We’re in the Car or on the Bus!
Each month offers activities families can do together in a variety of settings. The activities within the Learning is Everywhere Calendar and on the website are aligned with the Pennsylvania Early Learning Standards (ELS).
These guidelines can be used to determine what infants, toddlers, pre-kindergarten, and kindergarten children may know or be able to do within specific age ranges.
Print the book list! 10 Books for in the Car or on the Bus.
- Cars and Trucks and Things That Go by Richard Scarry
- The Wheels on the Bus by Paul O. Zelinsky
- The School Bus Driver from the Black Lagoon by Mike Thaler
- Wee Sing in the Car by Wee Sing
- Riding In My Car by Woody Guthrie
- Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus by Mo Willem
- Follow That Bus! by Pat Hutchins
- Rattletrap Car by Phyllis Root
- My Car by Byron Barton
- The Berenstain Bears and Too Much Car Trip by Stan and Jan Berenstain
While traveling, take advantage of those who enjoying interacting with babies. Encourage your baby to look at those who greet them and return their smiles. Social & Emotional Development
Attach plastic decals to the side windows (both sides), so when the light comes through the windows, they can see the different shapes and colors. Talk to them and tell about the colors, naming the ones they might see. Language & Literacy
Take a travel break. In a park, rest stop, or even the less populated corner of a parking lot, get out of the car and encourage your toddler to move. They can pretend they’re a little bird and flap fingers, then a bigger bird (flap hands), and then an even bigger bird (flap arms). Health, Wellness & Physical Development
Have your toddler use a puppet to narrate the drive. You can ask the puppet questions to get the game going. Who is in the car? Where is everyone going? What will they do when they get there? What does the puppet see when it looks out the window? Social & Emotional Development
Before your trip, help your preschooler cut out pictures from a magazine of things they might see while in the car, such as a stop sign, a bicycle, a bus, etc. and store in an envelope or plastic zip-top bag. Once in the car, have them search outside the window for items that match the cut-outs. Language & Literacy
Give you preschooler a puppet while traveling. Ask the puppet to sing a song, or have the puppet tell you a story, or what it sees when it looks out the window. Play “I Spy”—can it see the clouds? Can it see trees, or the big truck? Creative Thinking & Expression Using a book, have the puppet “read” the story. Language & Literacy
For vacations or distance trips, have your kindergartner create their own scrapbook of the trip. What types of items do they think should be included? Items such as ticket stubs, toll receipts, brochures, maps and photos can be included. Even items such as rocks, flowers or leaves can be added. Too much stuff for a scrapbook? Try a treasure chest by using a shoebox they can decorate. Creative Thinking & Expression
Give your child a puppet while traveling. Have the puppet tell you the alphabet and to count to 10. Ask the puppet to name as many colors as it can. Using a book, have the puppet “read” the story. Language & Literacy
Additional Resources
- Traveling with children—around the block or across the state—can be challenging, especially if you’re not prepared to deal with the boredom or restlessness. Try some helpful tips to keep your child (and yourself!) occupied!
- Turn on the television or radio, or open the newspaper, and see that you’re surrounded by advertisements aimed at catching your attention. During the holidays, this can increase to the point when it’s overwhelming. What’s a family to do?
- Looking for the perfect gift for your child? It might be right at your fingertips! 5 Gifts for a Child this Holiday Season.