Traveling can be both exciting and overwhelming, especially when your child is on the autism spectrum. New environments, changes in routine, and sensory overload can make travel challenging. But with thoughtful preparation, clear expectations, and strategies you’ve likely already practiced through ABA therapy, travel can become a positive experience for your entire family.
As a parent, your instinct to create comfort and predictability is key, and there are practical ways to do just that!
5 Tips for Travel
Prepare with Visuals and Social Stories
Children thrive on predictability, and ABA therapy often uses visual supports and social stories to help set expectations. Before your trip, consider creating a simple social story that walks your child through the airport experience or road trip, step by step. Include photos, describe sounds and sights, and explain what your child will be doing and why.
Tip: You can even find downloadable social stories online or create one together using photos of your family’s past travels.
Practice Skills in Advance
If your child is working on skills like waiting, following instructions, or staying close in public, these can be reinforced before the trip through short practice sessions at home or in your community. Our ABA therapists focus on generalizing skills to new environments, so talk to your therapist about ways to simulate travel scenarios.
Consider:
- Practicing security line routines at home (taking off shoes, emptying pockets).
- Visiting busy places like malls to get used to crowds and noise.
- Role-playing airplane behavior (buckling seat belts, using headphones).
Bring Comfort and Familiarity
Transitions are easier when your child has familiar items nearby. Pack a “comfort kit” with favorite toys, snacks, noise-canceling headphones, or fidgets. These tools can help regulate sensory input and provide reassurance during unpredictable moments.
If your child uses a visual schedule or token board in their ABA sessions, bring a portable version to help them track the day’s events and feel more in control.
Create a Plan for the Unexpected
Even with the best preparation, travel rarely goes exactly as planned. You might face delays, loud announcements, or sudden changes. As a parent, having a calm, flexible mindset and sharing that energy with your child can make a big difference.
Many children benefit from having a “calm-down plan” in place. This might include:
- A quiet corner at the gate.
- A calming phrase or breathing technique practiced during therapy.
- Access to a favorite video or sensory activity.
Navigating Different Modes of Transportation
Each mode of travel comes with its own unique challenges and opportunities. Here’s how you can help your child feel secure and successful, no matter how you get there:
- Airplane: Airports can be noisy, crowded, and overstimulating. Prepare your child with social stories and visit the airport in advance if possible. Use the TSA Cares program for screening assistance, and consider priority boarding to help your child settle in early. Bring headphones and download familiar shows or music for comfort.
- Car: Car travel offers the most flexibility. Let your child help pack their own activity bag, take frequent breaks, and stick to predictable stops or mealtimes. You can practice short drives leading up to a long road trip to build tolerance and set expectations.
- Train: Trains can be less chaotic than airports but still involve waiting and unfamiliar environments. Request seats in quieter cars when possible. Walk your child through what to expect—boarding, the motion of the train, and the length of the journey. Bring preferred items, and if your child uses a weighted blanket or lap pad, that can help with regulation.
- Cruise: Cruises offer structured routines, which can benefit many children on the spectrum. Look for autism-friendly cruise lines or programs that provide sensory spaces, trained staff, and flexible dining options. Help your child get used to the idea of sleeping in a new bed, and plan for downtime each day to avoid overstimulation.
For more travel guidance tailored to autism, explore these helpful resources:
Celebrate the Wins—Big or Small
Whether your child makes it through the airport with less anxiety, uses a coping strategy independently, or simply enjoys the experience more than expected, these are meaningful victories. Every trip builds resilience and reinforces the life skills you’re helping your child master through therapy and everyday parenting.
You Know Your Child Best
Ultimately, the key to smoother travel lies in the connection you’ve already built with your child. Your understanding of their triggers, comforts, and strengths, combined with practical strategies from ABA therapy, can turn travel into a more manageable, even joyful, experience.
If you have questions about applying therapeutic strategies while traveling, don’t hesitate to reach out to your team at Milestones DFW. We’re here to support your family, wherever your journey takes you.