Traveling with Trauma

Traveling with Trauma The Dulaneys are expert travelers with years of experience in overcoming trauma barriers.

04/01/2025

When traveling with children that have high anxiety about where they will be spending the night...a little familiarity can't hurt! We frequently stayed at similar hotel chains intentionally so that the decor and layout would be the familiar. (i.e.-Drury Inn's and Springhill Suites were our go to and even we as parents liked that we could count on things being the same.

04/01/2025

Communicate plans often and in a way they can understand. We frequently showed videos of where we were going so that they would better understand what to expect. (ie-You are going to Florida so you might show them pictures of a beach you may visit, or pictures of the person/family member that you are going to see.) If it was a repeat trip we would show them pictures of when we went last time and ask for input on the upcoming trip.

04/01/2025

Travel Tip:
When planning a trip it's easy to get overwhelmed. Make a list of the most important things to see and do and assign each person who cares about it the most. Take challenges into account and think of strategies so that the person(s) that wanted to do that activity will get to do so.

07/15/2024

I was very much reminded this week how calming it can be when traveling with our trauma kids that we go to repeat places. We love going to Texas and we spent at least half the day in Waco doing things we’ve already done (several times) then sprinkling it with new things. We didn’t stay as long at the repeat places but you could see the effects of the familiarity and it helped when trying new things so the entire day was the “unknown”.

07/11/2024

Planning a trip requires careful preparation, especially when it comes to managing anxiety related to trauma. To ensure a successful trip, I use Facebook group such as 'Traveling to Hawaii with Kids' to obtain relevant information and advice from experienced parents.

07/11/2024

Forget the overthinking and just stick to the basics when traveling with traumatized kids; too many items can disrupt their routine. We’ve learned this lesson the hard way.

07/11/2024

During travels, our kids can become discombobulated, feeling a lack of control. To counter this, we can empower them by giving them responsibilities. For example, each child can have their own designated suitcase and you can invite them to participate in packing as a way to connect. This not only makes them feel more in control but also allows for a teaching moment on the significance of planning. (We often pick up our kids suitcases during Black Friday sales as they almost always have inexpensive suitcases. Much to our surprise the cheaper suitcase has lasted for years and one of them is being packed tonight! lol)

07/11/2024

We travel…a lot…and have found that finding a “home base” on a trip can be regulating for our kids as we return to familiarity after a day of stimulation. While it may mean more driving, this tip has served us well. I’ll put a few examples in the comments!

07/11/2024

As soon as our kids could read we would enter the airport and tell them…”Ok, show US what to do!” We let them take the lead, empowering them but were close behind (obviously! Lol) to encourage and guide if needed. We also did it as we got off the plane! I’ll admit, the first time we dropped off one of our kids to fly solo I was nervously confident because of the many times we had practiced! It’s worth it!

07/11/2024

Airport tip for children: Set up a play airplane check in and loading in your living room! Let the child be the flight attendant!

07/11/2024

To ensure a smooth first flight experience for a child who has experienced trauma, consider taking them to the local airport before the flight. This can help them become familiar with the airport environment and understand the process better. Also, plan to pick up family or friends at the airport to help them visualize the entire journey.

07/11/2024

When traveling with our kids that have trauma, a tip that has served us well for years is using the same hotel chain. We are extremely mindful of location and have repeatedly found that by selecting a hotel from the same chain means there is some familiarity of layout and room design.-sometimes it’s the little things that can make a big difference!

04/28/2024

Being safe and feeling safe are not the same thing.

Especially for kids (people!) who have ever been NOT safe longer than a kid ever should.

03/23/2024

Long trip ahead? Ask the kids for input on seating!!! Let them be heard!❤️

03/23/2024

Headed to a big city for an overnight trip? Our family found it advantageous to stay outside the city to take advantage of the of change of pace and would drive from one central location to enjoy activities. Going back “home” to the same place every move made a huge difference in regulation.

03/23/2024

Traveling to visit friends or family? It is OK to insist you’ll stay at a local hotel…to help regulate the kids and stick to your schedule as needed. Sometimes it can be be less overwhelming to be in your own space to deal with meltdowns.

03/23/2024

Want to plan a camping trip and are not sure how it will go? We intentionally took our kids with trauma to campsites to visit friends and family that were established campers and we would hang out for the day, bring the food to grill, and stay till evening if kids could tolerate it then return home. It built up confidence and helped build excitement but kept anxiety manageable.

03/23/2024

Do you like camping! Repeat trips to same/similar campgrounds can help alleviate anxiety!

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