Learning On the Go Series- Part 2

Public transportation can be overwhelming to a child, especially if it is crowded, but it can also be a great adventure! Taking a bus or a subway ride with your child introduces them to a form of transportation that is very different from a car ride with familiar faces. A bus ride is great opportunity to interact with your child, since you won’t have to worry about driving while you travel and learn together. Help your child focus on exploration and encourage them to enjoy seeing new things as they travel on the bus!With your baby:

• Try to follow your baby’s gaze on the bus and speak aloud about what he or she may be focusing on. Examples might be “See that baby sitting across from us?” or “That blue dress is very pretty, isn’t it.”
• Take careful notice of your baby’s reaction to faces, sounds, and movements and respond to them with your own expressions.

With your toddler:

• Do your best to look at the experience through your child’s eyes- are they feeling overwhelmed or excited by the experience? Try not to set expectations for their reaction to the environment.
• Let your toddler help you through the process by giving the fare to the driver, holding an important object on the ride, or pulling the cord to tell the driver when to stop. This will give them a sense of confidence and encourage them to look forward to new travel adventures.
• Show your child how to be safe on the bus ride by setting examples with your own behavior.

With your preschooler:

• Talk to your child about the last time you were on a bus, what you did and where you went. Discuss where you are headed on your current trip and what you will do together when you get there. These conversations will help them gain an understanding of past, present, and future.
• Make up special games for the bus such as counting how many stops until you arrive at your destination, or how many new people get on the bus during the trip. These fun routines or traditions help children understand where they are going and make the experience feel predictable and safe to your child.

All of these activities are meant to help your child explore the many new and exciting things around them, and the bus is a perfect place to do just that. You can engage your child and increase their brain development on the way to the park, mall, school, or grocery store, simply by playing games and talking with one another. Take advantage of public transportation as an opportunity to connect with your child. Try out some of these fun ways to experience learning on the bus together! The informatin in this article is adapted from the BornLearning campaign.