Raising a son or daughter with ASD can bring various challenges, below we look into car journey’s with an autistic child.

We have probably all been there haven’t we, midway through a car journey and turning around?

If you’ve not got that far then thank your lucky stars because it is a stressful time.

Firstly let’s explore why car journey’s may be difficult in the first place.

Why can car journey’s be difficult

Whilst each autistic child will have their own preferences and challenges, there are some consistent themes.

A desire for movement

Many autistic children need a constant form of movement to help regulate themselves.

This can take many forms but can including jumping, running and rocking.

Knowing this it is understandable that being strapped into a car seat can be distressing.

Your child may be desperate to not stay still but their restraints are forcing the issue.

The restraints themselves could be very uncomfortable for them, rubbing on and aggravating their skin.

All these factors may lead them to either becoming upset or trying to free themselves.

Sensory input

There are various sensory inputs which may overwhelm your child when they are in a car.

These inputs include noises from the road, smells from outside and lights from other cars.

So picture yourself having sensory sensitivities and effectively being strapped in with no escape.

Again, it starts to make sense that this would be distressing.

Breaks to routine

Car journey’s, particularly long ones often come with a degree of mystery for children.

Travelling long distances to somewhere they have never been before can be exciting and interesting.

However for an autistic child who thrives on predicability it can be a different story. Fear and anxiety may raise and a longing to just return home could be overpowering.

Old fashioned boredom

In many ways autistic children are just like any other child in that boredom can creep in and fast.

They will likely have just left home where there are mountains of toys to entertain them.

From that environment into a dull and souless car can be a jarring shock to the system.

If you add that to possible communication issues where they may not understand where they’re going, this can lead to disruptive behaviours.

How to handle car journey’s with an autistic child

The first step would be to identify what is so distressing for your child. It may be one of, all of or none of the above suggestions.

Once you have an idea then a plan can be laid, here are some suggestions.

Make the journey sensory friendly

There are all manner of adjustments you can make to the car environment. These include providing your child with headphones, adding tints to the windows and changing air fresheners.

Through trial and error you can experiment with what has an impact.

Make the journey more entertaining

Trying to keep a child entertained in a car can be tricky. Many parents resort to electronic devices which is a readily available option.

Providing your child with something like a tablet can really help but comes with its own considerations.

One of the primary problems is when you hit areas with no internet signal. Children can become very frustrated when they video they are watching stalls.

With that in mind services like Netflix allow you to download shows to your device. This is something we would recommend.

Explain where you are going

The fear of not knowing the destination or the length of the journey can upset autistic children.

With that in mind consider using pictures or schedule boards to highlight to inform your child.

You could for example on the morning of the journey lay out some pictures of what is to come.

Along the lines of breakfast, teeth brushed, car journey and then a photo of relatives (if that’s where you’re going).

Just this knowledge can make the process more relaxing for your child.

Make adaptations

Trying to keep your child comfortable is one of the key battles. You can consider things like weighted blankets or soft straps.

Another addition which many parents turn to is tamper proof clips.

These are cheap and can be added to car seats to stop your child undoing their belts.

Summary – Car journey’s with an autistic child

One of the first things to realise is that there are millions of parents who have been in the same position.

You are not alone in the struggle of trying to find a way to get through car journey’s.

Consider reaching out to forums or social media groups for other suggestions to help.

What is important however is to monitor your child closely. Each time they become distressed or disruptive try to work out the trigger.

Once armed with this information you can formulate a plan or just go with trial and error.

Handling challenges like this takes a bucket load of patience and understanding.

But with time and consistency you can make car journey’s a more pleasant experience.

Good luck.