As a former Miss South Carolina and Broadway performer, Kimilee Bryant is a seasoned traveler.
“Because of my career, I’m used to being on the road and exploring new places,” Bryant said. “You learn so much when you travel.”
But traveling changed when she had her son Aidan ten years ago.
“For a while I thought I would take him on tour with me, as I had seen so many of my colleagues do with their children,” Bryant said, “but it quickly 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 the way she traveled. But Aidan’s diagnosis didn’t stop her from showing him all the experiences you have when you travel.
“I had the best time traveling with my child,” said Bryant. “When you travel with your family and get away from work and everyday life, there is something special about that quality time. Every time we go on a trip, Aidan makes great progress. There have been so many times when I’ve 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 simply experiences sensory overload in new, loud places, Bryant offers the following valuable tips for traveling with children:
Start at a young age
“Aidan is a great traveler,” Bryant said. “It doesn’t hurt that I had him on the plane when he was five months old. Just like anything else, something a child starts early on is something they get used to. And the more you travel, the easier it becomes.”
Take a test drive
If you’re new to traveling with your kids — especially if they have sensory issues — Bryant suggests taking a few “test drives” to places near you.
“Go to an indoor playground, try a zipline course, visit a park or go to some local festivals,” says Bryant. “All of these things will help your child understand being around other people and crowds, understand queuing, and give him a taste of something different.”
Do your research
Bryant says learning everything you can about the places you visit will ease the amount of stress for you and your child. Your research can be simple, such as reviewing the menu before taking your child to a restaurant, or more in-depth, such as familiarizing yourself with the different accommodations offered (shorter wait times, sensory rooms for a place to calm down, etc.) for visitors.
Bryant also recommends downloading any app related to the theme park or tourist attraction you are visiting. These apps can help you navigate where you’re going, plan your day, and find places like first aid, customer service, and places to rest when your child needs a minute.
Finally, Bryant says it’s very important to research the age requirements for any show or attraction and consider whether it’s appropriate for your child’s developmental age.
Involve your child in the planning
After you’ve done your heavy research, it’s time to get everyone excited about the trip. Show your child where you are going and what you will be doing using videos and photos of attractions and even the food you eat.
“Have them make lists (with words or photos) of things they want to do during your trip. It will make them feel like they played a role in the planning,” said Bryant.
Pack everything
Traveling with children is not really the time to pack everything into a carry-on bag. At a minimum, Bryant suggests bringing coloring supplies, sensory toys, tablets (with games or shows already downloaded), headphones (including a wired pair for airplane entertainment systems), snacks, extra wipes, and hand sanitizer.
“It’s tough, but pack all the stuff,” laughed Bryant.
Also pack medical records
Along the way, having documentation and a way to alert people to 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, ‘A child with autism on board, can be nonverbal, can run away,’” Bryant said. “That way, if something were to happen to me, people who came to help would know about Aidan. There will be a similar note in his backpack if we are ever separated for some reason.
If your child has a hidden disability (a disability that is not necessarily physical or obvious upon first meeting), Bryant also suggests checking out the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower program (hdsunflower.com).
Don’t forget medications
Bryant implores parents to never forget their child’s medications, from basic medications like painkillers and stomach medications (many people have stomach problems while traveling) to prescriptions.
Seek and accept help
From airlines to theme parks, many companies offer services for those traveling with children and/or those in need of accommodation. Bryant always lets the staff, crew, ushers, etc. know that she is with someone who is disabled.
“For a while I wondered if I had a right to do things like boarding first,” Bryant said. “But then I realized that these accommodations are things Aidan needs to travel safely and happily. So I say: don’t be ashamed to ask for what you need.
Schedule breaks
“I understand that you want to experience everything when you travel,” Bryant said. “It’s easy to just want to go, go, go to get everything in, but you have to pace yourself. Plan breaks and make sure you pay attention to how everyone in your family is feeling during the trip.”
Rephrase the no
Between souvenirs you don’t buy and inevitable mishaps like delayed flights or broken rides, there are plenty of times when a child will be told “no” during a trip.
“Avoiding the blunt ‘no’ can help prevent a meltdown,” Bryant advised. “Try saying things like ‘you can’t have that right now, but you can have this thing instead,’ or ‘we can’t ride today, but maybe some other time,’ instead of just ‘no.’ ”
Endure the meltdown
“I still have a hard time when Aidan has a meltdown, but the worst thing you can do is yell at your kid,” Bryant said. “Sometimes a kid might just need a breakdown, so get down on his level and tell him it’s going to be okay. Every parent has had a child have a meltdown in public. It’s tough, but it just happens.”
Embrace the adventure
“Know your limits and those of your child, but also be willing to push them a little while traveling,” Bryant said. “It can create amazing experiences that open up a whole new world for you and your child. Make time to travel – it’s worth it, not just for the memories, but for the developmental progress you can see in your child.”
Find more of 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.
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Sensory Friendly Travel
