Summer holiday with an autistic child: how to prepare
Summer holiday with an autistic child: how to prepare
Children with autism look forward to holidays. To the sea, the pool, being with the whole family without the daily rush. No school, no therapy, no schedule. Just you, together.
To make sure everyone actually enjoys it, it's worth preparing a bit more than usual. Not because it's complicated, but because good preparation prevents most problems.
Start preparing early
Children with autism handle situations better when they know what to expect. So don't start the holiday the day before you leave, start "living it" weeks in advance. Show your child photos of the hotel, the beach, the pool. Watch a video of the destination together on YouTube. Talk every day about what you'll be doing: where you'll sleep, what you'll have for breakfast, what the beach will look like. The more concrete information, the less anxiety on the day.
Let your child be part of the packing. Let them choose what to bring: a favourite toy, book, fidget. When they feel like the holiday is theirs too, they approach it differently. If you're flying, look up what the airport looks like together. The security conveyor belt, the waiting area, the inside of a plane. For many children the issue isn't the flight itself, but not knowing what's coming. A video makes a real difference.
The sunflower symbol at the airport: every parent should know about this 🌻
This is something surprisingly few parents know about, yet it can make travelling significantly easier. Hidden Disabilities Sunflower is an international programme for people with non-visible disabilities: autism, ADHD, chronic pain, epilepsy and others. The symbol is simple: a green lanyard with a sunflower pattern.
When you wear it, airport staff know that you or your traveller may need more time, patience, or a calmer process. You don't have to explain anything. You don't have to show a diagnosis. The lanyard is enough. The programme was founded in 2016 at London Gatwick Airport and is now used by more than 325 airports in 70 countries. In Europe, participating airports include Heathrow, Gatwick, Amsterdam Schiphol, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Paris CDG, Brussels, Copenhagen and Stockholm. Beyond Europe: Dubai, Sydney, Toronto, New York JFK and many more.
How do you get the lanyard? At most participating airports it's free, at the information desk or the passenger assistance counter. Some airports will post one to your home if you request it in advance through their website.
You can also order one at: hdsunflower.com.
What does it mean in practice?
At well-established airports (Heathrow, Schiphol and similar), staff will notice the lanyard and ask whether you need help. You can request a separate lane at security, quieter waiting, or simply ask staff to be patient. Some airports also have a quiet room: a calm, low-stimulus space where you can rest before boarding. Staff wearing a white sunflower badge have received additional training and can offer more support than regular staff.
What if the airport doesn't know the programme?
It happens, especially at smaller airports in Central and Eastern Europe. Don't let it go. Calmly say: "This is the international Hidden Disabilities Sunflower programme. Our child has autism and may need more time or a quieter process." Most staff are willing to help once they understand the context.
Contact the airline in advance
Most airlines allow you to register special needs when booking or by calling customer service. This is noted in your reservation and staff are aware of it at check-in and on board. You can request priority boarding so you get on the plane early, without the crowd. You can also ask for seats with more space or closer to the exit, individual assistance at security, or quieter waiting away from the crowds. Airlines are legally required to provide assistance to passengers with disabilities. Autism falls within this category. There is no reason to feel awkward asking.
What to pack
Noise-cancelling headphones: airports, beaches and restaurants can be loud. Headphones are simply part of the kit, not something to hide.
Favourite foods and snacks: new food in a new place can be too much at once. Having something familiar in the bag is a lifesaver.
A favourite toy, blanket or fidget: something from home helps in an unfamiliar environment.
A simple daily plan: not a strict schedule, just a rough outline. Morning, breakfast, beach, lunch, rest, dinner. That's enough.
On location: fewer activities, not more
The most common mistake on holiday with an autistic child is cramming too much into each day. A trip in the morning, beach in the afternoon, restaurant in the evening: that's a recipe for exhaustion and a difficult rest of the holiday.
A simpler day works better. Morning at the beach, afternoon rest at the hotel, a calm dinner in the evening. Then the same again tomorrow. The child knows what's coming, isn't overwhelmed, and you get to breathe too.
If your child wants to go to the same beach every day, eat at the same ice cream place, walk the same route, let them. That repetition gives them a sense of security. A good holiday is built on that. Get to the beach early in the morning. Fewer people, less noise, and you can pick a spot away from the crowds. The same spot every day helps a lot: your child has "their" place and feels safe there.
Food on holiday
A restaurant in a foreign country can be stressful: noise, waiting, unfamiliar food.
A few things that help:
Look up the menu online beforehand and talk through it with your child before you arrive. Eat early or late, a restaurant at 6pm is much quieter than at 8pm, with no wait and more choice of tables. A terrace is usually better than indoors, more space and less echo. And always keep a backup snack in your bag. If dinner doesn't go to plan, the day isn't over.
When a hard moment comes
Even with the best preparation, some days will be tough. Heat, noise, a changed plan, strangers: sometimes it's just too much.
Always know where the quiet escape is: the hotel room, the car, a shaded spot away from people. When your child needs a break, give it to them without making it a big deal. One quiet day at the hotel can save the rest of the holiday. You don't owe strangers an explanation. Your spot on the beach is just as valid as theirs.
And don't forget yourself. When your child rests, rest too. A burnt-out parent handles things far worse than a rested one.
What you'll remember
A few years from now you won't remember the hard moments. You'll remember the first time your child touched the sea. How they ate the same croissant every morning and were perfectly happy. How you sat together and did nothing. A holiday with an autistic child is slower and takes more preparation. But it's still a holiday. And those moments of calm and joy are real.
Author
Nina Bakalová. Mum of two and co-founder of TAMITOS. I have been accompanying our daughter on the autism spectrum for several years now and I write about what we actually live: honestly, humanly, and with hope.
