Traveling With Special Needs Children

Traveling with kids is always much harder than traveling alone, especially when one or more of your kids has special needs. If you’re planning one last summer vacation before kids go back to school, make sure you follow these travel tips for traveling with special needs children.

Plan outdoor activities.

Special needs children can learn a lot of life skills just by playing outside, so try to incorporate some fun, outdoor activities into your travel plans. Playing hide and seek, for example, can teach special needs kids how to stay calm in uncomfortable and anxiety-provoking environments. If you are taking a road trip to your final destination, try to find spots on the way where you can stop and have some fun in the great outdoors.

Check your seats.

Some airlines do not guarantee that you will be seated next to other members of your party, but being separated on a plane can be a nightmare for parents traveling with special needs children. After you have booked your plane tickets, call the airline to discuss your situation. Make sure the airline knows you are your child’s travel attendant and will need to be seated next to him or her. After having this conversation, some airlines may even let you board the plane before other passengers so you can get settled.

Take care of your child’s medical needs.

Before traveling, call your child’s doctor and ask for a note describing his or her condition. This is especially important if your child has a health condition that is not necessarily visible, such as Autism or ADHD. Then, ask your doctor if there are any natural herbal medications your child can take to calm down while on the airplane. Check all of your child’s prescriptions and make sure you have enough to last the length of your vacation. If not, you will need to talk to your child’s doctor about getting a new prescription earlier than usual. Finally, ask your child’s doctor for a referral to another doctor in the area you are traveling to in case of emergencies. Bring a copy of your child’s medical records so the doctor that you visit can get up to speed with his or her health condition.

Limit distractions.

Some special needs children have a habit of throwing items at the driver from the backseat of the car or creating loud noises that can also be distracting to the driver. If you are planning a road trip with your special needs child, try to reduce the number of distractions. If another adult is going with you on the trip, have him or her sit in the back with your child while you drive or vice versa. This will allow one adult to control your child while the other focuses solely on driving.

Prepare your child.

Whether you’re traveling by air, car or boat, you need to talk to your special needs child about what he or she can expect. For example, if your child will be going through security at an airport, discuss what will happen so they don’t panic when forced to through the machines alone. Try to do a walk through of what you will be experiencing during your travels so your child does not have an extreme reaction once you actually go through it.

Remember, preparation is key. Set aside time prior to your trip to make sure you have everything in order for a safe and memorable trip with your special needs child.