Vacation Meltdowns: Why Time Off Doesn't Feel Like a Break for Kids who are Wired Differently
About this episode
This episode discusses why vacations can be challenging for kids who are wired differently and offers strategies for parents.
It's day two of the trip you've been planning for months. Ocean house, grandparents, a countdown your kid had on their wall — and now they're on the floor, sobbing, over which beach towel they got. Not a preference. A full meltdown. Over a towel. In this episode: Why "keep the routine the same" doesn't actually work as vacation advice, and what to ask instead The four things — predictability, autonomy, sensory sameness, downtime — that quietly disappear the moment you leave home How this shows up differently for ADHD, autistic, and anxious kids on the exact same trip A short before-you-go exercise to protect the one thing your kid actually needs most Your kid wasn't failing to enjoy the vacation. Something specific was holding their day together at home, and nobody packed a replacement for it. Resources mentioned: climbingfishparenting.com/newsletter
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