6 steps to a better bus trip with your children

1. Plan ahead

Ask yourself:

• Where are you going?

• How long is the commute time? How long is the walk time?

• Timing of the bus and route? How many stops are along the way?

• Where you can get off is there is a bathroom emergency?

• When is a good time?

  • Tip: avoid disturbing your child's usual sleeping or eating routines and go when your child is well rested

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Consider your child's needs when it comes to: teething, potty training, transitioning to school or day care, getting introduced to new routines, or some changes in the family dynamics.

Be Mindful of Sensory Overload: The transit can be full of noise, be sure to always consider sensory sensitivities. Bring comforting toys, blankets, and/or accessories such as noise-canceling headphones, and even sunglasses to help create a soothing environment for the child during transit.

Let children have enough rest before traveling. This is because they will need more energy when the day of the trip arrives. Especially if you bring small children. Make sure the child also gets enough rest before the trip. 

Planning tools:

• Edmonton Transit has an app called Transit that shows the timings of the bus as well as the LRT trains

  • There is also an automated phone line, and a Text & Ride information serve

Go to ETS Trip Tools for information on all services that are available for planning trips.

• Google Maps will show the bus route if you add address and click on the transit, both apps will show how long will it take to reach to the bus stop along with the directions to bus stop or bus stop to the destination

• The apps will also show the exact time of bus arrival as well as how long it will take to reach the destination

• The apps will provide information about if you need to change buses and how many stops will come in the way

What to pack:

• Snacks and water for children

• Books, quiet or sensory toys based on children’s age

• Basic supplies such as diapers, extra pair of clothes, first aid kit, phone charger, baby wipes, sanitizer

• Keep an address and phone number card in children’s pocket

• Comfort items to create a soothing environment (e.g. favourite blanket or stuffie)

Activity ideas:

Let children take in sight and point out what interests them. Have conversations with them about what they are seeing around.

• eye spy

• colouring

• following the trip on a simple map

• count the stops

• read a book

• sensory toy

• rock paper scissors

2. Practice the trip

Practice travelling with children prior to the trip.

Walk with them to the bus stop.

Tell them we will be taking the bus from this stop.

Try to go on a short trip to let the child experience the transit trip (e.g. take the bus and get off at the next stop).

3. Go on short trips at first

4. Remind your child of your expectations

State the simple and clear instructions, for example:

• Hold my hand all the time.

• We sit down on the seats.

• We use quiet voices while using the transit or waiting for the transit

• We keep our hands and feet to ourselves while sharing space

  
  

Be sure that the expectations are age appropriate. To learn more about setting expectations check out our Parent Education Group Setting Boundaries and Limits with Children.

Talk about safety. Ask if they remember the rules (praise them if they remember or calmly remind them if they forgot). If there were problems last time, calmly describe that particular rule (Last time we were walking to the bus stop and you forgot the rule about holding hands and walking, let us see today if you can hold my hands and use walking feet).

Planning and going over safety is very important, however more important is letting children have fun. Let them lead the experience by: letting them add the money or scan the card, pushing pedestrian buttons while walking, choosing to sit on the window side or the other side, pulling down the cord on arrival.

5. Talk about rewards and consequences

Rewards: Stickers, make their favorite meal, snack, trip to the park or their favorite playground, prepare a travel behavior chart and they can tick mark or add stickers to it after a successful trip. After a certain number of successful trips, they can get a reward. An empty jar and buttons, after every successful trip they get to add button to the jar, after certain number of buttons they can get a reward. Reward can be a verbal praise, “I am so proud of you, you did a good job following rules).

Talk to your child about consequences.  The consequence should be age-appropriate, timely (in the moment), and appropriate for the situation. For example if you set the expectation with your child that they have to sit in the seat, and they are standing and will not sit down, the consequence could be that they now have to sit on your lap.

6. Celebrate success!

Such experiences are new as well as exciting for children, give them time and be patient while they are learning.

At Norwood Centre our team of qualified Early Childhood Development Subject Matter Experts work to provide tools that caregivers can use to support early childhood development. We hear you! If you have a question or concern, please ask us. We have a variety of Child Development Activities available on our website, find them at norwoodcentre.com/child-development-activities. For short-term one-on-one coaching, please call us at 780-471-3737.