Teaching the "Escape Artist" to Stay in the House

You probably need to invest in a latch for the doors that only you can unlock. My son is 4.5 years old and is the same way. He was diagnosed PDD-NOS in July last year. You really have to keep your eye on them. You never know what is going on in their little minds.
Once you have the lock on, you tell him that he has to ask to go outside. If he doesn't ask he doesn't go. Eventually, he will know and wait by the door- sometimes screaming to get your attention. If he asks, you PRAISE, PRAISE, PRAISE!!! Sometimes, there are just things they don't grasp and you have to be cautious and preventative.

The state has paid my husband (he owns Advanced Home Plus.com) to put in security systems to keeps children with special needs in their home. When the child opens a door or window you can have either a 'door bell' type chime or an actual automated voice saying 'Joshuas window is open'.

we went to the hardware store also and got the hook & eye latches and also put them up high not reach. As far as the windows....if they're double hung you can get a 2x4 and wedge it in so he can't raise the window.

do you have a diaper genie? Thus, you could deposit those dirty diapers and take several to the dumpster at once and do it at a time that your son could help carry the sack. He'll feel he's helping because he has a job.

My son was also a great escape artist. What we did was install latches at the top of the screen door high enough where he could not reach. You can go to the hardware store and they can help you with which type would work best for your door. Also, you can get window locks for your windows there as well.

As far as taking out stuff to the dumpster, you can either wait until he is asleep, or just take him with you. It may be hard at first to always let him come outside with you, but allowing him to come out will train him to know there are proper times to come outside. Just hang in there. Stay consistent with what you are teaching him and he will get the hang of it, it just may take a while.

I saw this on an epsiode of Nanny 911. They put STOP signs everywhere they didn't want the child to go. I have an autistic son and this helps him stop. He doesn't venture outside and it keeps him out of diaper pails, chemicals etc.