Tips for flying and airport waits with newly diagnosed ADHD child

[Happclappydays]

Hi All,

Planning on going on a family holiday with a newly diagnosed ADHD DC in the summer.
We have a 4 hour flight, potential delays at the airport/passport control etc we have just started medication and now in the first month of titration so it's currently unclear what medication is working the best - we are still trying to find the right medication that works for him. It would be great to hear any tips or advice for dealing with this kind of trip?
(fyi - we rarely use an ipad becayse when our DC uses it - he gets very angry and throws it so we are trying to phase it out. Two years ago on holiday the ipad worked so well with dinners in restaurants but now its a pure soource of frustration and a real trigger for anger, which is really sad because our DC loves the games on it. He probaly has his ipad just 2 to 3 hours across a month now.)

Thank you!

You can request special assistance. It is worth thinking about what will help DS best. For example, some find boarding first best but some find boarding last better.

If it is something that will help DS, check if the airport you will be flying from has a quiet room/sensory room. Some do.

Does DS know the airport you will be flying to/from? If not, it is worth seeing if the airport has photos/a walk through available.

Does DS have a special interest that you can lean into? For example, new small Lego set to build, new cars/train, magazine about special interest… you can pull out what needed.

@scoopofmintchocchipicecream great thought re special interest to bring along. Small lego model is a great shout and a magazine with bits to fiddle with is also great. Will do this and appreciate your advice. It's so great that people like you get it and I value being able to ask educated people advice! X

If Lego is a special interest, it lends it self well to having various different bits to take to keep DS occupied. For example, small lego set, Lego sticker book, Lego magazine, Lego book, one of the mini minifigure puzzles…

@scoopofmintchocchipicecream That's fabulous, thank you noted, will be stocking up! x

Talk to the airline and ask for special assistance. In the past I've done this and we've been allocated front rows seats on plane which facilitates early/late boarding. If you can get a sunflower lanyard for your child and use the family/special assistance lanes through check in, security and passport control that's very helpful. I've registered at the special assistance desk at the airport in the past and we've been taken past all of the queues even in the family lane. The staff are always so kind. I'd also echo special interest toys and books. I travel with a goody bag of high value treats which really peaks their interest as I do this so rarely! Dib dab lollipops keep mine entertained for ages. But I understand that high sugar isn't appropriate for all. Enjoy your holiday x

We used special assistance and the sun flower lanyard and had a great experience in both airports.
straight through.

I would say to just keep an open mind.

Great ideas for his Lego things.
i also take a snack tray, the one with different compartments in one and put his favourite treats in.

my son is diagnosed ASD, ADHD and anxiety, he was unmedicated at the time we flew last year and he managed a lot better than I thought he would.

I spoke to him quite abit about what would happen at the airport, showed what pictures I could, explained we would have to wait until the plane is ready etc.

he was happy watching the planes, having something to eat and a wonder about.
he did rinse me abit in WHS but he was happy.