ADD Student

Now that warmer weather is here and summer vacation is right around the corner, I thought I would share a few tips for traveling with ADHD kids.

Sitting on a plane or in a car for hours, not being able to move a lot, and just generally being confined is a slow form of torture for most ADDers. Give a few of these tips a try and see if they help.

Of course, a lot depends on how old your kids are, but I think in general these tips can be applied to almost everyone.

My mother in law gets credit for one of the best pieces of advice she ever gave me. She told me that when we took long car trips with the kids, to pack a lunch (or if we had to, buy some food on the way) and then go to a rest area to eat. This gives the kids a chance to really get out of the car and move. They can run around in the grass rather than moving from sitting in the car to sitting in a restaurant. It gives them a good chance to work out some of that pent up energy.

Bring along snacks and drinks, as well as wet towels or wipes.

If you’ve got the ability to view DVDs, bring along some old favorites and some new ones, too.

The tried and true tip of keeping some games or toys just for the car is a good one. Again, even older kids play handheld games; maybe you can find something to keep them entertained for a while.

Books and magazines are good if car sickness isn’t a problem.

Be prepared to make frequent stops. When I was a little girl, my dad would get in the car and not want to stop until we got where we were going. The goal was to get there and start the vacation as quickly as possible. Instead, make the drive part of the vacation. Are there interesting places along the way? Stop and take a look. The few extra hours it takes you to get where you’re going will be worth it. Seriously – you have to try this.

Finally, let Mother Nature help you out. Start your drive at some ghastly hour like 4:00 am, or leave when it’s getting dark. The traffic will be lighter, and you’ll have sleepy heads in the back seat.