From Overwhelm to Adventure: Helping Neurodivergent Kids Travel with Ease

Practical tips and science-backed strategies for parents navigating trips with autistic and neurodivergent children.

The holiday season is upon us, and families everywhere are getting ready for their travels, excited to pack their bags, get on a plane, and reunite with loved ones or enjoy a well-deserved break. For parents of a child with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), however, this so-called ‘vacation’ can be an incredibly stressful experience.

For many families of neurodivergent children, travel – whether across town or across continents – comes with extra layers of stress. Yet, showing children the world, giving them new experiences, building family memories, and cultivating resilience is a goal worth pursuing. An Australia-based mum, who has not seen her own mother since her child received their ASD diagnosis 8 years ago, expressed her concerns to EmpowerBx: “We will be judged! How will he sit (through the journey)?” 

How did we respond? We fell back on our values, connected with compassion, and built an individualised program to ease the parent’s concerns and guide them through the process. 

We support families who call Australia home all the while maintaining deep connections with their extended families and cultural roots abroad. For many, helping their children become travel ready is an important item on their wish list. Becoming travel ready begins with understanding why travel can feel overwhelming. That’s where our Toolbox for Travel comes in – offering practical strategies grounded in lived experience and informed by science.

Why Travel Can Be Overwhelming

If you’ve ever braved an airport or taken a long train journey with your child, you already know why it’s tough. Airports especially are a sensory storm: crowds pressing in, constant announcements blaring, fluorescent lights, unfamiliar smells, long waits, and unpredictable changes. 

For children who process the world differently – whether they’re autistic, have ADHD, or other neurodivergence – that can be completely overwhelming.

Research backs this up. Children on the autism spectrum are more likely to have sensory sensitivities. Add to that the disruption of routines that travel brings – which neurodivergent kids often rely on for comfort – and it’s no wonder travel can trigger meltdowns or shutdowns.

And then there’s the parents. Studies show parents carry higher levels of stress, especially when they feel judged in public settings. Sitting on a plane with a restless or distressed child while strangers shoot you side-eyes? That can feel crushing.

But here’s the thing: traveling is a skill, just like anything else. It gets better with preparation, support, and – maybe most importantly – compassion for yourself and your child.

What Helps (From Parents Who’ve Been There, Plus Science)

🌻 Wear the Sunflower

Many airports now recognize the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower lanyard. Wearing it signals to staff that your child might need extra patience, time, or accommodations. At airports across Australia, for example, staff are trained to recognise it and respond with support. Parents report that this small symbol often translates into shorter wait times and more compassionate interactions.

📒 Prepare Through Stories and Visuals

Travel can make anyone anxious. For neurodivergent individuals, it’s not just a change in routine – it’s walking down an unfamiliar path. Communicating and preparing them for what to expect (a strategy known as priming in ABA) can be an effective way of supporting your child in understanding what will happen next. 

Don't we love planning our trip? Let's do the same for our kids as well – begin a minimum 30 days before you’re scheduled to travel.You can do this by showing them pictures of the AirBnb you shall be staying at, doing a virtual walk through of the rooms, and showing them visuals of the flight. Talk to them in the way they best communicate: that could be through pictures, their AAC device or even videos on YouTube. Enjoy the process of involving your child in the process!

If you're looking for child-friendly ways to prepare your little one for flying, this free set of airplane social stories is a wonderful resource.

💻 Embrace Screen Time and Comfort Items

Let’s not forget our Happy, Relaxed, and Engaged (HRE) box – a collection of familiar items that provide comfort and soothing when grounding is needed most. By modelling calm support and naming what your child might be feeling, you can help them feel safe and reassured as they use their HRE box.

💛 Check in Before You Do Your Check-in

Airports can be chaotic and full of unexpected moments. It’s completely okay if staying calm doesn’t come naturally in these situations. What matters most is supporting your child by gently preparing them for what’s coming next.

Giving advance notice, such as saying, “In five minutes, we’ll line up for boarding” can reduce surprises and give your child time to adjust. You might use a simple phone alarm, or even take a photo of the immigration line and show it to your child to help them visualise what’s ahead.

A visual timer can also be incredibly helpful in easing transitions. This app offers an easy-to-understand visual countdown.

🪜Break Down the Travel Day Into Smaller Steps

Instead of seeing the entire travel plan as one big agenda, break it down into smaller steps.

We’ve included these steps in a simple guide you can download here.

Some airports and airlines now offer sensory-friendly spaces, priority boarding, or even “practice runs” that allow families to rehearse the travel process before the actual day. Certain train services also provide quiet cars or early boarding to help reduce overwhelm.

For road trips, planning regular rest stops and keeping a small “travel basket” filled with snacks, comfort items, and engaging activities can make the journey feel calmer and more predictable for everyone.

🍦Follow Your Child’s Lead

While on a vacation, more than reaching the destination, it's about valuing the journey with your child. As practitioners, we are often goal-focused and committed to helping families build skills and achieve mastery. But it’s just as important to remind parents that, no matter what, safety, connection, and joy come first.

If your child needs to sit or lie down during a transition, pause and sit with them. If they want to stop and choose their favourite ice cream, follow their lead and savour that moment together. These small, joyful pauses are not setbacks – they are opportunities for connection, regulation, and shared ease.

💜 Be Kind To Yourself

Even with all the preparation in the world, there may still be meltdowns, tough moments, or plans that don’t go the way you hoped. That doesn’t mean you’ve failed. Remember, our society and many of its systems were not designed with neurodivergent individuals in mind, and by choosing to travel, explore, and integrate these experiences into your child’s world, you’re taking a bold and meaningful step.

Surround yourself with someone who understands and supports this intention, and allow them to share the journey with you.