Explore the fun of riding a bus with this simple, hands-on play plan. Perfect for building early language skills, imaginative play, and problem-solving, while sparking your toddler’s curiosity about the world around them.
Let’s hit the road: Use a toy bus, little passengers, and a bus-themed book to help your toddler explore the fun of moving from place to place.
About This Play Plan:
Use this as a guide to introduce your toddler to the concept of riding a bus, encouraging early language development, imaginative play, and problem-solving through hands-on exploration. This plan follows the 5E instructional model (Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, Evaluate) to guide you through each stage.
How to Use This Plan:
- Gather Your Materials: Check the list below for everything you’ll need.
- Follow the 5E Tabs: Each tab provides step-by-step guidance, creative ideas, and reflection prompts to make the experience more meaningful.
- Let Your Child Lead: Observe how your child interacts with the materials and adjust based on their interests and developmental stage.
Spark your child’s curiosity:
Start by reading a bus-themed board book. You’re likely to find one at your local library.
We read Peppa’s New Pet, which I got from a local thrift store. It features a bus ride to and from the veterinarian’s clinic. It also includes the first part of the song “The Wheels on the Bus”.
Encourage hands-on exploration:
Invite your toddler to play with a small toy bus that has little removable passengers, like Lovevery’s Wheel Around Town Bus.
Observe how they interact with the passengers and the bus.
Provide simple, age-appropriate explanations:
Sing or play a song like The Wheels on the Bus as you show them how the bus moves around on wheels.
Use sounds like “beep, beep” and words like “stop” and “go” to make it more engaging and fun.
Expand on the activity:
Set up two to three mini scenes, like a little bus stop at Point A and a destination at Point B, using other toys or household items.
For example, we set up a little bus stop using a wooden box, an “insectarium” with our Lovevery fuzzy bug shrub, and a bunny sanctuary with our bunnies in a felt burrow and carrot posting box.
Show your toddler how the bus “picks up the passengers here” and how it “drops them off there” while moving the bus between the different stops. Let your toddler have fun playing at each stop.
Reflect on how your child responded to the play:
- Did they try to imitate the bus sounds or actions from the song?
- Did they show interest in moving the peg people on and off the bus?
- Did they grasp the idea of Point A to Point B, or did they prefer just rolling the bus around?
- Did they recognize the concept of travel or movement in their play?
- Did they stay focused for a few minutes, or did their attention shift quickly?
Every child learns at their own pace. Some toddlers might enjoy watching you play first, while others like to take their time at each “stop,” exploring every part of the journey. Enjoy the moment and let them lead the way.
Materials List:
- Wheel Around Town Bus or any small toy bus (You can also DIY one)
- Peg people or other small toys for passengers
- Bus-themed picture book
- Other toys or household items to create “bus stops” (Point A and Point B)
- Device for playing The Wheels on the Bus song (or you can sing it yourself)
- Play mat or clear floor space for the bus to travel around
Tips for the Grown-Ups:
Follow the Child’s Lead:
Observe how your child interacts with the playthings. Let them guide the session by following their interests. If they show a preference for exploring textures, sounds, or colors, embrace it. Be a silent observer, ready to expand their learning with gentle, supportive language.
Create a Calm, Inviting Space:
Set up a clutter-free area that encourages focused exploration. Use natural light and simple setups to inspire curiosity. If the weather permits, take the play outside for a richer sensory experience, connecting with the natural world.
Encourage Open-Ended Play:
Embrace imaginative twists and unexpected uses for the toys. If the activity takes a surprising turn, celebrate this as a sign of growing cognitive flexibility and problem-solving.
Our Own Play Experience
The Wheels on the Bus has been a special part of our routine since our daughter was born. It’s one of the first songs my husband played for her to help soothe her as a newborn, and the Peppa Pig bus book was one of the first books I bought while I was still pregnant. So when we received the Lovevery Wheel Around Town Bus from the Realist Play Kit, it felt like the perfect way to bring these familiar concepts to life.
At 14 months old, our little one loved moving the peg people from the wooden “bus stop” to their seats in the bus. She hasn’t quite figured out how to “drive” the bus steadily from one point to another yet (it’s designed for slightly older toddlers), but she enjoys helping push it along. She also loves playing with her other toys at each “stop”, like the fuzzy bug shrub and the bunnies and carrots.
We’re excited to keep creating new bus stop scenarios for her as she grows, building on this early play to prepare her for her first real bus ride during our upcoming trip to Montreal.
Please Note: I am a proud Lovevery subscriber and fan, and many of the play plans shared here feature Lovevery playthings. However, this site is not affiliated with or endorsed by Lovevery. All ideas and recommendations are my own, based on my experiences as a mom who values meaningful, play-based learning.
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