RAD and family vacation

Anonymous needs our help for her first family vacation. So please throw some ideas out there for her. Here is what I came up with. I will say we take few of them because our family is so big and it is a lot of $$$.

Car trips: Come up with as many car games as you can. Finding all the license plates in the US, finding the ABC's on signs, looking for certain colors of cars, car Bingo. Our kids have personal DVD players and get some good DVDs for time when you need them. I don't know how long your trip is. Get some healthy snacks for in the car because chances are the food eating out won't be that great.

Motel: Try to keep bed times as regular as you can. Cranky on top of RAD is BAD. Make sure the child does not have access to the motel door at night. You can bring an alarm if you need too but the dangers of them wandering through a motel alone are great. If you can get a motel with a pool so they can burn off some energy.

Physical activity: Kids with RAD need physical excursion. If you are on a long car trip or doing activities that don't involve much movement give them some running time. Have them demonstrate how to hop on one foot to that pole over there, walk backyards, crawl, etc. Find a playground so they can play for awhile.

In public: Have them hold your hand. Keep them close and watch them at all times. Kids with RAD require close supervision. Don't worry about what other people say about your child's behavior. They don't know. If you need to kindly reply "We're working on it" as ....one of you brilliant moms said.

Take along stacks of books, coloring books, as many activities as you have room for. Enjoy what you see with your child and point out interesting things around you. It is easy to get caught up in their behavior and focus on that. Instead of that, focus on all around you there is to learn about. Distract them by changing the subject and finding new things. Changing the subject often works for my kids because of their ADHD.

Don't take it all too seriously. Don't try to make the vacation perfect. Know there are going to be some tough times and just don't let it get too you. If necessary plan a little time for you to get alone to shop, see a movie or at least go to the motel lobby to read the paper and have a cup of coffee. Take care of the mom!!