Tips for Preparing Your Child for Vacations

Written by Emily Braff, M.A., BCaBA

Vacations are the highlight of most people’s summers, but for children with autism they can be stressful and upsetting.  The change in routine and unfamiliar location and activities can result in problem behaviors which make the trip unpleasant for everybody.  There are strategies that can be used to help manage these behaviors in public and unfamiliar settings, but with some planning and proactive strategies, it is possible to avoid many of these issues.

Talk About Your Trip in Advance

One of the most upsetting aspects of vacations for children with autism can be suddenly experiencing a host of new situations for which they are not prepared.  You can help alleviate this by discussing as many aspects of the trip as possible in advance.  If a plane ride or long car trip is required, make sure the child is aware of this.  Showing the child pictures of airports and planes or even visiting the airport in advance can help the child stay relaxed while traveling.  The Wings for Autism program allows children to visit the airport in advance and simulates an entire flight for them to experience, so check to see if this program is available in your area.  You can also create a social story in which you describe each step of the process, from arriving at the airport to the security check to the flight itself if you are flying or about driving in the car and all the fun things you can see and do, and go through it with your child to help them prepare.  For more information about creating social stories, see the blog Building Social Skills Using Social Stories.

Additionally, be sure to talk to your child about where you are going, where you will be staying, and what you will be doing while you are there.  Be as specific as possible.  If you can, make a schedule for the trip and go through it with your child before the trip and each day while you are there so they are aware of what they will be doing and when it will happen.  If any activities might be more stressful, such as parks with crowds of people, explain the events in detail, create a social story, and/or discuss appropriate behavior and techniques for handling the stress beforehand.

Come Prepared

Change can be very scary for children with autism so they are more comfortable when familiar activities or items are available.  In order to ease the transition, bring as many familiar aspects of the child’s day to day life as possible.  This may include bringing preferred snacks and foods, toys, videos, and other items the child enjoys.  Bringing the child’s bedding from home and using it on their bed while you are away may make the child more comfortable.  Additionally, if there are any routines that you have at home, such as a certain morning or bedtime routine, or a game you play, try to do these as much as possible throughout the vacation.

Look for Autism-Friendly Activities

As autism becomes more prevalent, many companies are trying to accommodate the needs of individuals with autism by creating autism friendly events and activities.  Search for these in the area you are visiting or if you are already planning a certain activity, contact the venue ahead of time and ask if they provide any assistance.  For example, Disney has been known to provide special one-on-one meetings between children and their favorite characters in calm, quiet environments to avoid stressful situations.  Many venues also offer preferential placement in lines to assist families with children with special needs.

Have a Back-Up Plan

If all else fails, always have a plan for what you will do if the child cannot participate in or has to be removed from an activity or environment.  Trying to figure out how to handle a problem while in the midst of it can be stressful and sometimes frightening for everyone involved, so make sure everyone knows ahead of time how situations should be handled.  Make sure everyone in your party knows how to react to the child’s behavior, who will leave with the child, and where they will go.  If necessary, inform staff of the area or activity ahead of time that certain situations may arise and how they should be handled.