It Will Be Fun!

“It will be fun!” I said.

A campervan trip in the middle of winter! 5 of us (and a dog) taking a road trip to the upper North Island in New Zealand.

It has a reputation of being the Winterless North (I am here to tell you that is not exactly true).

Even though everybody thought we were a bit crazy, I thought it would be an adventure!

It was a good opportunity to push Isla (9) who has autism, out of her comfort zone.

I had visions of doing some of the nice walks and outdoor activities New Zealand has to offer, as well as creating some lovely family memories.

So, our plan was to set off from our home in Auckland to venture up to the East Coast of the North Island, crossing over to the West Coast then via Mangawhai Heads on the way home.

We thought 5 nights would be enough time to see everything we wanted to and had our fingers crossed for good weather.

Our motley crew consisted of our 15-year-old daughter and her easy-going friend Brooklyn.

Luckily, she knows our family well enough to be in confined quarters for 5 days and not be traumatised by the experience!

Then there was Isla and her ADNZ Assistance Dog Bo, driver/dad/cook/waste emptier Gareth and me, the tidier, bed maker and nagger.

Isla had been really excited about the campervan.

She kept telling us it was because she had never been in one before and she couldn’t wait to see what it looked like.

We spent some time virtually exploring our Maui Campervan online, looking at the configuration of the van so she knew where she would sleep, have her breakfast and play with her toys and games.

When the campervan pulled into the driveway there was much excitement.

Isla was keen to check out the van in all its glory and start packing it up with individual toys and games.

I eventually would find these spread out in every overhead locker compartment.

The spacious van displayed on the website was looking much smaller in real life for the 5 of us, plus the hairy one, but out we went in the pouring rain with a positive mind.

Over the next 5 days we were all tested and to be honest there were a few tense moments.

This was mainly due to teenager/mother angst but Isla took it all in her stride.

Being away in the off season meant that everywhere where we went was quiet and we were often only at a campground with one or two other (just as crazy) families.

This provided many awesome opportunities for Isla to stretch herself, practice independence and learn new things.

The rain eased off and we got some fine weather which made all the difference and allowed us to do most of our planned activities.

The 5 things we learnt from this road trip with an autistic child are as follows: –

You can have a lot of fun with a torch and gumboots 

Walking to the toilet block from the van in the pitch black would have been an impossible feat without the help of these two items.

Isla hates getting her feet wet and her gumboots are easy to take on and off and let her jump in puddles, walk through the mud and even splash in the sea while keeping her feet dry!

Isla loved navigating the way to and from the van lighting the path with the torch as we went.

When we were close enough in one campsite she even walked back on her own.

We didn’t push the showering each day as it is hard to get her in the shower at the best of times!

We didn’t want to put her off as was quite chilly in the shower blocks at night.

We managed a shower one day when it was warm and she enjoyed the experience.

Wow, she can talk and talk!

Isla has a very enquiring mind and needs a lot of stimulation to feel on an even keel.

On the first day of the trip Isla announced she was going to have a break from the iPad.

It was so lovely having her live in the moment, making observations about our trip but boy she can ask a lot of questions!!!

Now don’t get me wrong I will never get sick of hearing my girl’s voice!

I’m so grateful she can now talk as for a long while there I thought she never would, but after an eventful question filled activity I was grateful for the iPad for some downtime.

Open spaces and nature are so soothing

When Isla is walking on the beach or in any open space she is regulated, happy and relaxed.

Although sometimes it is hard to get her to these places, when she is there she really enjoys it.

Walking for long distances is still challenging but she has come so far with the help of her assistance dog Bo.

She is tethered to him and he helps her stay on course.

Sometimes when walking through a particularly narrow track she will walk independently and has gained so much confidence.

You can really tell the difference when she enters a stimulating environment with lots of people around.

The change in her is obvious to see.

She tires easily, tenses and has a hard time with it all.

Even a small train trip proved too much for her with all the stimulation around and she shut down.

Her patient dog, Bo really helped her regulate herself.

She found it soothing to sprinkle stones on him and feel the bony structures and tendons of his legs.

He is fine with it and if uncomfortable will make it clear and attempt to move.

