Traveling with Neurodiverse Children
Traveling with Neurodivergent Kids
Dr. Emily King shares expert tips on family travel with ADHD, autism, and more
Episode 79 – The Family Vacationer with Rob and Danny
This week, Rob and Danny welcome back child, adolescent & family psychologist Dr. Emily King to tackle a vital topic: traveling with neurodivergent children. Whether your child has ADHD, autism, anxiety, or a learning difference—and whether you’re just noticing “only child behaviors” or navigating formal diagnoses—this episode is packed with practical advice for smoother, happier family trips.
🎙️ In this episode:
- 🧠 What “neurodivergent” really means, and why it’s not a linear “spectrum” but a colorful, varied landscape
- ✅ 5 essential travel‑prep tasks to build your child’s skills—routine, sensory, eating, planning, and emotional coping
- 🚨 How to handle meltdowns in public: why taking a break is parenting, not punishment, and when to re‑engage with teaching
- 💡 Tangible phrases that work better than “snap out of it” when a meltdown happens
- 🤝 Big idea: “You can be mad, but not mean.” Teaching kindness during strong emotions
- 🚫 Why neurodivergent kids shouldn’t skip ADHD meds on vacation, and how to talk to them about what those meds really do
- 🏠 Travel for all ages: start with small weekend “field trips” (e.g. beach house, family cookouts) before tackling bigger journeys
- 📋 Pre‑, during‑, post‑trip rituals to build your child’s independence—packing practice, check‑ins after activities, and “what worked best?” debriefs
- 🧩 “My kid’s favorite part of Disney was the playground”—why sometimes the memory isn’t the mountain peak
- 🗣 Parenting empowerment for the post‑pandemic age: this may not be a vacation from parenting—embrace the teachable moments!
📘 Takeaways:
- Normalize smaller trips as stepping stones toward bigger adventures
- Use your child’s journey to travel as a teaching opportunity—from planning to laundry day
- Meltdowns ≠ bad behavior, but practicing coping and respectful communication after the emotions pass is key
- Understand what medication does, and how to talk with kids about self‑effort vs support tools
- Debrief after the trip: ask questions, rate the events, and build a mental roadmap for next time
🔗 More from Dr. Emily King:
- Her practice in NC and telehealth services: DoctorEmilyKing.com
- Blog & parent fellowship: ParentingOnYourOwnPath.com
- Launching a teacher training course later this year
📧 Ready for your next family getaway?
Rob is a Certified Travel Associate and offers free personalized planning—email him at rjones@starstufftravel.com
🎧 Be sure to subscribe to The Family Vacationer to stay tuned for upcoming episodes!
