Going on Vacation Social Story
- Grades
- Not Grade Specific
- Pages
- 29
- File type
- Preparation
- Print ready
- Subject
- Special Resources, Social Emotional Learning (SEL), Social Skills, Special Education Needs (SEN)
- Topic
- vacation, holiday
- Resource types
- Activities
- Preparation
- Print ready
About this resource
What's inside this resource
Vacations can be an exciting break in routine, but also filled with uncertainty for many children. For kids on the autism spectrum especially, new environments and activities can heighten confusion and anxiety without proper preparation. This social story resource aims to walk children through vacation travel and experiences in a detailed yet reassuring way.
The story uses simple language and visual supports across different possible vacation scenarios. There are pages covering modes of transport like cars, trains and airplanes to reach your destination and popular accommodations like hotels, rental houses, cruises and camping.
Common emotions a child may feel throughout are validated and labeled with suggestions for coping strategies are woven in. There are also 3 different versions of the story to cover who the child is travelling with; their family, mom or dad.
Walking through the entire vacation process start to finish across potential experiences, this social story resource allows caregivers to tailor preparation to their child’s unique upcoming trip. By naming specific sites, sounds, activities and feelings to expect, uncertainty is diminished. Kids on the spectrum can practice flexibility while enjoying a new adventure, set up for success through this method that caters to their learning style.
Included in this resource are 3 different versions of the 29 page PDF social story
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In the classroom
Teaching tips & learning objectives
Teaching tips
Choose the version that matches the child's actual travel companion (dad, mum, or family) and the spelling convention used in your setting (holiday or vacation)
Read the story with the child before travel begins, since each page introduces one specific worry (transport, a new bed, a change in routine) alongside its coping strategy
Point out the coping-strategy pages (looking at a book, playing a game, taking a breathing break) as concrete options the child can use during the actual trip
Skills covered
Anticipatory coping — the story previews specific parts of a trip (mode of travel, type of accommodation, a new bed) before they happen, paired with a coping suggestion for each.
Emotional validation — the story names the child's anxious feelings directly and reassures the child that feeling that way is OK.
Sequential preparation — the story moves in the order a real trip unfolds, from packing through travel, arrival, and the eventual return home.
Good to know
Questions teachers ask about this resource
How do the six files differ from each other?
All six are the same 29-page story. Three name a different companion on every page (dad, mum, or family), and each of those three is supplied twice: once using "holiday" and once using "vacation" on every page, so the wording matches either British or American usage.
What kinds of travel and accommodation does the story cover?
Four ways of traveling (car, aeroplane, train, coach) and six types of place to stay (hotel, caravan, tent, cabin, cottage, boat), each given its own page.
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Resource details
Concepts & topics
Core concepts
Core concepts
social story
travel anxiety
coping strategies
routine change
emotional preparation
Topics
Topics
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