Though the summer season is coming to an end, do you have one last trip planned for, either for a vacation or daytrip? Let us help by sharing some suggestions for how to optimally prepare for the trip to ensure a smooth and enjoyable adventure for everyone involved!
Set expectations ahead of time:
Depending on your child’s age and receptive language ability you can start discussing the trip a few days to a few hours before leaving. Let them know where you are going and when. For most young children the idea of “a few days” is hard to understand, but telling them you are going in “two sleeps” or “after breakfast” can be more concrete. If this is a trip they have been looking forward to for awhile, making a count down calendar may help as well.
Letting your child know the plan for the day of travel will help as well. Where and when will you be stopping? Where will you eat on the way? Showing pictures of where you will be stopping or where you are going can help your child understand what is going to happen.
Packing and Preparing:
We often have a fantasy idea of what a family road trip will look like: happy children, singing along to the radio as a family, and just enjoying each other’s company. While that may be ideal, for your child with autism (or really any child!) it’s best to pack some items to help pass the time. Low-tech ideas could be window cling stickers or books to look at. If your child likes to color, try something like Crayola Color Wonder markers to avoid unexpected messes. Another fun mess free option is Water Wow books by Melissa and Doug. High-tech options include portable DVD players or a tablet. Prepare your child that they may not have access to all the videos they do at home when they don’t have WiFi/internet in the car. If you have a car DVD system, plan ahead of time who gets to pick the movie—are siblings going to take turns, is it always mom’s choice, or do they have to pick together?
Is your child a picky eater or have dietary restrictions? Plan to pack some snacks you know they like and have extras on hand. Staying ahead of hunger can help if you end up hitting traffic or don’t have somewhere to stop when your child typically has a meal.
Is your child recently potty trained? Make sure to stick to their schedule. Discuss that public bathrooms may be different then their bathroom at home. Consider packing noise cancelling headphones if you child is sensitive to the loud flushes or loud hand dryers commonly found in public rest rooms. Bringing a portable travel potty is another option that many families find convenient.
Don’t throw out all the hard work you have done at home!
Its natural to relax rules and schedules a bit while on vacation, but be careful not to let your trip become a free for all. Remember to stick to a schedule and plan as much as possible. Don’t forget your First/Then language, and make sure to give lots of specific behavior praise to your child when they are doing a great job!
Have a fun trip!