For those that know Bo when he is off duty, running around like a looney in the park, you would never think he would be capable of this tolerant behaviour.

When that jacket goes on he goes to work it is quite incredible to see the transformation. He is trained to work and he really enjoys it.

There are many learning opportunities to be had

With the help of the Clicker word processing software (https://www.cricksoft.com/uk/clicker) Isla uses at school to help her write she put together her own book of each adventure she had been on.

She was keen to choose a photo and write sentences about her day.

When she got back to school she had great pride in sharing this with her class.

Even a trip to the beach provided a learning opportunity, drawing and writing in the sand.

She won’t draw or write at home all that often. I discovered a picture she had drawn of her and her friend Sammy with the word LOVE.

It doesn’t take much to keep her happy

Isla is most secure when she has her family, her toys and her assistance dog (he was pretty happy too as allowed up on all the beds!!!!).

She felt secure in the van and the mess and chaos didn’t worry her and she doesn’t need a lot to entertain her.

We are always pleasantly surprised when travelling with Isla.

As long as you don’t try to do too much in one day and you explain the plan, she is able to cope with everything just fine.

In a deserted playground in Mangawhai Isla’s big sister initiated a game of Playground Gladiator.

You had to create a routine and then everyone had to follow your lead and be timed to see who would get the best time.

Isla loved being involved in this with us all and we made allowances for her so she wouldn’t come last.

Isla’s says this is her favourite part of the trip

She loved doing the nature walk around the idyllic campground on the Kauri Coast and braving the Flying Fox.

She walked a section of the Opua-Paihia walk navigating some steep terrain and falling on her bottom a few times and managing to get up and brush herself off.

At the impressive Waitangi Treaty Grounds Isla wasn’t interested in the audio tour but was happy to explore the grounds and beach with Bo and I while we waited for the others.

She liked walking through the bush there and feeling the different types of bark on the native trees.

We ended the day with a cultural show that she managed to sit through in the front row without flinching.

She enjoyed the Dolphin Boat Trip in Paihia. Even though she didn’t see any dolphins she handled it like a trooper.

We all enjoyed an early morning walk along the beautiful Opononi Beach. 

Isla enjoyed wading in the water in her gumboots and throwing a stick to Bo.

All in all, our trip was a success.

It was hard work at times, just like any other camping trip but very rewarding.

We are so fortunate in New Zealand to still have these camping grounds in amazing locations that anyone can access.

Isla’s assistance dog was welcome at all the campgrounds as long as he was in his coat and on leash for most of them.

Fun Outdoor Therapies for the Summer Break

For a child with autism, typical school holiday activities can cause sensory overload and stress.

We tend to avoid the crowds and make our own fun that usually doubles as home-based therapy.

The best therapy for our 9-year daughter with autism, is the type when she doesn’t know she is doing it!

Make your own Obstacle Course – Gross Motor Skills and Co-ordination

We picked up a bag of training gear with small hurdles, cones and an agility ladder from our local discount department store but anything around the house could be used to set a course.

You could include a jump rope to walk across like a tightrope, a swiss ball to roll on to or bounce on, a hula-hoop to climb through and a ball to throw into some type of container…a laundry basket would do!

Playground Fun – Gross Motor Skills and Memory

We tend to go to the playground early in the morning before anyone is around.

A fun game we played recently with the family (adults included) was having turns at making up a routine using the playground equipment.

You would then have to remember the short routine and a timer was set to see who could do it the fastest.

We made allowances for our young daughter with autism so she felt competent and had a chance of winning and we all had a great time.

Sprinkler under the Trampoline – Balance and Co-ordination

If you have a trampoline in your back garden putting the sprinkler under it provides extra bouncing fun while cooling off!

Adding some soft balls to jump around with also provides something different.

Drawing with Chalk – Fine Motor Skills, Learning 

Drawing with sidewalk chalk is great for practising letters or exploring drawing or scribbling.

A hopscotch can be drawn up easily as well and then played to help with hopping on one leg, number recognition and balance.

Painting with Water – Fine Motor Skills, Creativity 

A fun way to paint without messy clean-up is to use a pot of water instead of paint.

Use a regular paintbrush and create your masterpiece on the concrete outside.

Nature Walk – Fitness, Education and Creativity

Going on a nature walk with specific things to look for can provide an educational, fun way to provide some exercise.

We often collect leaves, shells, interesting twigs and come home and make them into some art.

You could also create a worksheet of different things to find and tick them off as you go.

Autism Travel Tips

Travelling with a child with autism is always a little daunting.

We have been fortunate to have been able to take an annual family overseas trip since Isla was a baby.

I am grateful for this with her now being more averse to trying new things.

With some preparation and planning, it is possible for the whole family to have an enjoyable time together.

How Bad Can it Be?

This is my philosophy!

Isla surprises us every time we go away with how well she copes and I think sometimes you have to just give it a go.

I am not going to lie it’s not always easy.

We have still have had tantrums.

We still walk on egg shells a bit to avoid them, especially when out in public as she tends to be loud when she’s protesting!

However, I have grown a thick skin and try not to meet anyone’s eyes when trying to calm her.

The Month Before:

As with most children with autism, Isla will react when things aren’t as she expects.

A month or so before departure date we talk a lot about what is going to happen.

We use social stories (a visual or written guide describing an event or social interactions used with those with autism), look at maps and Google World.

The Flight:

Don’t be afraid to tell the airline staff that you are travelling with a child with additional needs.

They may have “Special Assistance” you can register for that will allow you to board first, get a “meet and greet” from the plane and get through customs faster.

We have used this before, even if their website doesn’t class autism as a disability and is super helpful especially when you land.

We always leave plenty of time for checking in and arrive really early to save standing in too many queues.

Airports are busy stressful places.

I would have no hesitation in putting a belt on Isla with a strap or even reins if she was a runner, but with our family of 5 mostly travelling together, someone is always assigned to Isla.

Isla also wears a Medic Alert bracelet which has my phone number on the back so I know if she ever did get lost then there would be some way of locating us.

Watching the flight plan on the screen on the plane is important for Isla as well as having a window seat or at least being prepared for the eventuality that she isn’t going to get one.

I only found this out on a previous trip when she didn’t have the window seat she was expecting which led to a huge meltdown.

It’s not the best feeling being confined in a small space, like a plane, with a screaming child.

So now I make sure to book our seats in advance, find out about the screens and advise the airlines that we are travelling with a child with autism.

What to Pack:

Isla will often turn her nose up at airline food, I always make sure we have lots of snacks for her in her trusty compartmental lunchbox and take her own water bottle empty that we can fill up on the plane.

I pack a wheel along bag for Isla that she enjoys pulling along with child friendly earphones, some toys and trusty iPad.

We also pack a blanket, a change of clothes, her milk, cup and melatonin for overnight that helps her go to sleep more easily.

Isla stims quite loudly when excited so we have found a chew necklace helps with this when we need to quieten her down.

When Away:

We always try and choose a destination that we will be able to have a holiday as well as Isla.

This ideally involves somewhere warm with a pool. We try not to plan too much and set up the house like home.

For Isla, this is with her toys and iPad.

We tend to do short trips out and then come back to our house and let Isla have some time out.

She sleeps a lot on holiday during the day especially if goes in the car.

This is good for recharging her batteries and we took our own car seat with us.

A small half booster seat is more portable and I have just purchased a seat belt cushion for when she falls asleep and am yet to try this out!

When going out for meals we always check the kid’s menu for cheese pizza, chicken or fish and chips in advance and go to family friendly restaurants.

We normally take Isla’s favourite snack foods with us.

We have until recently taken swimming armbands for the pool (making sure they are suitable for children up to 50kg).

Even though Isla can get around a pool and we are always watching her, in a crowded area gives you piece of mind.

Occasionally we will take Isla out of her comfort zone.

A lot of the time if we can get over the initial hurdle of her not wanting to do it then she actually will enjoy herself.

A loving push we find really helps her expand her interests and social skills.

However, some of the time no matter how hard we try she won’t be talked round and we won’t force it.

For a child who has medical issues is also a bit nerve racking taking out of the country.

I always take a course of antibiotics and emergency seizures meds.

We also get additional insurance to cover her pre-existing conditions.

I believe a little extra planning and being proactive does help make an overseas trip a little less stressful for everyone and I hope some of these tips can help someone else.