Parents raising kids who have mental disability challenges face special problems every day. These are children for whom routine and structure are critical. For their families the idea of a vacation, or even a long weekend away, can seem like an impossibility. Experts disagree, and offer some travel tips for children with autism every parent should consider before they dismiss the idea of taking a trip altogether.
Planning ahead is key. You should allow your autistic child to participate in the planning. You know your youngster best. You know the things he enjoys and the things that are sure to bring on a meltdown. That's one reason it's so important for plans to be flexible.
If you try to fill up every day doing activities, everyone will end up stressed. This will be disastrous for your special kid. It is much better to plan one or two activities a day giving your child plenty of time to get used to his surroundings and any strangers he might meet along the way.
You must have a safety plan. Wandering is a major concern of parents who have autistic children. It can be especially dangerous when the autistic youngster is non-verbal.
You must arm your kid with a medical bracelet with all the appropriate contact information included. If you have a sensory sensitive child, you can attach an ID tag to his belt or zipper. If the child has allergies, you want to include that information as well.
This is not the time to try and separate your autistic child from a favorite stuffed toy, blanket, or any other comfort object he favors. You will be sorry if you decide to leave it behind. It's also important to take with you the things your youngster associates with his normal routine. This includes favorite toys, snacks, and clothing. The bag you pack needs to include anything you think might avoid a meltdown.
Weeks before the actual trip date, you and your youngster should start discussing what is going to happen when you take your vacation. Pictures are a good way to get him familiar with the idea. If possible, you should find some photos of the room where you will be staying on vacation to show the child. Toy planes and trains can be used to describe the mode of transportation you will be taking.
Schedule plenty of breaks every day of your vacation. It isn't realistic to expect an autistic child to spend the whole day at a theme park for instance. After a couple of hours, you might have to leave. You have to make plans in advance for this. You might extend your visit, so you can go to the park for a few hours and then spend some time relaxing a the hotel pool. Keeping to the normal bedtime routine while you are away is one way to keep your youngster on track.
Planning ahead is key. You should allow your autistic child to participate in the planning. You know your youngster best. You know the things he enjoys and the things that are sure to bring on a meltdown. That's one reason it's so important for plans to be flexible.
If you try to fill up every day doing activities, everyone will end up stressed. This will be disastrous for your special kid. It is much better to plan one or two activities a day giving your child plenty of time to get used to his surroundings and any strangers he might meet along the way.
You must have a safety plan. Wandering is a major concern of parents who have autistic children. It can be especially dangerous when the autistic youngster is non-verbal.
You must arm your kid with a medical bracelet with all the appropriate contact information included. If you have a sensory sensitive child, you can attach an ID tag to his belt or zipper. If the child has allergies, you want to include that information as well.
This is not the time to try and separate your autistic child from a favorite stuffed toy, blanket, or any other comfort object he favors. You will be sorry if you decide to leave it behind. It's also important to take with you the things your youngster associates with his normal routine. This includes favorite toys, snacks, and clothing. The bag you pack needs to include anything you think might avoid a meltdown.
Weeks before the actual trip date, you and your youngster should start discussing what is going to happen when you take your vacation. Pictures are a good way to get him familiar with the idea. If possible, you should find some photos of the room where you will be staying on vacation to show the child. Toy planes and trains can be used to describe the mode of transportation you will be taking.
Schedule plenty of breaks every day of your vacation. It isn't realistic to expect an autistic child to spend the whole day at a theme park for instance. After a couple of hours, you might have to leave. You have to make plans in advance for this. You might extend your visit, so you can go to the park for a few hours and then spend some time relaxing a the hotel pool. Keeping to the normal bedtime routine while you are away is one way to keep your youngster on track.
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Parents can get top travel tips for children with autism when they visit the recommended site. Here is the link to click on http://www.autismtraveltips.com.
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