A social story for going on an airplane, with the reason for every line
Eight pages that go through the day in order, from the bag drop to the other end. Four of them have a space for a photo of your own airport and plane, because a child who will see the real thing is better served by the real thing. The note beside each line says where it comes from.
11 pages: a cover for their photo and name, the story, a page for you, and picture cards to cut out. No sign-up.
1Soon we are going on a trip. We are going on a plane to .
Why the blankWrite the place, or the person at the other end. Lurie Children’s Hospital suggests a social story to walk a child through what to expect, and the destination is the part they will ask about first.
2On the day, we say goodbye to our house. We are coming home on .
Why say when you come homeA trip is also a leaving. A day for coming home gives the whole thing an end, and a child who knows there is an end can manage a lot of the middle.
3At the airport, we give our big bag to the people at the desk. We keep my small bag with us.
Why say which bag staysA bag disappearing on a belt is alarming if nobody said it would happen. Say which bag goes and which stays with you, and pack the small one with something from home.
4Then we go through security. My things go through a tunnel and come out the other side. My grown-up stays with me.
Check your airportTSA: in the US, children are not separated from their parent, children 12 and under keep their shoes and light jackets on, and strollers, car seats and bags go through the X-ray. Other countries set their own rules, so change this line to match yours.
5Then we wait for our plane. I can look out of the window, have a snack or read a book.
Why waiting is a stepWaiting is the longest part of most airports. Lurie suggests watching for the early signs that a child is running out of steam and taking a break before a meltdown, so pack something for exactly this page.
6On the plane, I sit in my seat and wear a belt. The plane goes fast, and then it goes up into the sky.
Why the beltThe belt is the moment a small child cannot get down, so say it before it happens. Lurie suggests deciding in advance whether your child would rather sit by the window or on the aisle.
7When the plane comes down, my ears might feel funny. I have a drink and swallow.
Why “might feel funny”KidsHealth: ear discomfort is most common during landing, and swallowing helps, so a drink, a bottle or a dummy on the way down. Children swallow less when asleep, so try to keep them awake for take-off and landing. It is a feeling you can predict, so predict it.
8Then we get off the plane. We are there, and there is a new place to explore.
Why end hereThe ending is the part a child repeats back to you, so make it the arriving. If someone is meeting you, write their name in when you read it.
When to read it
On the nights before the flight, as a story, and once more on the morning. Then take it with you: in the queue it is something familiar to point at.
One sentence for you, on the day
“First the bags, then the tunnel, then the plane. I am with you the whole time.”
The whole plan behind this story, with what to do on the day: Preparing a toddler for a first flight: security, ears, and the order of the day
Sources
The advice here is the same as in our first flight guide, whose three sources were read on 29 October 2026. The security line follows the US TSA rules; change it to match your airport. Nothing here is medical advice: if your child has ear pain that lasts, ask a doctor.
The pictures come from The Window With the New View, one of our picture books. In the book, the child in them is yours.
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