Tips For Flying Children with Autism

Traveling can be an exciting yet anxious experience. And for a child with autism, even more so. That’s because certain things are difficult to adjust to right away, such as a change in routine, exploring unfamiliar surroundings and new sensory stimulations.

If traveling somewhere new is approaching on your calendar, here are a few tips to make flying with autism go smoother

• Mark it on a calendar – This will present the concept of time in a visual way, which may help your child prepare for an environmental change.
• Create a travel story – A few weeks prior to your travel, create a story with your child that gives an overview of flying in an airplane. This will help them while you’re traveling, as they will be more prepared for what they see and experience.
• Don’t wash their comfort items – Being in unfamiliar settings may cause them to miss the familiar, so having their comfort item with them that smells like it always does can ease the process a bit.
• Exercise prior to departure – Flying involves a lot of sitting still, so releasing any excess energy that your kiddo may be bottling up is a great way to ensure they remain calm and still throughout the flight.
• Do a practice run – Contact the airport and see if they can lend a hand here, because doing a run through will give your child an expectation of what’s to come.
• Keeping an eye on the time – Give your child a countdown timer in the airplane. This will help them to visually understand how much longer the flight will be.

Don’t Forget

Your child is also excited to travel. They just need a little bit of extra preparation. And these are a few little ways you can help them have the best experience possible.