OT Series:  Sensory Processing Disorders and Going Out – How to Manage – How to Strategize – What You Can Do:  Car Trips / Traveling to an Activity

Judy Benz Duncan, Occupational Therapist

Traveling and Car Trips to an activity or event is often just as important as the destination. A child may become anxious or upset when their normal travel route is changed, when they do not go by the same buildings or they do not stop at their regular locations.

It may help, long before you actually travel to a new place, that you regularly change your travel routes, stops, and even seating spots in the car. Beginning with, and continuing with changes as a child grows will greatly help them learn to adjust to changes and differences in their day.

Give a variety of experiences from day-one, and continue to make small changes as your child grows from an infant seat, to a booster seat, to actually being able to ride in the car without a car seat. This strategy is a great idea to incorporate into your daily life – well before you ever notice sensory disturbances or sensory meltdowns – any and all children can benefit from the variety and stimulation of change. 

Try any and all of the following ideas and suggestions to help your child develop their tolerance and ability to participate with the family in regular daily activities and events.

Let your child experience as many forms of daily transport as possible that your family typically uses (car, truck, bus, bike, train, etc)

Practice getting into and out of a car seat without actually going anywhere. Make a game out of it – how fast can they get in, can they sit for a minute (use a visual timer), can they hold the straps while they sit there, can they help click the strap into place – tell them it’s practice time and they can get out in a minute, or two, or five, depending on their tolerance. Start with door open if they cannot tolerate with door shut – work up to sitting in seat for a short trip, then around the block, and so on. Use that timer if it helps!

Practice sitting in the car seat with strap in place to read a book or listen to a song – make for longer stories and several songs as tolerance improves – plan your trips with what songs or stories you will tell along the way

Have items in the car your child can hold and or use. Fidget toys, a favorite book, a stuffed animal, a special blanket, music toy, electronic game

Come up with a special “sensory travel box” that stays in the car for any trips you may take

Make a small laminated map showing main places you may be passing on your trip. Let your child check them off as you go so they can see where they are, what to expect, and see an end-point to the trip. Visual cues and clear points of reference will help.

Be consistent with car safety! You may need to take short sensory breaks, but they need to stay in their car seat, buckled in, during your trip. If you know your child cannot tolerate sitting in their seat for long, try to indicate on the “map” or with use of a timer, just when you will be stopping to let them “stretch.”

Play “Seek and Find” with your child – have a list of what you want your child to look for and find as you drive. This will help keep them more relaxed and calm if they are trying to find the items. You may want to give a reward for their efforts. Make your list easy enough that your child will not get frustrated trying to find even one thing – a red car, a big tree, a stop sign, a cloud, a dog, and so on.

Tell your child where you are going and what they will be doing or seeing

Take a photo of your child sitting properly in the car seat – when they “want out!” you can show them their picture and redirect to see if they can match how they look in the picture. Set a timer and see if they can “match the picture” for 5-minutes (or what they can tolerate).

Change the normal, expected routes, every day

Even if you are not going to go into a store, you can pull into the parking lot as a change of environment and stimulation – remember, you want to introduce change and variety on a daily basis!

If going somewhere specific, make a point of telling and showing your child – pack an empty cloth shopping bag to take to the grocery, or a duffel bag when going to the park or pool, a backpack for school, etc. Get them prepared for knowing where they are going based on what you are taking with you in the car.

Make their spot in the car as comfortable as possible. You may want to use window shades, provide sun glasses, headphones, neck pillow, car-seat strap covers, adjust the air vents, and so on.

Please Return to Main Series Page to Continue on to Other Topics:

Walking Trips and Activities

Public Transportation / Travel (Bus, Train, Plane, Boat)

Noisy, Crowded, Busy, Events and Places

Shopping Trips

Eating Out

Movies

Parks and Pools

Attending a Party or Family Event

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