Bus riding boredom for Pre-K?

Question

My son has a 50 min. ride to and from school. This is the only negative to him going (besides my attachment issues).

Does anyone have any ideas for activities a 4 year can do on a bus. He can't eat on the bus. I sent in a laminated car bingo card and a cranyon and an I spy picture book. That will get old soon. And he's learning how to draw on steamy windows, too...

But any ideas?

I don't want him getting too plugged into something that would keep him from talking to other kids on the bus. I also need something he can put away quickly.

I will be using the public transportation. I've taught my kids not to waste and I'm going to practice what I preach.

Answer 1

What kind of bus is it? Head Start provides excellent, organized learning opportunities on their buses in my area. Is it a public school bus? Does he have a bus buddy? If so, his buddy can read to him, teach him songs, and play counting games watching the outside environment. Is it public transportation? Do you ride with him? Then you could be his bus buddy. If none of these will work, maybe you could send a bus activity for him daily. Tell him when he gets home today, you want to hear how many barns/cows/semis/trains (anything you think he's likely to see). Tell him to watch for whatever letter is appropriate for him right now, like maybe the first letter of his name, or the first letter of his last name, on signs and tell you how many he finds. Teach him to play Cat's Cradle so he can ask a friend to play with him. Teach him to play tic tac toe and send a little notebook and pencil with him.
Send a couple of books he likes to look at. I love the car bingo card idea! Just try to vary it so he's not doing the same activity every day.

Answer 2

Purchase any one of a dozen laptop style electronic games for kids his age that are made in a learning tool idea. They have some that have lots of different games to play and I saw one that had spelling, mazes, math, etc on it. Some of them even have interchangeable disks or cards to put into them so that they can have a really good variety. You could get several and then change them at home before he left for school, maybe a different one for each day of the week. I'm sure that if you go to a place like ToysRUs and ask them about it, or even a parent/teacher learning store you can get some pretty good ideas for him. I am positive he isn't the ony one on all the busses out there that has a long ride. Good luck.

Answer 3

My cousin Luke has the same thing. What we did for him was send him to school with one of those Leap Frog books.

Answer 4

hmm maybe a coloring book or show him how to draw things a toy might work aswell

Answer 5

Try another way home.