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Stress-Free Family Travel with Neurodivergent Children: Tips for Life-Giving Homeschooling Adventures

Traveling with children is never easy, but for parents of neurodivergent children, it can be daunting. At A Gentle Feast, we believe in a life-giving homeschooling approach that adapts to each child’s needs, rooted in the Charlotte Mason philosophy. This means finding ways to make family experiences—like travel—enriching, connecting, and memorable for everyone.

In the latest episode of The Feast Life podcast, I had the pleasure of speaking with Jenifer Breaux, the owner of JB Travel Pros, a travel agency specializing in family trips, including those tailored to children with special needs. As a mother of two neurodivergent children herself, Jennifer knows firsthand the challenges families face and has spent years developing strategies to make travel accessible for everyone.

Here’s what I learned from Jennifer about how to make family vacations a joyful experience, even when traveling with neurodivergent children.

Start Small and Build Confidence

One of Jennifer's biggest pieces of advice is to start small. Instead of diving into a multi-day theme park trip or an international vacation, ease into traveling by taking a short trip close to home. Start with an overnight stay at a hotel an hour or two away. This low-pressure approach helps your child get used to new surroundings without overwhelming them.

You can make it fun by turning the trip into a mini-adventure: pack a couple of bags of microwave popcorn, order pizza to the room, and have a movie night in the hotel. If there’s a pool, bring along a lightweight toy or inflatable ball for some low-key water fun. The goal is to get everyone, including you, more comfortable with traveling. Once you’ve built some confidence with these small trips, you can slowly increase the length and distance of your vacations.

Use Social Stories to Prepare for New Experiences

One of the Charlotte Mason methods we can apply here is the use of 'living ideas' to help children engage deeply. Jennifer recommends creating a social story for your child before the trip. This concept echoes life-giving homeschooling principles, where visual aids and stories help children understand their world in meaningful ways. A social story is essentially a visual guide that helps children understand what to expect. Include pictures of the airport or car you’ll be traveling in, the hotel room, and even the types of activities or sights you'll see. You can also include comforting details like their favorite snacks or toys they’ll have with them. For children who thrive on routine and predictability, social stories help reduce anxiety by showing them step-by-step what their vacation will look like.

As Jennifer shares, this was a game-changer for her own son, who struggled with non-verbal communication and found it difficult to express his feelings during travel. Seeing images of his destination and routine ahead of time helped him feel more secure in unfamiliar situations.

Create a Flexible, Vacation-Friendly Routine

We all know how important routines can be for children, especially those who are neurodivergent. But what about when you’re on vacation? According to Jennifer, keeping a loose but predictable routine during your trip is key. Plan out your days with a mix of high-energy activities, like swimming or sightseeing, followed by downtime in a quiet space. Build in breaks during the day where your child can relax, perhaps with a book or tablet, before heading back out for more fun.

For Jennifer’s family, maintaining a vacation routine looks something like this: lounging in pajamas and watching cartoons in the morning, breakfast, a pool or beach visit, then tech time or book reading, and an afternoon treat like ice cream. A simple, repeatable routine helps create structure and balance, preventing sensory overload for both kids and parents!

Take Advantage of Special Accommodations

One of the most encouraging tips Jennifer shared is that many travel destinations offer special accommodations for neurodivergent children. Resorts like Beaches have specific autism-friendly programs, and cruise lines like Royal Caribbean are known for their exceptional accommodations for children with special needs. From separate check-in lines to sensory-friendly spaces, there are a variety of services designed to make travel easier for your family.

When traveling, communicate with airlines, hotels, and attractions ahead of time to ensure that any special accommodations are arranged in advance. This might include things like quieter rooms, alternative boarding lines, or access to sensory-friendly activities.

Jennifer’s advice? Don’t hesitate to advocate for your child’s needs and do your research ahead of time. Whether it’s through TSA pre-check to avoid long airport lines or using a dedicated program at a theme park, there are more options available than you might think.

Celebrate the Journey – You’re Already a Warrior

Traveling with neurodivergent children may come with extra challenges, but as Jennifer so beautifully put it, “Moms are warriors.” You’re already advocating for your child in so many aspects of life, and travel is no different. Start small, keep expectations realistic, and celebrate every step along the way. Each trip will help build confidence and comfort for both you and your child, and over time, traveling will become more manageable.

At the end of the day, traveling with neurodivergent children isn’t just about logistics; it’s about living out the values of a Charlotte Mason-inspired, life-giving homeschool—one that embraces every child's needs, fosters connection, and opens up the world to them.

Ready to Start Planning? 

If you’re inspired to begin planning your own family vacation but still feel unsure where to start, Jennifer offers her Ultimate Top 10 Travel Tips as a free resource. It includes a two-page packing list and practical suggestions for managing every stage of your trip.

Additionally, Jennifer’s blog publishes special needs travel tips monthly, providing parents with the tools they need to create fun and successful adventures with their families.

Whether it’s a weekend getaway or a dream trip to Disney, start small and build toward travel experiences that your whole family can enjoy!

About our guest:

Jenifer Breaux is a retired army veteran who served almost three decades. During her time in the army she served the United States all over the world. Through those experiences she gained a love of service and travel. She excelled in her training and retired with honor. Six years ago she opened a franchise of Dream Vacations called JB Travel Pros, where she helps people travel the world with excitement. From coast to coast, Jenifer designs luxury experiences that bring her client's dreams to life. Her love for globe trotting is something she shares with her family, as well. As the mother of two amazing young men who both are on the autism spectrum. Jenifer has become an advocate for families and caregivers of special needs children.

Resources Mentioned:

• Instagram: @iamjeniferbreaux
• Website: iamjeniferbreaux.com
• Book: Everyone Deserves to Travel 
• Ultimate Top 10 Travel Tips
• My Amazon Travel Favorites