Travel Tips for Kids
by Rebecca A. Weiner, M.Ed.
Traveling with children is an adventure, and you can’t check the kids! Here are some insights from science and parenting journalist Melinda Wenner Moyer and strategies from the Uniquely Human podcast to support safe and fun travel for children and families of all neurotypes.
Kids are often adaptable and resilient when they know who and what is coming. Making ideas concrete really helps!
Look at pictures of where you’re going in travel books or on the location website so kids can see it.
Reconnect with family and friends you are going to see or travel with before you embark. FaceTime, picture albums, and play dates can really help!
Coach your kids about expectations and behavior. Clear is kind, so let your little ones know in advance what is expected. Role plays and making daily schedules can really help!
Role play how to stay safe and have quiet fun on the plane, table manners when you don’t like the food, or how to handle conflict when siblings or friends argue
Make daily schedules so kids feel safe in knowing what to expect and can practice being flexible.
Make sure adults are on the same page! If you’re traveling with friends or to visit family, share what works best for your kids. Communication and teamwork make the dream work!
Prepare for how to handle bedtime if your kids are go to bed before your friends’ kids.
Advocate for what your kids need. You know them best, and if they need a little space when they’re upset, advocate early rather than waiting for a tantrum.
Keep structure where your kids need it, and let loose on the rest! Some kids need consistent meal or bedtimes to be their best selves. Maintaining that structure is a blessing for everyone. But maybe you let loose on sweet treats, watching movies, etc. Part of life is knowing that different places have different plans, and vacations are great teachers!
Travel tips for neurodivergent children and adults
Travel offers amazing opportunities and unique challenges for autistic and neurodivergent people. Dawn Barclay's interview on the Uniquely Human podcast offers wisdom for making travel accessible and enjoyable. Barclay’s top recommendations include:
Include children's interests to support motivation and give them ownership of the experience.
Pace the trip so children (and adults!) don't get overstimulated or exhausted.
Here are some of the strategies for preparing in advance and reducing anxiety during trips.
Wings for Autism offers a "practice" flight experience
Social stories can help children know what to expect
Visual schedules can help children sequence activities
Take mini trips to nearby places before a big trip to far away locations
Bring your own sheet and toiletries if particulars matter for sleeping and bathing
The podcast also includes lived experience and wisdom from David Sharif, an autistic world traveler and author of The Empowerment of My Condition. He urges people to leverage the power of technology to connect by using apps for translation, currency conversion, and navigating each unique city or destination. Listen and learn here.
Rebecca A. Weiner, M.Ed. Is a dynamic educator and creator of ‘Learn Play Grow.’ She helps young children with diverse abilities and their families, teachers, and schools experience success on their own terms through play-based learning, parent and teacher coaching, and consulting and inclusion support in schools. Connect with Rebecca at www.learnplaygrowconsulting.com