Travel, vacation, and family gatherings can be fun but also very frightening for children who are prone to sensory processing problems. New things, sounds, crowds, strangers, and changes in daily routines might lead to sensory overload.
With some advance preparation, you can make these experiences much more enjoyable and less stressful for everyone involved. Preparing a sensory-sensitive child for travel will make them feel more comfortable and prepared for their travel experiences. Here is a guide with helpful advice that will help your child become prepared for memorable family times. Let's begin!
Understanding Sensory Sensitivities
Children with sensory sensitivities are either overly or poorly responsive to sensory input; for instance, sounds, visual cues, physical contact, or smell. Children struggling with sensory input will avoid certain places and feel uncomfortable and anxious. Knowing what their sensitivities are will surely be of great importance during the journey.
Key Tips for Sensory-Sensitive Travel & Family Gatherings
There are several ways in which we can ensure that the sensory-sensitive child feels comfortable while travelling and attending family functions. Some of them include:
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Build a Sensory Travel Kit
Travelling long distances will expose your child to a variety of unfamiliar smells, sounds, and sights that could potentially overwhelm them. The sensory travel kit is packed full of things that will help your child calm herself on the road.
Try considering:
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Noise-reduction headphones
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A lightweight weighted lap pad or weighted blanket
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Wearing sunglasses or a hat to minimize bright lighting
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Fidget tools or chewing accessories
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A water bottle and familiar snacks
Each individual child’s sensory system works differently; therefore, involve your children in deciding what you will carry along, like an Emoji sensory weighted blanket. Having control over one's surroundings to a small extent helps make travelling feel more comfortable.
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Prepare Your Child with Visuals and Stories
Your child may benefit from knowing what life will be like after the trip if he or she is able to follow a routine. One way to show a routine could be to tell a social story or create a routine that includes packing, travelling, arriving, and unpacking everything. Using such visual strategies as pictures or drawing, you can help to reduce the child's anxiety as well as facilitate his or her transition.
You can tell your child a little about the plan of the day with the help of an illustration or even photos. Your child will also feel more assured if they see the video footage of airports or driving before you take the actual trip.
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Choose Travel Times and Routes Thoughtfully
Timing really does matter a lot. Going during off-peak hours, like early morning times and middle-of-the-week times, usually results in less crowding and shorter lines. In cars, it is a good idea to take breaks so that your child can stretch and have some physical activity.
Another thing that should be kept in mind is that one does not rush. This is because taking the extra time will give everybody some breathing space and avoid any meltdown due to stress or exhaustion.
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Keep Routines Familiar and Consistent
Outside of the house too, carrying objects that have something to do with your kid’s everyday life will also be beneficial to your child. Maintaining the same diet and sleep timings and even bringing along some objects that your kid enjoys while sleeping, like his/her favorite toy.
Routines such as the bedtime habit of telling stories can calm the child and also encourage the child to fall asleep while parents travel to and from places. A regular schedule makes the child feel comfortable and manages the child's behavior.
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Make Time for Quiet Sensory Breaks
When there are a lot of holidays and family meetings, find some quiet zones where your child can relax ahead of time. Nowadays, many airports, museums, and other huge facilities have special low-stimulation zones and a sensory corner for kids.
In case you are going to visit your relatives, try to find out beforehand whether there is some place where your kid could get away quietly when needed. It could also be useful to create some kind of "quiet signal" together with your kid, a special gesture or phrase that means "I need some time for myself now."
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Use Travel to Support Learning and Communication
Every step of your adventure can contribute to developing speech, language, and social abilities. Tell a story about what’s going on around you, for example, “We are loading our bags into the car" or “The plane is taking off.” Use your senses to improve your vocabulary.
Ask open-ended questions:
“What do you think will be revealed upon our arrival?”
"Can you please tell me what lies outside your window?"
These small interactions help to promote the use of language in real-life situations. For the children who are undergoing speech or occupational therapy, participating in such interactions will definitely help in the generalization of the skills.
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Be Flexible and Celebrate Every Win
However well thought out the journey is, there will always be bumps along the road due to some delay, diversion, or change. You should not lose flexibility. Celebrate every little success like being able to cope in a noisy airport, queuing up without complaining, and so forth.
A supportive attitude on your part would help your child feel safe regardless of any potential difficulties. Remember that the aim of the whole process should be connection, confidence, and pleasure rather than the perfect process.
Why Do Parents Trust Auteeze for Sensory Solutions?
Our unique sensory comfort products are developed not only to help sensory-sensitive children but also to assist parents to create a comfortable atmosphere for them during travelling, vacation, or family gatherings.
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Science-Informed Comfort: Properly constructed weighted blankets and memory foam pillows help travelers maintain their normal sleeping patterns.
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Child-Conscious Materials: Soft and breathable materials reduce irritation from uncomfortable textures.
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Comfort in Every Climate: Breathable materials make children feel comfortable in varied environments.
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Familiarity Away from Home: When kids have the items they normally sleep with, settling into a new environment gets a lot easier.
Final Thoughts
Preparing a sensory-sensitive child for travel can be stressful. But planning and developing some routines around it will really make everything much simpler for such families. If a child's sensory needs are well known or even better catered, the whole family can enjoy trips a lot since such things will never interfere with the fun of those trips.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to reduce sensory issues in kids?
Changing the surroundings of your child, using helpful tools, and building a routine for them to suit their nervous system is one way of addressing sensory problems.
What are signs that my child is experiencing sensory overload?
Indicators are covering your ears, being upset, isolating yourself, crying, constantly moving, repeating the same action, or just wanting to leave your surroundings.
How can family members support my child's sensory needs?
Families play a key role in helping children handle sensory issues by knowing the child’s triggers and providing a relaxing environment. The families can also give the child a safe outlet to handle sensory-seeking/sensory-avoiding tendencies.
Should I maintain my child's routine during holidays?
Yes. Maintaining usual routines like mealtimes, sleep patterns, and regular rest breaks can help your child feel comfortable in an unfamiliar setting.
What are some examples of sensory calming techniques?
Sensory calming involves the use of touch, motion, auditory, visual, and taste stimuli to calm the nervous system and alleviate stress or overstimulation.