TPP 015a: A Conversation with 11-year-old Asher About Travel and Vacation Strategies

In this special kid’s POV edition of the podcast, Asher and I share our best tips and strategies for making travel run more smoothly and having successful vacations with neurodivergent kids. As much as many families and their children may love going on vacation, the change in routine, different foods, shifting expectations, and new stimuli can even turn a trip to “The Happiest Place on Earth” (Disneyland) into one full of stress, anxiety, meltdowns, and other challenges. And while we know this rings true for pretty much any and every family, for parents raising differently wired kids, the extremes highs and lows can bigger.

In this episode, Asher and I share what we’ve learned over the years when it comes to making sure everyone’s needs and expectations on any given vacation are met, or at the very least, addressed, and walk listeners through the different schedules and planners we’ve we incorporated into our vacation prep. 

Things you’ll learn from this episode

The benefits of talking through and getting clear on expectations (for all members of the family) prior to leaving for a vacation

A strategy for using the collaborative problem solving approach to identify, address, and pre-solve concerns ahead of time

How to make departure day go more smoothly

The benefits of exploring and researching aspects of a vacation time well in advance of the trip (including accommodations, activities, etc.)

A strategy for using written schedules coupled with frequent reviews during a vacation keeps everyone’s expectations in check

The benefits of bringing a child into the planning process (and letting them determine some of what will happen on vacation)

Why it’s useful to work with your child to discover what they need most on vacation and then incorporating it into your daily plan (ie: rest, chill time, etc.)

Resources mentioned for successful vacations with neurodivergent kids

Download a PDF of our Family Goals Worksheet

Download a PDF of our Vacation Concerns Worksheet

Download a PDF of our Daily Vacation Planner Worksheet

Look at our Departure Plan whiteboard

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