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Traveling With Children With Additional Needs? Turn It Into A Learning Opportunity

Traveling can be a rewarding experience for families with members who have additional needs. As the diagnoses of children with special needs increases on a global scale, everyone from schools through to hotels and restaurants are learning to accommodate all guests in an effort to be more accessible. For parents, planning a trip that is both educational and fun for everyone means doing the research. Depending on the nature of the extra need, an extra pair of hands and some additional luggage may be required to let the trip run as smooth as possible.

Preflight Preparation Is Key 

If your child is not easily entertained by the onboard entertainment already available, it helps to pack a bag with items that calm your child and provide a learning opportunity. It also helps to check which airlines have the best ratings when it comes to accommodating passengers with extra needs, especially children. Start of the educational part of the trip by preparing your child for the flight. This includes reading them books, watching films and documentaries, and allowing them to view planes before embarking on the journey. Educating your child on what to expect can reduce the surprise element, which is not always welcome to children with extra needs. While this is an opportunity to expand your child’s knowledge on a specific subject (in this case flying), it may also improve their social skills by preparing them to sit near others.

Choose An Accessible Hotel In The Right Location 

Depending on your child’s special needs, incorporating and activity that they will appreciate will increase the fun level for the whole family. For instance, choosing a hotel that is near places of interest will reduce the amount of public or other transport. If your destination requires a lot of traveling, it’s important to book your mode of transport ahead of time. Traveling can be tiring and can leave children with extra needs crabby and unable to enjoy the excursions. An accessible hotel that accommodates children with extra needs will also allow the entire family to relax and enjoy the trip a little better. This could be easier access to facilities within the hotel for wheelchairs, bath inserts, or special beds. When small details like these are ironed out, it leaves more time for the family to have fun.

Look For Activities That Provide Stimulation 

Children with extra needs aren’t always limited in their mobility, and sometimes requires a bit more activity and stimulation to have a good experience. Interactive museums, children’s shows, and physical activities that are specially designed for children can prove stimulating and educational. One of the best ways to keep a child interested in the activities on the trip is to let them help choose the activities or plan the trip. As a parent, you will know your child’s limits in terms of over or under-stimulation.

For children with extra needs, traveling can be a great break from a routine that may seem a little stale. While there are extra things to consider, it can be a fun learning experience for both parent and child.

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