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:

1. Normalize smaller trips as stepping stones toward bigger adventures
2. Use your child’s journey to travel as a teaching opportunity—from planning to laundry day
3. Meltdowns ≠ bad behavior, but practicing coping and respectful communication after the emotions pass is key
4. Understand what medication does, and how to talk with kids about self‑effort vs support tools
5. 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 [email protected]

🎧 Be sure to subscribe to The Family Vacationer to stay tuned for upcoming episodes!