I wrote this to help some other moms who are on my listserv and thought I would pass it on to ya'll here. This is what we did to J's room to make it 'safe'. In some ways, it resembles the "Riley" but it's not intended to be used in that way. It's intention is for having their bedroom and your home safe for a child who is suicidal/homicidal and during rages. Believe me, this in no way covers EVERYTHING we did...it is very hard to put into words the extremes we went to in order to keep J safe when he was home and in crisis mode 24/7. We literally turned our home into a fortress and when he comes home on pass, we go around and arm all the alarms and motion sensors again. This is a GENERALIZED version.
Tips for Making a Room Safe
WALLS
All pictures removed.
All nails, tacks and staples removed.
Any decorations consist of posters hung with tape.
WINDOWS
All curtain rods/fixtures removed.
Any blinds/fixtures removed.
All screws from said fixtures removed.
Make sure any nails from trim are flush.
Buy a curtain panel, Velcro squares and matching thread. Line the squares up along the trim, stick on the curtain panel and then sew on. If your child goes into a rage and tears the curtain down, it can be easily hung up with no damage to you or your child.
Buy a window alarm (key kind), can be purchased at Radio Shack for approximately $20.00. (Also use this same alarm on your front and back doors.)
CLOSET (CLOTHES)
All clothes get hung on plastic hangers.
All toys get removed and put into a plastic tub (preferably one on wheels so it can be easily removed from the room during a rage).
FURNITURE (put padding around sharp corners to prevent injury)
Bed (preferably one with rounded edges or if not possible then put rubber padding around sharp corners).
Dresser.
Desk (empty all supplies needed for homework are asked for and then returned upon completion).
ODDS & ENDS
Smoke detector (approx. cost $20 â 30, a must have if you have a fire-starter or a child who has a fascination with fire. Put one in the childâs bedroom!).
Motion sensor (extremely beneficial throughout the home if you have a night wanderer, each one will make a different noise depending on what you set it to).
Baby monitor (hung in the corner of the room at the ceiling to hear what is going on if they are in their room for a âtime-outâ).
Bedroom door cut off ¾ if they go into a rage and you need someplace safe to put them. Stay with them to make sure they are safe!!
All sharp things locked up in the kitchen area including but not limited to knives, scissors, or anything else sharp that can be used as a weapon.
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12 yo difficult child son Enuresis, Encopresis, Language Learning Disability (LD), Math Learning Disability (LD), Articulation Disorder, Hypothyroidism, mild MR, CP, ADHD, CD, PTSD, Bipolar not otherwise specified with psychotic features, Anxiety Disorder not otherwise specified, Fine and Gross motor delays-in residential.
9 yo easy child son Learning Disability (LD), ADD.
People will forget what you said.
People will forget what you did, but
People will never forget how you made them feel
Tips for Making a Room Safe
WALLS
All pictures removed.
All nails, tacks and staples removed.
Any decorations consist of posters hung with tape.
WINDOWS
All curtain rods/fixtures removed.
Any blinds/fixtures removed.
All screws from said fixtures removed.
Make sure any nails from trim are flush.
Buy a curtain panel, Velcro squares and matching thread. Line the squares up along the trim, stick on the curtain panel and then sew on. If your child goes into a rage and tears the curtain down, it can be easily hung up with no damage to you or your child.
Buy a window alarm (key kind), can be purchased at Radio Shack for approximately $20.00. (Also use this same alarm on your front and back doors.)
CLOSET (CLOTHES)
All clothes get hung on plastic hangers.
All toys get removed and put into a plastic tub (preferably one on wheels so it can be easily removed from the room during a rage).
FURNITURE (put padding around sharp corners to prevent injury)
Bed (preferably one with rounded edges or if not possible then put rubber padding around sharp corners).
Dresser.
Desk (empty all supplies needed for homework are asked for and then returned upon completion).
ODDS & ENDS
Smoke detector (approx. cost $20 â 30, a must have if you have a fire-starter or a child who has a fascination with fire. Put one in the childâs bedroom!).
Motion sensor (extremely beneficial throughout the home if you have a night wanderer, each one will make a different noise depending on what you set it to).
Baby monitor (hung in the corner of the room at the ceiling to hear what is going on if they are in their room for a âtime-outâ).
Bedroom door cut off ¾ if they go into a rage and you need someplace safe to put them. Stay with them to make sure they are safe!!
All sharp things locked up in the kitchen area including but not limited to knives, scissors, or anything else sharp that can be used as a weapon.
------------------
12 yo difficult child son Enuresis, Encopresis, Language Learning Disability (LD), Math Learning Disability (LD), Articulation Disorder, Hypothyroidism, mild MR, CP, ADHD, CD, PTSD, Bipolar not otherwise specified with psychotic features, Anxiety Disorder not otherwise specified, Fine and Gross motor delays-in residential.
9 yo easy child son Learning Disability (LD), ADD.
People will forget what you said.
People will forget what you did, but
People will never forget how you made them feel
