Planning a vacation for the whole family can be exciting. But if you have small children with you, a family trip can be challenging. If you have a child with special needs, it can be a lot more difficult. But that doesn't mean you shouldn't go on family trips anymore. It just takes careful planning so that your family vacation will be hassle-free. Here are some tips to help you.
- Begin your research with the services available. You may also want to check with other parents for first-hand experience. Online parent groups are wonderful for getting this information.
- Another way to provide peace of mind when planning a family vacation with a special needs child is to ask other family members or seek out hired help from one who can provide professional service for the special needs child. If the special needs child also has sibling, it will be to the parents disadvantage to balance the time between the siblings.
- Bring something that will help the child get some downtime, such as a video game, computer or a toy.
- It is often helpful to write a story or making a chart to visually show the child what is planned for the day. In addition, going over the day’s events and answering any questions is also important. It is very helpful to use photographs and video clips to further help explain the upcoming events and to recap what occurred. If possible, bring along a portable DVD and use this to show photographs and video clips to your child.
- Take along a familiar bedroom item, such as a pillow, blanket or stuffed toy.
- While allowing for time changes, keep sleep and wake-up routines as normal as possible.
Accidents happen, so it's nice to have a fresh set of clothing to change into. I carry a few extra items along with a change of clothes including wet wipes; a wash cloth, small towel, and even a travel vomit clean-up kit. It's very nice to be prepared.
- And if possible cook homemade foods for children, foods that he/she loves to eat.
The most important thing, is to have a positive attitude. Put a smile on your face and watch how it will spread to those around you. Get out there and see the world with your children. Traveling with special needs may require more planning and preparation, but it's worth the effort. There are no words to describe the joy and excitement of sharing the world with your child.