Travel with Your Autistic Child and Cherish Lifelong Memories!

Vacations are times to cherish, connect, and make a lifetime's worth of memories with our loved Autistic kids, for we need our time to recharge and get away from daily chores, and this is a great opportunity for the children to experience new sights and sounds and adapt to them.

Yes, traveling with children can be daunting, and when you travel with a child who has autism and requires an organized structure, venturing out into unfamiliar surroundings can add an entirely new dimension to the experience.

However, just because a child has autism, doesn’t mean their life should be limited; it means they might need extra help or adaptations in order to do the same things that others do.

How travelling can help our Autistic kids

Traveling with your autistic child can be enjoyable for both the autistic person and the rest of their family.

We can say from personal experience that some of the kids’ most celebrated gains happen during travel.

Going on trips with the family would help our autistic children in many ways. Visiting museums will help them learn our history, taking them to amusement parks will help them make bodily movements; and most importantly, socialization.

The following recommendations have been found beneficial to families planning vacations with kids diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

It is important to remember that, our children vary in terms of abilities and preferences, and not all recommendations may suit every child with ASD.

Make a checklist to make sure you don't forget anything your child will need.

Let them be an active participants in the travel planning.

Adapt it to your child’s interests, information-processing abilities, and attention span, and relate it to the upcoming trip.

Pointers for the trip with an Autistic child

Schedule different stops along the way for restrooms & meals or snacks.
There have been many instances where airlines have removed autistic persons off flights or even refused to let them board because of their behavior.
To prevent this, you should let hotels and airlines know in advance about your child's health to ensure that you and your child are treated fairly.
Most hotels and airlines will be pleased to help you, and some may even let you board the plane before other passengers.
After deciding the place for the trip know the route to it perfectly as our kids might get hyper if any unusual stops are taken on the way to your destination.
Before your journey, some doctors and autism specialists advise giving the youngster images of the aeroplane. They become accustomed to the aeroplane as a result, which reduces anxiety and increases comfort. Also, you may make flying a game by allowing them select their seat and providing them greater control over the event to keep them from becoming frightened.
Don’t forget to pack the favorite toy as well as the food of our kids.
Show some videos or short movies to your kid with ASD about the place you are going to visit.
If you have planned a long road trip with the kids, habituate our kids with sitting in the car.
Some children also have problems going to washrooms so make them habituated with how to use a restroom.
Make advance arrangements with hotels to secure any unique services, such as neighbouring rooms, particular dietary needs, and door locks that are secure.
It might also be a good idea to stay away from rooms with balconies or terraces because they might be extremely dangerous.
Inquire about the timetable and types of food service in and around the hotel because autism can sometimes have a negative impact on our child's eating and sleeping habits.
If their child has difficulties sleeping, some families will wish to request a quiet room away from the hotel sounds.
Start your trip when there will be less traffic as more traffic can irritate your kid.
It might be a good idea to get an authorized letter from the child's physician, identifying their special needs. This letter will go a long way towards assuring that there are no issues with airport security for you.

It will also be useful while visiting theme parks because you will be able to skip the huge lineups that can be challenging for kids with autism because they sometimes have trouble waiting.

When travelling, unplanned events frequently occur, so be ready in advance for things like flight delays or limited access to food and entertainment.

We sometimes take a “takeaway bag” filled with our son’s preferred snacks and foods, and other toys and games to keep him busy should anything unpredictable happen.

What places should you take your Autistic child?

Maintaining your child's comfort level is always the most important thing, so being always prepared is essential. Flying might lead to instability in your life.

Choose activities that let your youngster extend their wings if they enjoy being active—running about, swimming, and playing games.

Go camping or to a water park because they will be kept busy in these types of places.

It is not a good idea to bring a boisterous toddler to a museum where they must 'see but not touch.

But if your child enjoys reading and learning about new subjects, such as art, a gallery or museum can be the perfect setting for them.

The goal is to identify the appropriate activities that a vacation for someone with autism should contain and to make sure that those activities are included in your plans.

It's crucial to concentrate on the unique times you enjoyed with your family and the wonderful memories you made on the trip so you can look back on them in the future, good or bad.