How I Learned To Manage ADHD While Traveling and What I’m Teaching My Child Too

Whenever I travel, I am drawn to a certain style of vacation. Some people spend hours on the beach or just relax by the pool. but, I? I have no attention span. Can hardly deal with long queues and wait times.

When I was finally diagnosed with ADHD in my 40s, all of a sudden it all made sense. All the weird little quirks and things that made me feel out of place, both as a child and as an adult, had a reason, the way I moved and the steps I took to make getting up on the plane easier. there was a reason. It made a lot more sense.

Learn how to manage ADHD while traveling

However, ADHD tends to run in families, and my children share my diagnosis. My 11 year old daughter was diagnosed with Autism and ADHD and have seen her exhibit symptoms similar to mine. Naturally, this makes the already complex planning process even more difficult. Not only did she have to try to keep herself comfortable, but she wasn’t sure how her daughter would react to the new situation. It was definitely a learning experience.

At first, I chose places and activities that I thought would be of interest to her. A lot of the time I wasted a lot of money trying to learn something most kids would be interested in, but she didn’t like it.

I hope that sharing my experience and these travel tips will help others to travel and vacation together. ADHD child.

Involve your child in the planning process

If your kids are old enough, learn from my mistakes. Take some time to involve your child in the planning process. This will get travelers excited about traveling and help them choose the best vacation for everyone.

My first trip with my daughter was to Magnetic Island in Queensland, Australia. This flight was about 4 hours by plane, so it was achievable. But once she took to the skies, she found that her plane’s bathroom was more than she could bear. She was terrified that the flushing was so loud that she would be sucked out of the toilet.

Then I planned a trip to the local aquarium. But she was clearly bored while we were there. She really wanted to go back to the hotel pool. The cafe she stopped at on the way back to her hotel also looked promising, but once our order arrived at our table, she wasn’t interested. More money wasted.

After experiencing this vacation, I knew I had to plan better next time. We recently went to Las Vegas and suggested some hotel options for her daughter. She chose one with a large pool area and waterslide. We also discussed activities that would be fun for both of us. We also agreed to let her eat at her favorite food places such as Subway and McDonald’s.

How to prepare for vacation if your child has ADHD

There are several reasons why I choose only carry-on bags. First, waiting at the baggage carousel is incredibly stressful. I’ve been burned before by losing my luggage, destroying my suitcase, and missing my connecting flight because my luggage was late. Instead, I decided to pack only the essentials and find a place to wash them while traveling.

Most airlines only allow two pieces of carry-on baggage. Small suitcases that fit in overhead lockers, and hand-held items such as backpacks and handbags. In addition to these, I also had a small handbag, so I was stopped by the staff. So now I pack it in my suitcase and put everything I need on the plane in my backpack.

My daughter doesn’t take medication, but I do, so I put this in my laptop backpack along with my passport. I also carry a battery pack in case there is no power on the plane or at the airport. Packing multiple USB cords is also important. I also gave my daughter her favorite stuffed animal, but thankfully I persuaded her to take only one on the trip. Once she lets her sit as long as she pleases, she has to pay for the extra seats.

There is usually some kind of fidget toy as well. These are very handy when standing in line. Thanks to it, she can curb her desire to run away or shake the ropes of the fence. She has done so in the past.

How to deal with sensitivities and long-haul flights

We split our trip to Las Vegas over two days. The longest plane trip was from Melbourne to Honolulu, where I spent the night before catching a flight to Las Vegas. These short hops make the trip more manageable, even for those with ADHD.

Travel time is longer, but there are benefits to stopping, exploring, and recharging. I encourage my children to go to the bathroom before boarding. If using the plane’s facilities was unavoidable, my strategy was to wait outside the cubicle while she went, then go inside when she came out and let the water run for her.

If your child is comfortable walking down the aisle unhindered, let them do a few laps every few hours. This helps reduce restlessness.

We also have over-ear headphones that can be connected behind the seat or to your mobile phone. I made sure she could download her favorite shows from Netflix and watch them without Wi-Fi. Additionally, I downloaded the Rain Sounds and Brown Her Noise tracks on Spotify. This is relaxing and blocks out other noises that may be distracting on board.

Other considerations

Anyone with ADHD will tell you that memory problems are a big problem. Anyone without ADHD would advise you to write a list. Writing lists is fun. I made the list my home screen and thought it would be the first thing I saw so I would notice it right away.

Unfortunately, if you have this disorder, you’ll miss the list even if it’s right in front of you on your phone and you look at it many times a day. The only reminders that work for me in the long run are setting an alarm or reminding someone else that I need to do something.

However, it is important to remember that each person with ADHD is unique and it is important to tailor strategies to the specific needs of parents and children.I have shared my experience and hope it can offer something travel tips Seeing a medical professional experienced in managing ADHD can give you insight into what ADHD looks like and provide additional guidance and support.