The Magic of Starting Small: How Tiny Trips Build Big Confidence

When people see our travel photos now, road trips, beach adventures, mountain views etc they sometimes assume we’ve always traveled this way. The truth? We started tiny. And honestly, I’m glad we did.

If you’re a parent of a neurodivergent child, you already know that new places can bring big emotions. Excitement, anxiety, sensory overload, curiosity; sometimes all at once. And for a long time, the pressure to create “perfect” trips kept us from taking any at all.

But through trial and error, I have learned a few things:

Small trips build big confidence.
For them. For you. For everyone.

Our early adventures were simple. Included small afternoon trips with the cousins. A quick overnight to a local hotel, close to home. A short car ride, compared to long ones.

These weren’t fancy vacations—they were practice. For navigating new environments. For testing schedules. For learning what set him off and what helped him calm down.

Every small win matters.

Starting small help us discover a few things. Movement is needed, sharing what is planned, planning for the environment, lots of snacks and lots of breaks.

Once that confidence is built, trust is built between my child and the world. More wins are on our side and we can graduate to longer trips, busier attractions, new states, and new routines.

Stay tuned to discuss what to pack for those prep trips.

Remember, your small steps count. Your tiny wins matter. And every little adventure—no matter how short or simple—is preparing you for the next one.

We’re proof of that.

Here’s to starting small, growing gently, and celebrating every mile along the way.