Going on holiday with an autistic child: keeping the routine while everything changes

A holiday swaps every familiar thing at once: bed, food, sounds, people, timings. The trick is to change the place but carry the routine with you.

Before you go

Look at photos of the room, the pool and the beach together. Count down on a calendar. Read the holiday story and talk about what will be different and what will stay the same: ‘Different bed, same teddy, same bedtime story.'

Pack the routine

The same pillowcase, blanket or sleeping bag so the new bed smells like home.
Breakfast cereal and the usual cup, so one meal a day is guaranteed.
The picture schedule on your phone, with a holiday list: pool, lunch, quiet time, beach, dinner, bath, story, bed.
Ear defenders, sunglasses, a hat, a fidget, and the tablet with downloads for the journey.

Keep bedtime the same

Late nights pile up fast. Keep the bedtime routine the same even if the time slips an hour: bath, pyjamas, story, lights off, in the same order. A plug-in night light and white noise on a phone cover strange sounds.

Plan the quiet, not just the fun

One big thing a day is enough. Put a rest hour after lunch on the schedule, and give your child a say in the afternoon: beach or pool? A ‘nothing’ morning in the middle of the week is the best insurance against a difficult last day.

Coming home

Tell your child a day ahead that it’s the last day and what happens: pack, travel, home, own bed. Expect a wobbly day or two afterwards; the routine resets quickly once the normal week starts.

Make the free story first

Type your child’s name and get “Sam goes on holiday” as a picture story: one picture and one sentence a page, in their name. Read it a few times before the day, then take it with you. Print it, save it as a PDF, or read it in the Now & Next app with every routine as a story too.

Make the story (free) Open the app

Kits that go with this guide

Everything bundle (£14.99): Every kit in the shop in one download: 24 kits and 500+ picture cards, plus the Card Maker. Save £74.27.
Bedtime kit (£3.49): A bedtime board, picture cards and a going-to-bed visual story.

Written by a dad to an autistic son with ADHD. This is everyday parenting advice, not medical or therapy advice. If you’re worried about your child, talk to your GP, health visitor or school SENCo.