, you might consider offering help instead of laughing or assuming the worst.

Next time, don’t assume it’s just bad behavior—this could be something else entirely.”

When you see a child running away from their parent:

Don’t assume everything is fine or that the parent has control of the situation.
Do not laugh or stare—those reactions make a tense moment worse for everyone involved.
If you can safely assist, offer help. A simple question like “Do you need help?” can make a huge difference.

Even if the child isn’t autistic, most caregivers appreciate a helpful, calm response when their child runs, hides, or acts out in public. These moments are stressful, and kind support from bystanders can prevent harm and calm the situation.

Resources and further reading

There are organizations and advocacy groups that provide information and strategies for families navigating autism and wandering. Learning more about the issue can help you recognize when a child might need assistance and how best to help without creating further risk.