Thinking about a plane trip with kids in tow? As part of your flight plan, try storytelling to plot out what’s ahead to reduce anxiety.

A California mother of a 2 1/2-year-old boy who has high-functioning autism created a “social story” for him before a cross-country flight. A social story outlines what a child can expect for an event, along with strategies to handle it. They can be useful for all children, not just those with special needs.

In this case, the boy’s behavioral and occupational therapists helped write a story catered to the child’s needs, and his mother read the story to him several times before their trip. He likes to memorize logos, so the story included pictures of many logos for him to point out at the airport as a distraction from noise and crowds.

Here is part of the story, published with the mom’s permission.

“We are going to take a trip in an airplane. Going on long trips can be exciting!

“Airports sometimes have long lines.