Family vacations provide the opportunity to escape the day-to-day norm and enjoy family time together. The goal is to have fun and relax, but if you are vacationing with a highly sensitive child (HSC), the reality may be very different. In this post, I will explain why vacations can be challenging for HSCs and provide some tips for planning a family vacation with a highly sensitive child.
Why family vacations can be challenging for highly sensitive kids
Departure from routine
Vacations are a break from routine, which can be very challenging and upsetting to a highly sensitive child (HSC). HSCs thrive on predictability. Routines are really important in their daily life, because it allows them to know what to expect and provides them a sense of control.
Demands of travel
Travelling can be an exhausting process for the highly sensitive child. There are bound to be some travel challenges en route to your vacation destination.
Depending on how you are travelling you may be dealing with anxiety about flying, jet lag, plane or car sickness, waiting in lines, long car rides and backseat boredom.
Your child may also pick up on your stress about making flights on time, navigating new highways or other unexpected obstacles that arise. Since HSCs are very in tune with the emotions and feelings of others around them, they may absorb your stress and have strong emotional reactions.
Leaving familiarity behind
In addition to a break in routine, vacations typically involve a lot of new experiences. Your family is:
- Staying in an unfamiliar home environment which means your child is sleeping in a new bed.
- Typically eating out more which involves new food or familiar food prepared in unfamiliar ways.
- Seeing different sights and scenery
- Being exposed to new sensory experiences
Highly sensitive kids process and feel things more deeply, so it is easy for them to get overwhelmed much more quickly.
Now that we have covered why a family vacation can be difficult for a highly sensitive child, let’s discuss some strategies to make your getaway more enjoyable and relaxing for your entire family.
Tips for planning a family vacation with a highly sensitive child
Prior to vacation:
Consider the location
Planning a vacation with a highly sensitive child requires a good amount of preparation. Keep the location and activity level in mind when deciding on a vacation spot.
How much sensory stimulation can your child handle? A week in Disney World will be much more stimulating than renting a house on a lake.
What is the climate like where you want to travel? How does your HSC handle hot or cold weather?
How much travel will be involved? Will it require taking a plane or a long car trip?
Involve your child in the planning
HSCs like to know what to expect, so involve your child in the planning as much as possible. If they are old enough, get their input on where they would like to take a family vacation.
Once your trip is booked, share the loose schedule with them – how you are getting there, approximately how long it will take, where are you staying, who will be there, etc. This is also a good opportunity to show them pictures or video of where they are going and discuss what activities they would like to do on vacation
Pack Comforts from home
Bringing some familiar items from home can go 
a long way when trying to help your HSC feel more comfortable in his/her new environment.
Typically hotels and vacation resorts provide common toiletries to guests, but I recommend packing your child’s own products that they use at home. Having the shampoo, soap and especially toothpaste that they are used to at home can go a long way in preventing meltdowns. The same can be said for bringing familiar bedding, pillows, towels, stuffed animals, books, toys and food.
Set them up for success with a bag of their own. Think of it as a travel toolkit. Give them control and build their self-confidence by letting them choose the items that they would like to include.
Schedule in extra time
There is nothing more stressful than having to rush into a new situation. Make sure to leave plenty of time for breaks and unexpected delays when travelling. Do your best to arrive at the airport or train station with plenty of time to spare before you need to board. If you are driving a long distance, allow extra time for rest stop breaks so that your child can move around and get out some energy. Scheduling in extra time is an easy way to help travel go much more smoothly.
On vacation
Maintain routine (as much as possible)
Yes it can be annoying to be locked into a routine on vacation, but no fun can be had if your child is miserable. Try to keep nap and bed times as close to normal as possible. The same goes for meal times.
Consider your child’s daily schedule at home. Are they typically cranky in the morning? Then allow for downtime in the mornings and schedule most activities for the afternoon. If they’re more of a morning person plan to do your biggest activities early in the day.
Understand that less is more
Most vacation spots are full of activities, special events and places to see. It is tempting to want to try and experience “All the things” on your vacation, but be mindful of overscheduling.
Due to the fact that highly sensitive children feel and process things more deeply, downtime is very important. They need to be able to remove themselves from others and environments that overstimulate them. This allows them to recharge and is essential to their well-being.
Alternate busier days with ones with little to no planned activities and understand your child’s limits. If you get half way through your day and your child is on the verge of melting down, know when to call it quits or have someone take your child back for some quiet time. Do your best to go with the flow and don’t try to force the fun.
Redefine a fun vacation
Remember that the whole purpose of a family vacation is to enjoy time together and unwind. Accept that meltdowns and overwhelm will most likely occur at times throughout your vacation. Be flexible and understand that you may need to readjust plans during a trip. Your holiday away doesn’t have to look like everyone else’s vacation. It should be unique to your family. Understand that a perfect family vacation does not exist and take time to appreciate the special every day moments with your family during your trip.
Where will you go?
With the right planning, mindset and strategies in place, a family vacation with a highly sensitive child can be a very enjoyable and much needed escape for everyone. Keep these tips in mind and you will have the opportunity to make some amazing memories on your next vacation and strengthen your family bond as well!
Have a family vacation or travel tip for parents of highly sensitive children? Share it with us in the comments below. You never know who it may help!
Other resources on my blog that may be helpful to you:
How to Help your Sensitive Child Handle Big Emotions
Discipline Strategies for the Sensitive Child
Beginner’s Guide to Understanding High Sensitivity in Children
How to Handle After School Meltdowns with your Child
Gift Guide for the Highly Sensitive Child
5 Myths About the Highly Sensitive Child
Resources for Parents of Highly Sensitive Children
The Power of Play Dates for Anxious and Sensitive Kids
10 Benefits of Being Highly Sensitive
This article sums up exactly how we do our vacations. I’m glad you point out positives – Sometimes we struggle! Keeping up the same routine as at home isn’t easy. We will also try traveling to the same places. That seems to help as well.