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This year we need to drive to New York for the holidays. My family wants to see us for Christmas, and I’ve been missing them a lot, so I agreed! Traveling with my autism son can be a bit tricky but if we prepare and plan then I feel we can make this happen.
I know he would love to see his cousins and be around family is so important. We tend to shy away from traveling, but we need to make this trip, holidays are time for family. My son doesn’t like change or disruptions in his routine. We will need to PLAN and PREPARE!
Preparing will go a long way for everyone!
Here are a few tips that we will be doing:
- Pack their favorite snacks and drinks (nothing new!)
- Set up a month or 2-week countdown- let them check off each day.
- If staying at a hotel, call and ask for a quiet room. Let them know why, and most of the time they will accommodate.
- Plan when you will stop for rest stops and food.
- Know the route and go over it with child so they know what will be happening.
- Praise appropriate behavior- have a prize bag.
- Play games and help them have fun in the car.
This will require a lot of planning on my part to make this trip work, but I don’t mind at all because my son will have fun and seeing his smile will be all the work worth it! Taking care of my son is my joy and I will be doing this forever. Whatever I can do to help the process I will do! He is grown but still needs my help every day. I enjoy being his mom and his caretaker so much.
The two major issues I need to work out is his bathroom needs and making sure we have fun.
My son doesn’t like public bathrooms and only can go home, so we need to come up with a PLAN. I do know we will need to get him Depend® Fit-Flex® Underwear for Men. My son will only wear these so of course; we stock up on Depend every time we go to Sam’s Club.
Sam’s Club is there for their members who are caregivers they have everything they might need, such as Depend and Poise® products. Sam’s Club is our one-stop shop for all things caregiving, including prescription refills, free health screenings, and health-related products.
No matter where we are going, I always have a bag with Depend, wipes, snacks, iPad, change of clothes, water, and toys for my son. This is has saved us many times!
Depend can be found in the same aisle as diapers and wipes.
Make sure to download the Digimarc Discovery app, and you can scan anywhere on the Depend packaging, and it will drive you to the Sam’s Club Caregiver website. A whole lot of information in one place. I’ve come to rely on Sam’s Club Caregiver for a lot of questions that come up while caring for my adult son.
When you see the Depend packaging, you will notice somethings NEW…shows just how much you save by shopping at Sam’s Club! Sam’s Club makes being a caregiver for my son easier on my wallet, every little bit helps!
KTOT’s Free Road Trip Scavenger Hunt Printable
Now let’s talk about having FUN! If I keep my son’s attention on things that he likes then the ride will go smoother. So I created a Road Trip Scavenger printable that we can take on the drive. He loves scavenger hunts around the house, so I’m hoping this will help with his focus while in the car. We have 4-hour drive so having a plan on how to occupy his time is the best way to go unless we want to leave at 2:30 in the morning. Which isn’t going to happen?
Now this PRINTABLE will help with all the kids, and adults have fun in the car. I’m going to print out one for everyone except DAD because he is driving the whole way there!
Click on PICTURE and PRINT! Easy Peasy- if you can laminate then you can reuse for every car ride- no matter where you are going.
Print out this Road Trip Scavenger Hunt Checklist for your holiday traveling. Make sure you share with family and friends. Don’t let this deter you from traveling- be prepared, and it will go well. Make sure they know what is going on, make sure to cover their needs, and have FUN! For us I need to
Remember communication is very important plus make sure you cover your child’s needs and have FUN!
These are such useful tips! When my kids were little, I wished I had thought about using Depends for long road trips. Sometimes there are not rest areas for miles!
I hope your trip goes smoothly and is a safe one!! I love the idea of the Road Trip Scavenger printable! I think it would be so helpful for anyone traveling this holiday season with the kiddos!!
Traveling can be stressful when you have kids in the car. I think these are really helpful tips.
This is such a great idea. I have a friend who is also doing the road trip to Thanksgiving. Her son keeps complaining about driving so this might help make the trip a bit more fun.
Thanks for sharing all of the ways you prepare for a road trip with your son who has autism. I was a special education teacher for over 10 years, so I know how stressful this can be for parents. #client
Love the printable! It is fun for everyone when going to the store. I like to have things for the kids to do. They get bored easily, plus if they stay busy I do not have to carry my 3-year-old through the entire store.
You just never know when you will need them. Loving that printable, smart idea for long trips! #client
These are some really great suggestions. I’m loving that scavenger hunt!!! Too fun!
Great ideas for traveling! We are headed out this evening and will take this along:)
I am always about trying new snacks on a road trip. Thanks for letting me know not to do that if I am with an autistic child. I would not have known that.
Thanks for the idea! a scavenger hunt while travelling will definitely keep children busy