Traveling Tips for this Holiday Season

Don’t forget your 5 Traveling Tips! 

With winter vacation just around the corner, families are starting to pack their bags to enjoy a well-deserved family vacation! Yet traveling with a child on the autism spectrum can be difficult at times. No worries, BHW is here to help you execute your winter plans with ease. Here are 5 traveling tips that will assist you in having the best family vacation this winter holiday!

1. Preparation is Key! Before embarking on  your trip, learn a little background about the place you will be visiting. Prepare yourself and your child for any challenges you may foresee. For example, if it is a loud and noisy location, be sure to bring noise cancelling headphones for your child to avoid sensory overload. You can also mentally prepare your child for this vacation by showing them videos of the destination or reading about it and explaining to them what  is going to happen. Before leaving, try to simulate the vacation as closely as possible.
2. Safety First! Before your journey, make sure your child has the proper identification on hand. Create an identification card for your child with their name, diagnosis and your cell number and pin it to their clothing. Also, carry a recent picture of your child to show authorities just in case he or she wanders off.
3. Traveling By Plane No matter if it is a 10 hour flight or an hour flight, traveling by plane can be a nightmare. From the long wait lines at the airport security terminal to the time that you are confined to a seat, it can be an extremely unpleasant experience for your child if you’re unprepared. Before heading out to catch your flight, be sure to contact your local airport and let them know that you are traveling with a child with autism. Depending on the flight and airport, they may be able to arrange accommodations for you and your family to travel with ease. In addition, be sure to pack an activity for every hour you are going to be on the plane. Activities such as Legos, Play dough and DVD’s can be great alternatives for your child.  
4. Theme Parks Theme parks are a popular destination for families during vacations but this can cause a large amount of sensory overload for your child. As mentioned before, preparation is key to having a great theme park experience. Before entering the theme park, go to their  guest services center and inform them that you are visiting the park with a child on the autism spectrum. Many theme parks have special passes or wristbands for families with children that have disabilities, including autism. Also if your child is agitated by an abundant amount of sensory overload, be sure to bring a pair of noise cancelling headphones and always be aware of where there are “quiet” places to take a quick break.
5. Road Trips! The first hour of a road trip is always fun and fascinating yet by the second or even worse, by the fifth hour, you are hearing the repeated question your child is desperately hoping to hear a yes too. The infamous… “are we there yet?” To keep your sanity and to have your child have a memorable car trip, make sure to plan fun, adventurous stops along the way. This will not only give your child some time to stretch their legs but will also provide them with mini rewards along the way. Lastly, make sure to bring a bag of fun activities and car games that can entertain them throughout the trip.

To learn more traveling tips this Holiday Season Click Here!

BHW would like to wish you happy travels this holiday season!