Carnival Kids Club with My Autistic Son
Coloring, toys, games, and activities—Carnival’s kids club had plenty of things Hiro enjoys. I hoped he could have some fun while I caught a little ship entertainment. Spoiler alert: my Mom break lasted five minutes. Not “it felt like five minutes.” Literally five minutes. Here is what my experience was cruising with my Autistic son.
What I Hoped For
Hiro has an IEP and needs an aide throughout his school day. I hoped the kids club would be a good fit for him and give us both a little time to do our own thing.
- Toys and games he likes
- A chance to try something new
- Support from the kids club staff
- Entertainment time for mom
What Happened
Hiro entered a room full of kids in his age range. He found cups to stack and Connect 4 to play, but the busy room and scheduled group games were challenging for him. Understanding game rules takes more support than he could manage in that setting.
- He found toys he liked to play with
- The room was busy with children
- Structured games were difficult for him
- He needed more individual support
Plans Changed
I headed downstairs for the ship entertainment, and five minutes later, my phone rang. Hiro had created his own activity: stacking chairs like Jenga and knocking them down. That was my cue to return. Mom’s solo evening had officially become a Mommy-and-Hiro evening.
- I returned to pick him up
- I took him downstairs to the candy store
- He joined me for BINGO instead
- Ended the night with pizza and ice cream
Photo gallery
What mattered to Hiro
For Hiro, having toys he likes doesn’t replace the individual support he needs. At school, he has an aide helping him through the day. On the cruise, that need came with us—right alongside our suitcases. The busy group setting was simply more than he could manage that evening.
What I'd Like To Explore Next Time
I’d like to learn more about Night Owls and whether a quieter session with fewer children could be a better fit for Hiro. Before trying it, I’d ask about staffing, group size, and the support available. And I’ll have a plan for us to enjoy the evening together either way. Apparently, Hiro takes his role as Mom’s entertainment buddy very seriously.