Sensory-friendly travel tips
Travel Tips for Autistic Children:
Navigating Airports and Holidays
Travelling can be an exciting adventure, but as we know it can also be overwhelming, especially for autistic children. Here are some tips to help manage your child’s sensory needs when travelling.
Preparation is Key
Visual Schedules: Create a visual schedule of the trip. Include pictures of the airport, airplane, hotel, and any activities planned. This helps children understand what to expect and reduces anxiety about all the unknowns.
Social Stories: Create a social story to explain each step of the travel process, from packing to going through security to arriving at the destination. This can help children anticipate what will happen and feel more in control.
Familiar Items: Bring along your child’s favourite comfort items like a blanket, stuffed animal, or a favourite toy. Familiar items can provide a sense of security in new environments.
Packing Smart
Noise-Cancelling Earphones or Loops: Airports are very noisy, bustly places, which can be overwhelming for us all, let alone autistic children. Noise-cancelling earphones or Loops (these are great for older children) can help reduce auditory input and create a more manageable environment.
Sunflower Lanyard: If your child is happy to wear one, the sunflower lanyard is a great way to let other people know your child may behave differently so they can work with him or her (and you) to navigate tricky scenarios successfully.
Comfortable Clothing: Dress your child in comfortable clothing that they are used to. Avoid new or scratchy clothes that might cause discomfort.
Sensory Tools: Pack sensory tools such as fidget spinners, stress balls, or chewable jewellery (chewllery). These can help your child self-regulate and stay calm.
Navigating the Airport
Early Arrivals: Arrive at the airport early to allow plenty of time to go through security and find your gate without rushing. This reduces stress for both you and your child.
Pre-Boarding: Many airlines offer pre-boarding for families with children who need extra assistance. This allows you to board the plane and get settled before the general boarding process begins.
Quiet Spaces: Look for quiet areas in the airport where your child can take a break from the hustle and bustle. Some airports have designated quiet rooms or sensory-friendly spaces.
On the Plane
Seat Choice: If possible, choose seats that are best suited for your child’s needs. Window seats can provide a distraction with the view, while aisle seats allow for easier access to the bathroom and allow more room to move.
Prepare for Take-off and Landing: These can be particularly challenging times due to changes in air pressure and noise.
Prep in advance with a visual checklist so your child can tick off the process of boarding, seatbelts, cabin announcements etc step by step. This will help him or her to know there are lots of steps to go through before arriving on holiday.
Encourage your child to chew gum, suck on a lollipop, or drink water during take-off and landing to help with ear pressure.
In-Flight Entertainment: Bring a tablet loaded with your child’s favourite movies, games, or music. This can be a great distraction and make the flight time pass more quickly.
Follow the same steps for landing, airport navigation and onward travel.
At your Destination
Routine: Try to maintain as much of your child’s routine as possible, including meal times and bedtime. Familiar routines can provide a sense of stability in a new environment.
Exploration Time: Give your child time to explore the new environment at their own pace. Let them become familiar with their new surroundings gradually.
Regulating Tools: Have a sensory toolkit ready with items that help your child relax and feel better regulated. This could include sensory toys, noise-cancelling earphones, a favourite book, or calming music or even things to chew.
Use your Visual Tools
Checklists, schedules, timetables: Never underestimate the value and benefit of visual tools for autistic children. While the holiday is for you as well, taking time to create daily visuals will greatly help your child to get the most out of the new experiences too. Pocket-sized white boards or notepads are a great way to be able to scaffold the unpredictable… always accompanied by praise and gentle reinforcement.
Plan A and Plan B: Prep in advance when you can. Consider a two-option plan so that, for example, if the favourite menu choice isn’t available there is a planned second choice. You can apply this to many situations in everyday life where a variable needs to be factored in.
Wishing you happy travels!
Emma Puttock
Children’s Occupational Therapist