Going anywhere new — or even somewhere familiar on a bad day — takes planning when sensory overload is in the picture. Fill this out before you leave the house. It takes five minutes and it can save the whole outing.
THE PLAN
Where we're going:
Date / time:
How long we plan to stay:
Who's coming:
SENSORY RECON — CHECK BEFORE YOU GO
Will it be loud? (crowds, music, announcements, echoes)
Bright or flickering lights?
Strong smells? (food courts, cleaning products, perfume)
Unpredictable elements? (animals, weather, performers)
My child's #1 trigger at this type of place:
WHAT I'M PACKING
Noise-canceling headphones or earplugs
Sunglasses (for light sensitivity)
Comfort item or favorite object
Snacks they'll actually eat
Change of clothes (if texture-sensitive)
Tablet or phone with downloaded content (for wait times)
Visual schedule or social story for the outing
Other: ______________________________
EXIT PLAN — KNOW THIS BEFORE YOU WALK IN
Nearest quiet spot or exit:
Our "we're done" signal (from child):
What I'll say when we need to leave early:
Where the car is parked:
Leaving early is not failure. A successful outing is one where your child felt safe — even if it lasted 20 minutes.
AFTER — WHAT I LEARNED
What worked? What didn't? What would I do differently next time? (Write it down now — you'll forget by next week.)
Planning a trip that feels impossible? Chris gets it. Talk to him — free, 24/7.
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