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.
Talk about everything that you will do and see while you're away. Go into as much detail as possible. The unknown can be scary, by discussing it, you're making it less scary. It won't feel so strange when your child sees something and then remembers that you've talked about it.
Pack some of the soothing items that the child seeks out at home. Having these along can be just what your child needs to soothe him or herself when things begin to get to them. Take a couple of these soothers along. Pay attention in the weeks leading up to the trip, and see which your child seeks out most often.
Make time for quiet time. All these new sights, sounds, and experiences can be overwhelming. It's nice to have some downtime to relax and regroup. Schedule regular periods of quiet time in order to calm your child and give him or her the time they need.
Finally, have fun, and don't stress. You'll be making memories and creating special bonds. Even if the vacation doesn't go exactly as you planned, do your best to stay calm and enjoy it. Vacations never seem to go perfectly, but that's one of the things that makes them so memorable. Remember, that in the future the family will look back on this trip and only remember the good.
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.
Talk about everything that you will do and see while you're away. Go into as much detail as possible. The unknown can be scary, by discussing it, you're making it less scary. It won't feel so strange when your child sees something and then remembers that you've talked about it.
Pack some of the soothing items that the child seeks out at home. Having these along can be just what your child needs to soothe him or herself when things begin to get to them. Take a couple of these soothers along. Pay attention in the weeks leading up to the trip, and see which your child seeks out most often.
Make time for quiet time. All these new sights, sounds, and experiences can be overwhelming. It's nice to have some downtime to relax and regroup. Schedule regular periods of quiet time in order to calm your child and give him or her the time they need.
Finally, have fun, and don't stress. You'll be making memories and creating special bonds. Even if the vacation doesn't go exactly as you planned, do your best to stay calm and enjoy it. Vacations never seem to go perfectly, but that's one of the things that makes them so memorable. Remember, that in the future the family will look back on this trip and only remember the good.
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