The end-of-year holidays are an exciting time. But for families of children with autism, they can also be challenging to navigate. This is especially true when the holidays involve travel. For neurodivergent kids, changes in routine, unfamiliar environments, and new sensory experiences can be difficult to manage.
Whether you’re traveling close to home or heading farther away, holiday travel doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. With thoughtful preparation and individualized supports, families can reduce stress, support their child’s needs, and approach holiday travel with more confidence.
Why Holiday Travel Can Be Challenging for Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
Understanding why travel can be difficult is the first step in planning a successful trip. Children with autism experience the world differently from neurotypical individuals, and travel creates changes that can be harder for them to navigate.
Some common areas that may be impacted include:
- Changes in routine
- Sensory sensitivities to things like noise, crowds, textures, lighting, and smells
- Communication difficulties, which can be amplified in unfamiliar settings
- Difficulty tolerating waiting and transitions
- Disruptions to sleep
Holiday travel can amplify all of these challenges at once. Consequently, parents and caregivers may notice increases in harmful or interfering behavior, such as meltdowns, aggression, or self-injurious behavior (SIB), during or after the holidays. This doesn’t mean families should avoid travel altogether. Rather, it highlights the importance of proactive planning and thoughtful supports. Let’s dive in to explore some strategies that can help.
Map the Trip From Beginning to End
First things first, take some time to think through your trip in advance, but from your child’s point of view. Consider each phase of travel, from leaving the house to getting in the car or on the plane to transitions between locations, and everything in between. When thinking about each step, ask yourself the following questions:
- What will my child see, hear, feel, taste, and smell?
- How long will this last?
- What parts of this would be hard for them?
- What supports might help them during this time?
When you map out your vacation and thoughtfully consider your child’s experiences at each step, you can more comprehensively prepare tools and strategies and proactively make adjustments to meet their needs.
Preparation is Key: Steps to Take
Once you’ve figured out how the trip may impact your child, begin preparing them for what’s to come. Consider the following tips to help them feel more comfortable with the changes on the horizon.
1. Prime Them for the Trip
First, begin talking to your child about the trip. Use simple, concrete language explaining where you’re going, how you’ll get there, and what you’ll do. For example, instead of saying, “We’re going on a trip for Christmas,” try saying, “ On X day, we’ll get in the car and drive two hours to Grandma’s house.”
Repetition is really important for things like this. Your child may not understand everything right away, and that’s okay. Revisit the conversation often to improve their understanding as the trip approaches.
2. Use Visual Supports & Practice
Visual supports can help communicate what to expect in a clear, concrete way. Many families find personalized social stories especially helpful for preparing children for big changes, like holiday plans. You might also create a visual schedule for the travel day or the length of the trip and review it with your child ahead of time, talking through each step.
In addition, look for opportunities to practice. Role-playing parts of the trip can help your child become more familiar with what will happen and reduce anxiety on travel day.
3. Contact the Airline & TSA Cares
If you’ll be traveling by plane, reach out to the airline ahead of time to let them know about your child’s needs and any concerns you have. Many airlines offer accommodations that can make the experience more comfortable, like early boarding. Some airlines even offer flight rehearsal programs, where children with autism can practice going through the steps of arriving at the airport, going through security, waiting, and boarding a plane.
It’s also helpful to look into TSA Cares, a program designed to support travelers with disabilities. TSA Cares provides information to help families prepare for the screening process and allows for modifications during security screening for those with autism and other special needs.
4. Request Guidance During Caregiver Training
As you prepare for your trip, don’t be afraid to reach out to your child’s board certified behavior analyst (BCBA) for support. They can provide individualized guidance during caregiver training on research-backed strategies to ease the stress of the trip.
5. Plan for Sensory Needs
Planning ahead for your child’s sensory needs can make a meaningful difference. Prepare sensory supports, such as noise-reducing headphones, a weighted vest, sunglasses, or other comfort items.
It’s also important to plan for moments when your child may need a break. Whenever possible, identify safe, quiet spaces they can retreat to if they feel overwhelmed, and let them know it’s okay to step away when needed.
6. Maintain Routines When Possible
Travel naturally disrupts daily routines, which can be stressful to many children. Whenever feasible, try to maintain certain aspects of your usual schedule. For example, continue following your typical bedtime routine. It helps to look for even small opportunities to help anchor your child during this time.
7. Build in Downtime
The holidays can quickly get hectic, with multiple events, visits, and activities packed into a short period of time. Be sure to build in breaks and downtime as a proactive support strategy to avoid overwhelm. Some time to recharge can make all the difference.
8. Keep PECS or AAC Devices Handy
If your child uses Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), like PECS or a communication device, ensure they have access to their mode of communication at all times. Print and laminate an image of their PECS book or AAC app as a backup—just in case.
Supporting Your Child After Travel
While some children quickly bounce back after returning from a trip, others may need a little extra support as they re-acclimate to their regular routine. Travel can be physically and emotionally exhausting for anyone, but even moreso for neurodivergent individuals.
As you settle back into life at home, allow time for rest, decompression, and gradual reintroduction of routines. Be patient and provide extra support where needed. If you notice increases in challenging behaviors or temporary skill regressions, reach out to your child’s BCBA for guidance on strategies to better help your child transition.
Every Family’s Holiday Travel Looks Different
There’s no “right” way to navigate holiday travel with a child with autism. Each child has unique challenges and strengths, and every family’s holiday plans look different. What matters most is taking the time to consider how your travel plans will impact your child and developing individual strategies to make it easier on everyone.
At CompleatKidz, we support families across North Carolina in building the skills that help children thrive. Our multidisciplinary clinics offer ABA, speech, OT, and PT under one roof, providing endless opportunities to help children build skills, confidence, and bright futures. Reach out today to see how we can support your child’s growth year-round.
