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Help your child discover the world – expert tips for sensory-friendly travel

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Help your child discover the world – expert tips for sensory-friendly travel

Jess Yun
 |  Upstate Parent

As a former Miss South Carolina and a Broadway performer, Kimilee Bryant is a seasoned traveler. 

“Because of my career, I am used to being on the road and discovering new places,” Bryant said. “You learn so much when you travel.”

But traveling changed when she had her son, Aidan, 10 years ago.

“For a while I thought I would take him on tour with me like I had seen so many of my colleagues do with their children,” Bryant said, “but it soon became clear that Aidan had special needs.”

When Aidan was 2, he was formally diagnosed with autism. Bryant had to adjust her career, move from New York City back to her hometown of Greenville and rethink how she traveled. But Aidan’s diagnosis didn’t stop her from showing him all the experiences you gain when you travel. 

“I have had the best time traveling with my kiddo,” Bryant said. “When you are traveling with your family and away from work and day-to-day life, there is something so special about that quality time. Aidan makes amazing progress every time we go on a trip. There have been so many times where I have looked at Aidan while traveling and said ‘Wow! I didn’t know you could do that.’” 

Bryant has become so adept at traveling with a child who has autism that she became a travel agent and wrote a children’s book about Aidan’s adventures. 

Whether your child has sensory needs or just gets sensory overload in new, loud places, Bryant offers the following invaluable tips for traveling with children:

Start at an early age 

“Aidan is a great traveler,” Bryant said. “It doesn’t hurt that I had him on a plane when he was 5 months old. Like with anything else, something that a child starts early is something they become used to doing. Plus, the more you travel, the easier it gets.”

Take a trial trip

If you are new to traveling with your kids – especially if they have sensory concerns – Bryant suggests taking a few “trial runs” to places near your home. 

“Go to an indoor playground, try a zipline course, visit a park or go to some of the local festivals,” Bryant says. “All of these things will help your child learn to be around other people and crowds, understand standing in lines, and give them a little taste of something different.” 

Do your research

Bryant says learning everything you can about the places you are visiting will help ease the amount of stress on you and your child. Your research can be simple, like viewing the menu before you take your child to a restaurant, or more in-depth, like familiarizing yourself with the different accommodations (shortened wait times, sensory rooms for a place to calm down, etc.) offered for visitors.

Bryant also recommends downloading any app associated with the theme park or tourist attraction you are visiting. These apps can help you navigate where you are going, plan your day and find places like first aid, customer service and spots to rest if your child just needs a minute.

Lastly, Bryant says it is really important to research the age requirements for any show or attraction and consider whether it is appropriate for your child’s developmental age.

Include your child in the planning

Once you’ve done your heavy research, it is time to get everyone excited about the trip. Using videos and pictures of attractions and even the food you might eat, show your child where you are going and what you are going to do. 

“Allow them to make lists (with words or pictures) of things they want to do on your trip. It will help them feel like they had a part in planning,” Bryant said. 

Pack everything

Traveling with kids really isn’t the time to try to fit everything into a carry-on. Bryant suggests taking coloring supplies, sensory toys, tablets (with games or shows already downloaded), headphones (including a wired pair for plane entertainment systems), snacks, extra wipes and hand sanitizer, at a minimum. 

“It is a pain, but pack all the things,” Bryant laughed. 

Pack medical records too 

On the road, having documentation and a way to alert people of any disabilities or developmental or sensory requirements is critical.

“I have a sticker that I put on my car and take with me when we travel that says, ‘child with autism on board, may be nonverbal, may run away,’” Bryant said. “That way if something were to happen to me, people coming to help would know about Aidan. In his backpack, there will be a similar kind of note if for some reason we were ever separated.” 

If your child has a hidden disability (one that isn’t necessarily physical or evident upon first meeting), Bryant also suggests looking into the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower program (hdsunflower.com). 

Don’t forget medications

Bryant implores parents to never forget their child’s medications, from basics like pain reliever and stomach meds (a lot of people have tummy issues when traveling) to prescriptions. 

Seek out and accept help

From airlines to theme parks, many companies offer services for those traveling with children and/or those who need accommodations. Bryant always informs the staff, crew, ushers, etc., that she is with someone who is disabled. 

“For a while I wondered if I was being entitled when doing things like boarding first,” Bryant said. “But then I realized that these accommodations are things that Aidan needs to be able to travel safely and happily. So I say, don’t be embarrassed to ask for what you need.” 

Schedule in breaks

“I understand that you want to experience everything when traveling,” Bryant said. “It is easy to want to just go, go, go to get it all in, but you have to pace yourself. Schedule breaks and make sure you are paying attention to how everyone in your family is feeling during the trip.” 

Reframe the no

Between souvenirs you won’t buy and unavoidable mishaps like delayed flights or malfunctioning rides, there are lots of times a child will be told “no” during a trip. 

“Avoiding the blunt ‘no’ can help avoid meltdowns,” Bryant advised. “Try to say things like ‘you can’t have that now, but you can have this thing instead,’ or ‘we can’t go on that ride today, but maybe some other time,’ rather than just ‘no.’”

Weather the meltdown

“I still have a hard time when Aidan has a meltdown, but the worst thing you can do is yell at your child,” Bryant said. “Sometimes a child might just need to have a breakdown, so get on their level and tell them that it is going to be OK. Every parent has had a child melt down in public. It’s rough, but it just happens.” 

Embrace the adventure 

“Know your limits and your child’s limits, but also be willing to push them a bit while traveling,” Bryant said. “It can create great experiences that open up a whole new world for you and your child. Make the time for travel – it is worth it, not only for the memories but the developmental progress you might see in your child.” 

Find more about Aidan and Kimilee’s story on Instagram at @aidansawesomejourney. Get more travel tips from Kimilee on Facebook at KB International Travel, on Instagram @belladivadisney and at kimileebryant.com. 

Bryant’s children’s book, “Aidan’s Awesome Adventures,” will be available in early November.

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