7 min read
In this article
A little preparation
Keep the game small enough that it does not disturb other passengers: whispered voices and quiet hand gestures are all you need. Follow the vehicle's safety instructions, keep bags and belongings contained, and have the child sit properly with a seatbelt if the bus has one. The adult in charge should keep a clear head for the journey and should not be reading clues or tracking a game while managing the route, the stop or an unexpected change.
Choose games with no props that can fall on the floor, or with one small prop such as a notebook on your lap. Check your child's mood before suggesting a game; a child who is tired or travel sick may prefer to look out of the window or close their eyes. If your child feels unwell, stop at once. Plan to play for a few minutes at a time, with long pauses, so the journey is not one long game. Bring a small bag with a snack, a drink and a wipe, and keep it within reach so you are not rummaging while the bus moves. A short chat before you leave about how to behave on the bus, such as using whispers and keeping feet off the seats, makes the games easier to enforce kindly.
Ideas to try together
Window colour spotting
Choosing one colour to look for turns a window into a game board. It encourages careful looking, vocabulary for objects and shared attention without anyone needing to speak loudly. Because the colour changes each round, children learn to scan for something specific.
You’ll need
- A window seat or a clear view
- No equipment needed
How to do it
- Choose a colour together, such as green or red.
- Look out of the window and quietly point to things you can see in that colour.
- Take turns describing a discovery, such as a green bin or a red door.
- Do not lean or point into another passenger's space.
- Choose a new colour after a few minutes.
- Stop whenever the bus stops or an adult needs to give directions.
Make it your own: Younger children can find just one thing and tell you with a word. Older children can find something for each colour of the rainbow in order, or spot things that start with a given letter.
Two-word travel story
A short story built from two words invites imagination without needing props. Adults give a character and a place, and the child decides what happens. The story can stop at any stop and start again later, which suits a bumpy, interrupted journey.
You’ll need
- Your voices
- Optional notebook to jot down the words
How to do it
- Choose a character, such as a rabbit, and a place, such as a bakery.
- Ask your child what happens when the rabbit goes to the bakery.
- Add a sentence yourself to keep the story going.
- Let your child choose two new words for the next short story.
- Pause whenever the bus stops and resume afterwards.
- Finish by saying how the story ends.
Make it your own: Younger children can answer with a single word or a sound. Older children can tell a story with a beginning, a problem and a happy ending.
Remember our stop
Talking about a landmark near your destination helps children feel included in the journey without making them responsible for it. They look forward to something concrete, learn the route and see that places have recognisable features.
You’ll need
- A photo or picture of the stop
- Your voices
How to do it
- Before the journey, describe a landmark near your stop, such as a red shop or a tall tree.
- Say that you would like your child to look out for it.
- Let them watch quietly and point when they spot something similar.
- When the adult has confirmed the stop, let your child say that is the one.
- After getting off, ask what they remember about the journey.
- Recall the landmarks in order on the way home.
Make it your own: Younger children can simply wave at the landmark. Older children can name the landmarks in order, or draw the route afterwards.
Quiet category turns
Choosing a familiar category such as food or animals gives children a simple structure for taking turns. No one needs to keep score, and hints or pictures can be added if someone is stuck. It is a good way to fill a few minutes.
You’ll need
- Your voices
- Optional picture cards of the category
How to do it
- Choose a category, such as animals.
- Say one animal, such as a dog.
- Let your child say another, and keep taking turns.
- Offer a hint, such as it has stripes, if they get stuck.
- Change to a new category after a few turns.
- End by choosing the favourite one.
Make it your own: Younger children can point to a card from two choices. Older children can name an item for each letter of their name, or find one that is bigger than a bus.
Quiet drawing of what we saw
A small notebook turns the journey into a record. Drawing one thing from memory is calming, and it reinforces what your child noticed. A pencil rests easily on a lap, and a notebook is more stable than loose paper.
You’ll need
- 1 small notebook
- 1 pencil or short crayon
- A hard book to lean on
How to do it
- Open the notebook on the child's lap with the hard book underneath.
- Ask what they would like to draw, such as a bus, a building or a dog.
- Let them draw for a few minutes while looking out of the window.
- Describe the drawing and ask them to add one thing they remember.
- Close the notebook before the stop.
- Look at it again at home and add a date.
Make it your own: Younger children can scribble a colour or a shape. Older children can draw several things in a row and number them in order.
Make it work for your family
If your child wants to look quietly out of the window, let that be part of the journey. Games are an option, not a requirement to fill every minute. A long bus ride can be tiring, so offer a game only when your child seems restless, and stop when they lose interest.
If you travel the same route often, try a game that builds on it, such as remembering what changed since last time. After the trip, you can ask your child what they would like to draw from what they saw, as in these car games for kids or some quiet airplane activities that also work on public transport. A short note of one thing they noticed makes a lovely record of the day. If a game starts to feel like a chore, swap it for singing a quiet song together or simply counting the stops, and remember that a bored child on a bus is often just a child who needs a snack, a stretch at the next stop or a cuddle.
Parents also ask
What are good quiet games for a bus journey?
Colour spotting from the window, a short two-word story, category turns and quiet drawing all work. They need little or no equipment and can be paused whenever the bus stops.
How do I keep a toddler entertained on a bus?
Point out things through the window, sing a quiet song, and offer a small soft toy or a sticker book. Keep any item contained and avoid small parts. Short, simple games work best, and a snack may help.
What if my child gets travel sick when playing on the bus?
Stop the game, let them look at the horizon and open a window if possible. Avoid reading and drawing for a while. If it happens often, talk to a doctor or pharmacist about what might help.
Choose materials and activities that suit your child, supervise as needed and adapt the ideas to their interests and abilities. About our editorial approach
