All aboard!

(Pre-school and Reception)

Your child will find taking the bus or train exciting and a memorable experience. Talking about what you see is great for learning.

Top tips:

Keep your journey local and not too long.

Try to travel when your child is alert and not too tired.

What do you need?

  • a rucksack
  • snacks and drinks
  • phone or camera for photographs or videos

What do we do?

  1. Plan a journey. You can build it into your weekly routine (for example going to the supermarket). Or visit a special location or person.
  2. Look together at websites for timetables. They need to understand that the buses come infrequently. They will need to be at the bus stop at a specific time (this is the beginning of understanding the concept of time).
  3. Make a list or chat about what you'll need for your journey and what you may see (such as snacks and local landmarks).
  4. Catch your bus involving your child in as many of the rituals as possible. Even if it's saying thank you for their ticket and finding a safe place to sit on the bus.
  5. Talk to your child about what they see along the way, you may record the journey with the odd photograph.
  6. Chat about the journey when you get home. Ask your child to talk about it to another family member.
  7. Enjoy singing songs with actions. Your child may want to add in their own words based on their experience of their journey.

You can also sing songs while out and about to keep your child entertained. Ask them to suggest things they can see and hear. It encourages them to pay attention to their surroundings.

Skills your child will learn

Talking to your child about the journey will be a rich learning experience. They will learn early geography skills and build their geographical vocabulary.

Looking out of the window and discussing what they see helps develop their: 

  • understanding and use of directions (for example, 'forwards', 'backwards')
  • spatial awareness
  • orientation

Physical skills will develop. You'll need to walk to the bus stop and the destination. Often car journeys lull the child into a sedentary time (falling asleep soon into the journey). They're much more active and attentive on public transport.

Social skills begin to develop. It helps children to build good manners:

  • saying hello to strangers
  • a smile
  • saying "excuse me" as you pass people in a crowded place
  • politely asking for a seat on a crowded bus

Public transport develops your child's sense of independence early on. They can help with asking for their tickets. They can look at the maps and route and find a safe place to sit.