Holiday Air Travel with Children Who Have Special Needs

The holiday season is that time of year when everyone makes an extra effort to be with family and close friends. You can’t seem to avoid holiday traveling if you have a large extended family that is scattered around the country or even around the globe. Therefore, holiday time often means traveling by air or ground to get to grandma’s house, dinner at Uncle Ed’s or a family party.

If flying is in your future for the holidays there are many things you need to consider. The thought of air travel over the holidays can give even the most organized and patient adult a case of anxiety. I do not have to tell you that traveling with children can be stressful, especially if you have a child with special needs, and getting to these holiday functions requires smart travel planning. There are many ways you can minimize the stress involved when traveling with your special crew and knowing some good traveling tips is one way to do that. Here are some helpful tips that will come in handy.

Flying:

• If you are flying you will need to be prepared for security rules, especially the new ones. Do you choose the scan or the pat-down? Both of these options have the potential to set any child with sensory issues off into a tizzy. Make your decision before you leave the house and find a way to practice or role play what will happen. Getting through the security check without a mishap requires knowing all the rules and sharing them with your child in advance. Time can be wasted if you have not prepared your children ahead of time for what they can and cannot do or take onboard the flight. Minimize surprises by educating yourself about the rules your airline has and share them with all concerned.
• Going through security checks with a child on the autism spectrum can be very unpredictable, especially if your child is not prepared. Take the time to go through an airport check dress rehearsal with your child before you leave for your trip. Taking a few hours to play, “Let’s go to the Airport” not only prepares your child for what is to come but can be a fun activity for the entire family. The more predictable you can make it for your child the better it will be.
• Paying attention to the sensory sensitivities your child has and thinking ahead to what might trigger resistance or a meltdown is important. If your child does not like walking in stocking feet then you need to prepare her for what is to come or find another solution. Stating it as a fact and writing a social story about it may be all that is needed.
• Holiday traveling with gifts has some special precautions as well when it comes to the security gates. Do not spend the time or money wrapping your gifts in brightly colored wrap because you will have to unwrap them in front of the guards. Any young child, regardless of ability, may not understand why the security guard is making mommy or daddy unwrap the gift they so carefully wrapped for their grandma. This alone may be enough to make them become unglued.
• To avoid hassle, either wait until you arrive at your destination to wrap them, or mail them separately, which could also save you money. If they add extra weight to your baggage you may have to pay a fee for that.
• If your child with autism has dietary restrictions you obviously need to pack snack items that they can eat. It is difficult to find gluten free, casein-free food in the airport eateries. Bring see through plastic containers or baggies filled with your child’s favorite treats and meals such as fruits, veggie sticks, toddler finger foods, cheerios and such that will appeal to their young taste buds and keep them happily munching. Remember to bring along wipes to clean sticky fingers.
• Unlike a car ride, where you can pull off at rest stops, a flight is a long endless ride for any youngster. To help pass the time, pack your child’s favorite activities and simple toys in their carryon baggage to amuse them. Pack crayons and coloring books, stuffed animals, dolls and action figures. You can also bring along music CDs with headphones, which is a great way to reduce or control the noise level for a child who is sensitive to noise.
• Give yourself plenty of extra time so that you arrive at the gate before you need to. This way if there are extra security checks you won’t be late for your flight. Checking in always takes longer than you expect, especially when you have children. A good rule of thumb is to be at the airport an hour before domestic flight times and two hours before international flight departure time. You may want to consider doubling that if you have a child that thrives on routine and predictability, something that most airports do not provide. Having to rush with a child on the autism spectrum in a busy airport can easily send them into overload.
• That Airport Website comes in handy when it comes to knowing where the nearest place to eat is at the airport and how close it is to your departure gate. Sometimes if you have a lengthy delay you might even find that your airport has a quiet place for families with children to have some quiet down time.

If all else fails, you may want to consider creating a card or some sort of written communication that will alert airport staff to the special needs of your children. This will keep you from having to verbally explain your situation to a security guard in front of way too many people.