Travel Tips for Families and Our Top Tips
Making Travel Easier for Families including those with Additional Needs
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Travel can evoke a mix of excitement and anxiety for families, especially those with children who have special needs. Whether embarking on a family vacation, visiting relatives, or attending medical or educational appointments, traveling can be challenging. For families living in rural and remote areas, travel often becomes an unavoidable necessity, making meticulous preparation and planning essential. At Look Hear Australia, we’re committed to providing the tools and resources to make travel a more manageable and enjoyable experience for everyone.
We also bring lived experience. We have two boys and have been fortunate enough to travel a fair being when we lived in the UK, as well as more local trips around Queensland since moving back.
The Challenges of Travel for Families with Special Needs
Children with disabilities or special needs may face unique challenges during travel, such as disruptions to their routine, unfamiliar environments, sensory overload, and physical demands. Preparing children for these changes and equipping them with strategies to handle new experiences can help alleviate anxiety and create a smoother journey. Social Stories and visual aids tailored to travel scenarios can be especially effective, helping children understand what to expect and how to navigate various aspects of travel.
Here are some invaluable resources and strategies to support families in making travel a more positive experience:
1. Car Stickers and Emergency Products
Why We Love It:
Car stickers, such as “Occupant with Special Needs,” alert emergency personnel to the presence of a child with special needs in the vehicle. These simple yet effective tools enhance safety and offer peace of mind, ensuring that responders are aware of the child’s needs in case of an emergency.
Who’s It Best For:
Parents, therapists, teachers, and support workers.
Cost:
Varying depending on the product.
2. Noise-Cancelling Headphones and Sensory Tools
Why We Love It:
Noise-cancelling headphones are invaluable for children sensitive to noise and crowds, helping reduce sensory overload in noisy environments like airports or train stations. Other sensory tools, such as fidget spinners, preferred toys and chewable jewelry, can also assist in self-regulation during travel.
Who’s It Best For:
Parents and support workers.
Cost:
Ranges from $20 to $100, depending on the product. Full disclosure – I got our most recent set from Temu and they seem to be doing the job. Ours are only for watching planes though so consider your purpose incase you need something more effective.
- Be sure to NAME EVERYTHING!!! We get name stickers printed every year and they are LIFE SAVERS!
3. Visual Schedules and Travel Checklists
Why We Love It:
Visual schedules provide a clear representation of the day’s events, helping children who thrive on routine. Travel checklists can outline the process of packing, car rides, airport procedures, and boarding, helping children feel more prepared and involved.
Who’s It Best For:
Parents, teachers, and therapists.
Cost:
Free to low cost, depending on the materials used to create the schedules.
Where to Get It:
- You can make them yourself in word or Canva
- You can make them yourself with paper and a pen
- We love using Widget Online for more specialist visuals
Preparing for the Journey
Preparation is key when traveling with children who have special needs. Here are some tips to ensure a smoother journey:
- Plan Ahead: Research your destination and accommodations to ensure they meet your child’s needs. Contact airlines, hotels, and attractions in advance to discuss any specific requirements.
- Pack Smart: Bring essential comfort items, such as a favorite toy, blanket, or pillow, along with necessary medications, sensory tools, and snacks. And don’t forget to name them! We literally take the kids beds, our eldest has a fancy blow up bed (Stokke Cloudsleeper) that we got on sale one year. They are expensive BUT we have certainly gotten the value out of it across our travels and camper-trailer.
- Packing Cubes: Highly recommend and we have one each for the boys and then for us. It makes the other end so much easier!
- Practice at Home: Familiarize your child with travel scenarios by practicing at home. This might include packing, car rides, or role-playing security checks.
- Use Technology: Utilize apps designed to help children with special needs during travel, offering visual schedules, social stories, and calming activities. We often watch YouTube videos for the kids as well e.g. airport security, airplane rules (and social expectations).
- Stay Flexible: Travel can be unpredictable. Be prepared to make adjustments and take breaks as needed. A flexible mindset will help reduce stress for both you and your child.
- Lists: If you haven’t already read Life Admin Hacks, I highly recommend it! The chapters on lists is amazing, and having these checklists e.g. hospital bag, travel packing list, bump out list etc mean that we can easily travel without the mental load of all the tasks.
Some of Our Favourite Travelling items
- Packing cubes – makes the other end so much easier! We each have one and then one for the PJs and swimming gear etc.
- Yoto – this is our most used toy. It can connect to head phones and it’s amazing for travelling! Check out more of my rambilings here.
- Travel Pram – we have the Bugaboo Ant but really any is suitable
- Medications Kit – kid are always getting sick but things like antiseptic creams and such are always on hand.
- Tuppareware and Snap Lock bags – we always take these and we pretty much always use them for something e.g. dirty clothes (snap lock bags), or left over snacks or precious toys or treasures found on the way.
- Washing powder and dishwashing liquid – we typically only ever stay places with a washing machine and I tend to take enough for 1-2 two loads depending on where we are going and how long we will be away.
- Reusable bags and a cooler bag – Again travelling and you will always get snacks and groceries with kids!
Final Thoughts
Travel doesn’t have to be overwhelming for families with children #itsnothardtomakeiteasy. With thoughtful preparation, the right resources, preparation, and effective strategies, travel can be a positive and enriching experience that creates lasting memories. Whether traveling for necessity or leisure, these tools and tips can help make the journey more manageable and enjoyable.
Each child is unique, and tailoring your approach to their specific needs will make all the difference. At Look Hear Australia, we’re dedicated to supporting families through every step of their journey. Happy travels!
For more insights, updates, and exclusive resources, follow us on social media. Visit our website to explore our digital downloads and discover how we can support you and your family.
Looking for expert support in Paediatric Occupational Therapy?
Tara at Look Hear Australia in Townsville, North Queensland is here to help! We offer face-to-face sessions for local clients, and for those in Queensland, Victoria, and the Northern Territory, we provide convenient telehealth options.
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