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Holidays and family activities

ClaireBear71

Hi everyone

I hope someone will have some good advice for me. My daughter is 15 and autistic. We are currently on holiday with all of the lack of routine and unfamiliarity that brings.

We have planned our week around one activity per day with rest times in between. Our daughter is struggling massively and had a meltdown when we were out today.

My husband is struggling with not being able to do as much as a family as he would like. He thinks she is somehow being selfish and not doing things for others and she should learn to adapt.

We are paying for counselling for her but she's only had 4 sessions so it's not had time to have any impact.

I want to do things as a family too but dragging her to places in my opinion isn't going to work because she will melt down and everyone will be miserable. 

Does anyone have any advice please? 

Many thanks

Parents

  • Distraction while you are out and about, perhaps ask her to discuss an interest of hers and ask her questions about it. Bring along some earphones if she likes music to play her favourite songs to help regulate and block out any excess noise which she may find uncomfortable. Give her options to over which activity she would like to do most. These are some of the coping strategies I have used when out and about with my kids.

    She will probably feel very out of her comfort zone and unsure what to expect and it can be hard for autistic people to understand how others may be feeling, even on holiday where everyone is expected to be out there making memories and enjoying themselves. 

    Obviously every autistic child is different, some verbal, some non verbal with varying traits and support needs so these ideas above may not be ideal for you. I understand how difficult it can be trying to do the everyday things that a family should enjoy when you are responsible for someone who may not always be onboard with it. 

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  • Distraction while you are out and about, perhaps ask her to discuss an interest of hers and ask her questions about it. Bring along some earphones if she likes music to play her favourite songs to help regulate and block out any excess noise which she may find uncomfortable. Give her options to over which activity she would like to do most. These are some of the coping strategies I have used when out and about with my kids.

    She will probably feel very out of her comfort zone and unsure what to expect and it can be hard for autistic people to understand how others may be feeling, even on holiday where everyone is expected to be out there making memories and enjoying themselves. 

    Obviously every autistic child is different, some verbal, some non verbal with varying traits and support needs so these ideas above may not be ideal for you. I understand how difficult it can be trying to do the everyday things that a family should enjoy when you are responsible for someone who may not always be onboard with it. 

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