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15 Tips for Planning an Accessible Day Out with Kids

Planning an accessible day out can be tricky, especially with kids, and when you don't have all the information about the venue you want to visit. Natalie is a mum to 2 boys and the owner of several chronic illnesses so knows all about planning an accessible day out with kids! In this blog article, she gives us 15 of her best tips for planning an accessible day out with kids. 

Where do you go?

My first tip is obviously to go on the AccessAble App! The App is a great way of checking out what facilities the place you are visiting has, so you can make sure it meets your needs. Personally, I look for accessible toilet facilities (and if they have the Stoma Friendly badge that’s even better!), information about parking and if there is seating available due to my rheumatoid arthritis for starters. They can also tell you whether there is wheelchair access, assistive listening technology, baby changing facilities, and more.

Read More: A Guide to AccessAble’s Accessibility Symbols

You can either search somewhere you are planning to go or, if you have run out of ideas (we all get there in the looooong six weeks summer holidays), you can search tourist attractions, museums, etc. on the App and find somewhere new! There is also information on where the venue is, contact information, and links to the venue's own website so you can check out things like pricing.

Read More: How do I use AccessAble?

Image of Natalie, a white women with blonde hair sitting in a boat with her two sons.

To picnic or not to picnic?

Going out can be a big expense if you have to buy tickets, pay for parking and with the rising petrol costs at the moment. Saving money on food can be a bonus if you can take a picnic with you.

However, carrying around a picnic isn’t always easy when you have mobility issues for example. If you are going with other people, they can obviously help with the load, but I recently found a picnic/cool-bag trolley which you can pull around like a suitcase and is certainly much easier for me if I am out on my own with the boys. I have also seen a few people using the beach trolleys recently – these are great as they are easier to move about on sand if you are at the beach and you can throw everything you need in there!

Read More: 5 accessible parks and gardens across the UK

Check admission prices

Often places where you need to purchase tickets offer discounts if you are disabled, which is handy when you look for an accessible day out but need help from someone on your adventure. Lots of places allow you to take your carer in with you for free if you are in receipt of PIP/have a blue badge. Each place has its own rules though, so I would suggest checking out their Access Guide or website or giving them a call to check what they offer and what proof they require.

Don’t forget your medication

I use dosette boxes for my medication, as it is so much easier to keep track of everything and make sure I don’t forget any tablets during the day. I only have to take a little while every Sunday afternoon to sort them and I am set for the week! It also makes going on a day out with the kids easier, I just grab that day’s box and off we go!

Image of a dosette medication box with pills in it.

Sunscreen

Some medications can make you more sensitive to the sun, but everyone needs to be careful, especially with this heatwave we have going on! A high factor sunscreen is important, and don’t forget to take it with you to top up!

Read More: 6 accessible coastal destinations across the UK

Be prepared

I am the daughter of a former Scout after all! I always make sure I have a change of clothes in the car and my emergency stoma kit just in case my ileostomy bag springs a leak and I have to change. Depending on how far the car park is from the actual venue will decide if I throw my emergency kit in my bag with me or keep it in the car.

I also keep a couple of blankets in the car, in case the boys get mucky (as most kids like to) and they need to take off their clothes before I let them in the car!

Read More: The Importance of Stoma Friendly Toilets

Hydration

As I have an ileostomy, hydration is super important, and I know that people with other conditions can struggle to stay hydrated too. Any time I go out I take my large bottle filled with juice, and if I know I am going somewhere without a café I will also have bottles of flavoured water or juice in the car for me and the boys.

I have also taken the mini, concentrated bottles of squash with me to theme parks where they have water fountains for you to fill up your bottles with – but me and my youngest don’t like plain water so the small bottles are easy to have at hand to add some flavour, while being small and light enough to carry about.

Check the weather

You might want to do this first as it will help whether you do something indoors or outdoors – but it will also mean you can be prepared with coats or raincoats if needed, or suncream and sunhats if it is going to be warm!

Read More: 5 Best Accessible Apps for Disabled People

Have a Yes Day!

My boys loved this film (add context, I have no idea what this film is) and loved getting to do their own yes day – a day where I couldn’t say no (a few rules were made before we started) and they got to choose what we did and where we went for the whole day. A simple check on the AccessAble website gave me the accessibility information I needed to be prepared, as well as the official website of our destination, and we had a great day!

Image of two young boys hugging and smiling at the camera.

Check for offers

My boys love to go bowling and our local bowling alley offers a two for one deal on Tuesdays, which we definitely make use of in the school holidays. We have also found great offers for the local bounce parks and some of the bigger venues often have collectable tickets for cheaper entry, or an annual pass can be bought to save a bit of money if you go there regularly.

Take a ‘fun’ bag

If I know we are going to have a longer car journey somewhere, or we will have dinner out, I always take our ‘fun’ bag. This is just a backpack full of stuff to keep the boys entertained in the car or while waiting in a restaurant for food. Sometimes their electronics go in there, but they also have coloring and puzzle books, games like Uno and Muddles, notebooks, and pens. Don’t forget the chargers too, in case you get stuck in traffic!

Read More: The drive to improve motorway journeys for disabled people

 

Use a map app

Not only will they help those of you like me, with zero sense of direction, but they also keep you updated on accidents and road closures and can help you avoid traffic jams and those constant whines from the back – are we nearly there yet?!

Image of two boys playing table tennis in an arcade.

Take a portable charger

It is always a good idea to have a portable charger with you in case your phone runs out of battery from all the photos you are taking! You charge these at home like your phone, then can connect them to your phone if you need extra battery power during the day, via a USB cable.

Use public transport

My kids love getting to go on the bus or train, so when we get the chance, we always like to use public transport if possible. Trains can be expensive but if you are planning in advance, it is generally cheaper the earlier you book.

Read More: 5 accessible days out and activities across the UK

Emergency info

Make sure your emergency medical information and contacts are up to date. My iPhone has this information built in and easily accessible to any medical personnel if something happens to me. You can also get medical alert bracelets to include this information on. Always make sure it is up to date when going out and about away from home.

Give your kids a camera

My final tip is a bit of fun. I love letting my kids loose with the camera and then checking out where we have visited from their point of view – what they saw and found interesting is always fun to see and they always capture some great memories!

I hope these tips have given you some ideas for your future accessible days out and you all have an amazing Summer!

 


Natalie is a mum to 2 boys and the owner of several chronic illnesses. She was diagnosed with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis at 15 months of age and has iritis which is an eye condition linked to that. She also has Crohn's Disease for which she had an ileostomy called Stanley. 

She enjoys reading, cross stitch,ing and going on adventures. Her blog, The Spoonie Mummy, is all about life and parenting with chronic illnesses.  She is also a student at the Open University and is studying for a degree in Psychology.  

Image of Natalie, a white women with blonde hair smiling at the camera.

More from Natalie:

Where Next?

Read More: The Importance of Accessibility in the New Normal 

Read More: The Drive to Improve Motorway Journeys for Disabled People 

AccessAble Ambassador