Top Travel Tips For Children With Autism

By Ann Barnes


Parents don't have to give up traveling when they have a child with Autism, you just have to plan ahead for certain difficulties. As a parent, you know your child best, and you know which things are likely to cause issues, by thinking about these things ahead of time, you can easily make the family vacation, fun for everyone. The following, top travel tips for children with Autism, will help you plan a vacation that everyone can enjoy.

First of all, talk, talk, and talk some more about the upcoming trip. Begin this a few weeks, or a month beforehand. If you are able to get your hands on some travel brochures, or a promotional DVD about the area, it's even better. Play the DVD, look at the brochures, and continue discussing the plans. The child will feel part of the planning, and things won't feel so foreign once you do head out, because you will have prepared the child.

Think about the child and any issues that could come up during the vacation. For example, are loud sounds hard to handle? If so, consider headphones to block out some of the noise, if you'll be at an event that is loud. Are there food issues? Ask for a room with a fridge, and perhaps a microwave. This way you can prepare meals that will be eaten. If you're heading to a beach area, water shoes can make a huge difference in your child's enjoyment level. Being prepared is one of the best things that you can do.

Book a hotel room with a refrigerator and a microwave if there are food concerns, such as allergies, or a picky eater. This allows you to prepare quick meals that will be eaten, and it can be a money saver too. If the plan is to go camping, or to the beach, play a sounds of nature CD each evening so that these sounds become familiar. Consider the sounds that will be around you and set the CD to focus on those sounds. Sound machines work great for this too.

Take every opportunity to talk about the vacation. This is a great way to prepare any child. The more detail, the better. Discuss as many aspects of the trip as you can. By the time vacation day arrives, it will almost seem familiar.

Bring along things from home that are soothing. Everyone has their own soothing items, and you likely know which things help your child. Bring along one or two, and let your child hold on to it during any times of stress. Having this little piece of home can be very comforting.

Be sure to plan some for some downtime. Don't have every minute of the day so jam packed that it's overwhelming. Keep the child's limits in mind and allow him or her the downtime they need. Frequent breaks can make the vacation more pleasant for your child, and for you.

Have fun, make memories, and rest assured that in the future this trip will be looked back on fondly. Your child will appreciate the extra effort you put in to make this vacation something that they could enjoy. Be sure to schedule in a little pamper time for yourself. After all, everyone deserves that, at least once in a while.




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