Fall break is just around the corner, and long holiday breaks follow shortly after. Changes to routines can be challenging in and of themselves for our kids, and traveling with special needs often presents its own set of considerations. Here are a few of our favorite tips to help plan memorable travel experiences for our special needs kids and their families:
1. Choose your adventure:
Consider whether your child tends to seek out sensory experiences or if he or she avoids them. A child who enjoys sensory experiences and is not easily overwhelmed may love a theme park or a big city tour with a packed schedule. Alternatively, consider a beach vacation, a cabin in the mountains, or a lakeside visit for a child who prefers more peaceful surroundings. Destinations abound from one end of the sensory spectrum to the other, and customizing a good fit is always a great place to start planning.
2. Extra accommodations:
Little details in accommodations may make all the difference in your child’s vacation experience. Would a hotel with amenities such as a pool, lazy river, snack bar, or even a cool elevator be exciting, or would a rental home in which your child could spread out be best? Might it be helpful to have a small kitchen? Would a nearby playground be a nice getaway when it’s time to decompress? Some rental homes offer themed game rooms or other features like unique beds that our kids would love to experience. Between hotels and
the vast array of rentals available, those details in accommodations can make a big difference in the overall travel experience.
3. Length of stay:
If unsure about the type of vacation that may work best, some families prefer to try a two- or three-night stay in a city or beach location to try it on for size before committing to a longer trip. This strategy also helps when it’s unknown how well a child may sleep in a new location. By contrast, if you know that your child generally takes several days to settle into any new situation, building in extra days ensures that fun days are ahead after the initial transition period.
4. Keep it simple:
For many destinations, it’s easy to overwhelm a traveling plan with multiple activities. Keeping a schedule loose and simple is usually a great place to start, and you can always add if needed. One strategy here is to pair a non-preferred activity with a preferred one. (First we get groceries, then we get ice cream!) Allowing each family member to choose one activity per day is another way to consider everyone’s needs. Including time for breaks and a reasonable pace also ensures fun for everyone.
5. Be Prepared:
Along with bringing preferred items like blankets, technology, or toys, it’s helpful to bring along favorite snacks or a small bag with new activities for plane rides, long car rides, or any situation that requires waiting and patience. Look up grocery stores, drug stores, and emergency services in the area beforehand so you’ll have an idea of the resources available.
6. Setting Expectations:
Everyone in the family does better when they know what to expect, and our kids are no different. Options for clear communication include visual schedules, a checklist to check off or stamp throughout the day, or simple verbal communication on the order of the day. Knowing what’s next always helps set proper expectations.
7. Be flexible:
Adding a travel flexibility disclaimer to each day’s plan is helpful for the whole family. A reminder that travel itself involves missed turns, different foods, and problems to solve starts everyone on the right foot each morning. Knowing that plans may have to shift, change days, or be scrapped altogether prepares everyone to be positive about what each day may bring. When things go off track, regroup and choose something special for the evening instead.
8. Just go with it:
Always be willing to press the reset button. Just as our kids can have a great day after a bad one or a fun-filled afternoon after a tough morning, so do we adults need to be able to push the reset button and start over in any moment. If there are accommodations to get through a line quickly or exit a location first, take them! Ask for help whenever needed in any way possible, and don’t spend time or emotion worrying about what other travelers may think in moments of struggle. Travel comes with extra considerations, and it pushes us out of our comfort zones and provides growth and learning opportunities for both our kids and families. Everything won’t go perfectly to plan, and that’s okay. Whether you wind up hearing gleeful screams on a roller coaster or snuggling by a pool in a warm ocean breeze, sweet moments are easily found along the way of any travel adventure. Our children and families deserve rich experiences, and with a little extra preparation, good times and lifelong memories are never far away.
Please see these additional resources for more helpful information: