Although the holiday season can be magical, joyful, and full of tradition, it can feel loud, overwhelming, unpredictable, and exhausting. If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone.
On my latest Just My MomSense podcast episode, I talk more about why the holidays can be so overstimulating, how anxiety and sensory challenges feed into each other, and what we can do to help our kids (and ourselves) move through the season with more calm.
You can listen here or on your favorite podcasting platform!
If you’re a parent or caregiver of a neurodivergent child, the thought of visiting a theme park can feel both exciting and overwhelming. Between the crowds, the noise, and the unexpected moments, there’s a lot to navigate. But here’s the good news: with the right tools and preparation, places like Disney World, Universal Orlando, and Legoland Florida can be magical for our sensory-sensitive kiddos.
In the latest episode of the Just My MomSense Podcast, I’m sharing some quick tips and tricks I’ve learned from traveling to these parks with my kids. Whether you’re planning your first big theme park adventure or want to improve the experience for your family, this episode is for you.
Listen to the full episode here or on your favorite podcasting platform!
To go along with the episode, I’ve created a printable Sensory Friendly Vacation Prep Kit available now in my Etsy shop:
There’s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to sensory needs and that’s okay! What matters most is meeting your child where they are and giving yourself grace as you go. Theme parks can be a great experience for you and your family.
Have a favorite sensory travel tip? A must-visit quiet spot at a park? Share in the comments or send me a message I’d love to hear from you!
JetBlue is an airline close to my heart. It has been since it began operating
18 years ago. That’s a story for another time. For now, let me tell you about my recent trip to JFK.
Traveling with kids can be stressful. Each of ours flew for the first time within the first 6 months of their lives. We try to fly with them more than once a year. One of the most important factors of air travel is ensuring they get some energy out before being forced to sit in a seat for hours at a time.
Last week we went to Disney (yes again, because it’s in our DNA). We flew on JetBlue out of JFK’s Terminal 5. Our timing was a little tight since we went straight from picking ‘J’ up from school. Luckily the lines at security were short and we were able to get to our gate with plenty of time to spare. In order to get some of that energy out, we decided to keep walking and stumbled upon the JetBlue Junior Play Area.
Here, kids get an interactive experience of what it’s like to work for an airline. They can take a plane into the air, help it land on the runway or go behind the scenes of air travel. How cool is that?
If you’re flying in or out of T5 at JFK, be sure to check it out! Here are a few shots with our JetBlue Juniors!
Co-Pilots ready for takeoff! Next stop: House of the Mouse!
Ensuring a safe take-off!
Sometimes you need to delegate.
Or try your hand at Operations.
Soar With Reading corner!
Have you heard about Soar With Reading? The following excerpt was taken from JetBlue.com.
Click here to learn more about JetBlue’s Youth and Education Programs.
Our pre-flight experience just got better and I can’t wait to visit again!
We have done road trips and taken quite a few flights in the four years we have been parents.
In another life I worked for an airline so we were used to the basics behind air travel. But of course traveling with an infant or toddler and adding more luggage to the mix is a whole other board game. If they freak out on the plane, then it happens. I can’t stress out worrying about that and you just have to deal with it in the moment like you would any other meltdown. Instead I try to prepare as much as I can so that doesn’t happen.
The key to keeping things calm for us has been snacks and activities.
If you’re traveling with an infant, the snack part can be rough. However, having breast milk or formula available (even if that means they may have a little more than normal), a pacifier if they’ll take it and they’re favorite toys can do wonders. If you can plan a flight so it falls in the midst of their nap or bedtime that can help!
As they get older, it’s good to have sippy cups available for water or milk, small snacks (what kid doesn’t love Cheerios?) and having activities can be a huge help.
Having things from home is great, but I know my kids get pretty excited by new “surprises.” I mean, I like to get some new clothes before a vacation so it makes sense they like something new and exciting too, right?
Trust me, I don’t go crazy with these surprises. The dollar section at Target and the kids aisle at The Dollar Tree are my jam. In my garage I have a bucket of surprises. Items I’ve collected during errands that I save for traveling or in some cases…bribing.
We kicked off June with a long weekend trip to Disney. We’re kind of Disney freaks. This was ‘J’s’ 7th trip and ‘Baby J’s’ 3rd. I did “splurge” a bit for this one and got them new backpacks that will hold the surprises. ‘Baby J’ has never had one and ‘J’ normally travels
with a Dr. Seuss one that I’ve upgraded to his current love of Spider-Man.
Both were a hit! They liked wearing the backpacks and checking out what was inside. They came in handy on both plane rides, time in the airport and in between.
Are all trips painless, care free and tear free? Yes, of course!
Just kidding – not at all! But making a few preparations along the way has helped with any of our road and air trips so I’ll keep that going for as long as I can.
If all else fails, there are always electronics as a backup. But honestly I’ve sometimes made it through a 7 hour car trip without breaking them out until the final hour when they just couldn’t deal anymore. But no judgement to those who use them for the entire trip. You gotta do what you gotta do. I’ve spent many meals with my phone coming out in the first 5 minutes.
Traveling with kids isn’t always easy and normally it’s down right tiring. But I gotta say, the journey to the destination and making memories along the way is completely worth it!
Just My MomSense 