For the grownup

How to prepare a toddler for a first flight

This free Wonder Situations pack is a printable, parent-led story for airplane day (ages 3–8). Read it two nights before a flight, then again the morning of, so a young child knows the steps of flying with a toddler: you wait together, you walk through security together, and you get off together.

What the pack actually walks through

  1. 1.Name the day: an airplane is a big bus in the sky. You go as a pair, and you stay together.
  2. 2.Wait in the airport with bags first. Holding a hand is part of the trip, not a surprise before the plane. Busy and loud is allowed.
  3. 3.Walk through a special doorway. It may beep. Bags go in a bin, then come back. The doorway is a check, not a trick. Stay close.
  4. 4.Find seats down a narrow aisle. A seat belt holds the body when the plane moves. Window or aisle, the grownup stays beside the child.
  5. 5.Engines get loud, then the plane lifts up. Ears may feel funny, like a squeeze. Swallow, yawn, or take a sip. The grownup stays right there.
  6. 6.The plane comes down and rolls to a stop. Unbuckle, gather things, and walk off together. Brave means staying and trying, not liking every part.

Practice at home: sit on the couch, buckle an imaginary seat belt, count to twenty, swallow three times, then walk through a doorway together as the special check. Stay together. Co-regulate first: hold, breathe, then the next airport step. Do not promise "it won't hurt" or that flying will be easy — name the security line, loud engines, ears that feel full, the seat belt, the tray, the bathroom onboard, and landing. If you split at security, keep the goodbye short.

Wonder Situations · Travel

Field-guide scene: First Flight

A field-guide story to read together

First Flight

A calm, page-by-page story for airplane day.

Ages 3–8 · Two nights before a flight, then again the morning of — pack the printed pages in your bag.

Page 1 of 6

Field-guide scene: Today we fly

Today we fly

An airplane is a big bus in the sky. It carries people to faraway places. We go together, and we stay together.

Point together

  • The airplane we will ride.
  • We walk as a pair.
  • Big Wonderer stays close the whole trip.

Page 2 of 6

Field-guide scene: The airport

The airport

First we wait with our bags. Airports can be busy and loud. You can hold a hand. Waiting is a step, not a surprise.

Point together

  • Our bags stay with us.
  • Two chairs, holding a hand.
  • Waiting is a step, not a surprise.

Page 3 of 6

Field-guide scene: A special doorway

A special doorway

We walk through a special doorway. It may beep. Bags go in a bin, then come back. I stay close. The doorway is a check, not a trick.

Point together

  • The special doorway we walk through.
  • Bags in a bin, then back.
  • We stay together.

Page 4 of 6

Field-guide scene: A seat and a belt

A seat and a belt

We walk a narrow aisle and find our seats. A seat belt holds your body when the plane moves. Window or aisle, I stay beside you.

Point together

  • The seat you sit in.
  • The seat-belt buckle.
  • Window or aisle — we stay close.

Page 5 of 6

Field-guide scene: Loud, then up

Loud, then up

The engines get loud. The plane goes faster and lifts up. Your ears may feel funny, like a squeeze. Swallow, yawn, or take a sip. I stay right here.

Point together

  • Loud engines mean the plane is getting ready.
  • Funny ear feelings can pass.
  • A swallow, a yawn, or a sip can help.

Page 6 of 6

Field-guide scene: We get off together

We get off together

The plane comes down and rolls to a stop. Then we unbuckle, gather our things, and walk off together. You stayed. Brave means staying and trying, not liking every part.

Point together

  • Wait for the stop.
  • We walk off together.
  • Brave means staying and trying.

Keep these pages for you

Grownup pages

Parent script

  • We'll stay together. Waiting is a step, then a special doorway, then the plane.
  • The doorway may beep. Bags go in a bin and come back.
  • Engines get loud. Ears may feel funny — swallow, yawn, or sip. I stay right here.
  • When we land, we wait for the stop, then we get off together.

Try it together

Practice at home: sit on the couch, buckle an imaginary seat belt, count to twenty, swallow three times, then walk through a doorway together as the special check.

Parent note

Stay together. Co-regulate first: hold, breathe, then the next airport step. Do not promise "it won't hurt" or that flying will be easy — name the security line, the special doorway, loud engines, ears that feel full, the seat belt, the tray, the bathroom onboard, and landing. If you split at security, keep the goodbye short. Close with waiting for the stop and walking off together.

For professionals

Useful travel-coping primer before a first flight — pair with noise support, a familiar snack, and a sip for ears.