Traveling with children is always an adventure, but when your young ones have sensory sensitivities, your journey will have its own special set of challenges. Sensory awareness—and staying tuned in to your child’s sensory environment and experience—is crucial to making your travel experience comfortable and enjoyable for everyone.
I know how challenging it can be to coordinate a child’s sensory, dietary, and energy needs with the demands of travel. Figuring out what works best for your child may require some exploration, but I have a few suggestions to help you get started.
The “Sensory Bucket” Concept
Both for myself and the parents I work with, the concept of a “sensory bucket” or “sensory cup” has been a helpful way to visualize your child’s sensory awareness and environment. As your child is exposed to more stimuli—light, noise, smell, sound, etc.—their “sensory bucket” starts to fill up. It’s important to carefully manage this bucket, and prevent it from overflowing. A full bucket could lead to discomfort, or an overflowing bucket might result in meltdown.
Movement plays an important role in managing your child’s sensory bucket, but there are other ways to prevent their bucket from overflowing.
Preventing the “Sensory Bucket” from Overflowing
1. Be aware of (and prepared for) triggers: Understand your child’s sensory awareness triggers and implement strategies to prevent sensory overload. This might involve planning breaks in quiet spaces, creating opportunities to get your child moving (more about this later), providing sensory toys or tools, or using devices like noise-canceling headphones.
2. Pack a sensory toolkit: When traveling with younger children, consider practical solutions for bringing your child’s sensory toolkit along with you—for example, overalls with pockets and straps that can help store and secure your child’s favorite sensory tools. You can also keep sensory items easily accessible in your travel bag.
3. Keep it contained: Utilize trays or lap desks to create a contained space for activities during travel. This can help keep toys and supplies organized, and prevent items from spilling over, falling out, or otherwise getting lost.
4. Dress the part: This may sound obvious, but dress your child in whatever clothing they’ll be most comfortable in, and remember accessories—like sunglasses or ear plugs—to help manage their sensory bucket. If your child is comfortable wearing an ID bracelet, that can help keep them safe—especially if they tend to wander off, or have trouble with communication.
Tailored Solutions for Different Age Groups
Depending on how old your children are, their sensory buckets may look. Here are some considerations while traveling with younger and older children.
For younger children:
1. Accessible solutions: Ensure that the sensory tools they rely on are easily reachable. Consider using trays with dividers to organize different sensory items, or dress your child in items that have plenty of pockets!
2. Strategic strapping: Overalls with straps can serve as a practical solution for attaching sensory items securely to your child.
For older children:
1. Weighted items and fidgets: Introduce weighted blankets or lap pads, or bring along fidgets to provide sensory input and prevent their buckets from filling up. These items can be discreetly used during travel, which is especially important for adolescents.
2. Comfort items: Allow older children to bring comfort items—such as their favorite stuffed animals, hats, or large hoodies—for familiar and comforting sensations while traveling through unfamiliar or uncomfortable locations.
Making Travel Enjoyable Through Movement and Environment
By creating opportunities for movement and controlling certain aspects of your child’s environment, you can properly manage their sensory buckets and make the travel experience comfortable—and even enjoyable—for your entire family!
1. Roller board fun: Make moving fun by incorporating activities like roller boarding along your journey. Let your child jump on the roller board and ride along or maybe they pull a younger sibling on theirs. Emphasize the excitement of the journey, rather than the necessity of being in a particular place.
2. Dopamine input: Highlight areas of the environment that provide positive sensory input, which will trigger the release of dopamine and help balance your child’s sensory well-being. Reframing the environment to focus on the positive instead of the negative can turn a seemingly mundane journey into an opportunity for exploration and enjoyment.
3. Noise management: Equip your child with noise-cancelling headphones, especially during air travel. This not helps create a more comfortable auditory environment, but can also help manage ear pressure during takeoff and landing.
4. Chewable treats: Provide chewable treats, like gum, to help with oral sensory needs. These treats can be a special reward, making the travel experience even more enjoyable.
Important Considerations and Useful Resources
And just because I’ve been there, and know how quickly the unexpected can arise, take note of these important considerations, or keep an eye out for some surprisingly valuable resources that may be available to you during your travels.
1. Medical notes for travel: If your child requires medication, ask their prescriber for a note—especially when traveling internationally. This can facilitate smoother processes at customs, and ensure they have access to the medications they depend on.
2. Utilize sensory rooms: Some airports or travel hubs offer sensory rooms! Research whether this resource will be available to you, and plan your journey to include these spaces when available. They can provide a calming break that is often much-needed during long travel days.
3. External signals: Consider using external signals, such as a sunflower lanyard, to indicate specific needs or conditions, like autism. This can help discreetly inform others about your child’s requirements.
Traveling with children, especially those with sensory sensitivities, requires careful planning and a proactive approach. By being aware of your child’s sensory environment, employing creative solutions, and embracing the journey as an opportunity for sensory exploration, you can turn travel into a positive and enriching experience for you and your child.
At Orchid Pediatrics, we partner with caregivers and support children through both traditional and integrative methods. We see your child’s environment as a treatment modality in its own right, and will work with you to help you curate an environment that is conducive to your child’s comfort and well-being…even while traveling!
Please reach out today if you or your child needs support.
*** Disclaimer
This blog is for entertainment, informational, and general educational purposes only and should not be considered to be healthcare advice or medical diagnosis, treatment or prescribing. The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical care. Always seek the advice of your qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.
