“Look! A Bus!” When my twins were toddlers it seemed like everywhere we went they found buses, trucks and trains to watch. These big machines are endlessly fascinating to most toddlers.

As parents and toddler teachers, we fill our play spaces with trucks and cars and encourage our toddlers to vroom them across the floor. We read great picture books, label vehicles we see, and sing “Wheels on the Bus” more times than we can count. But do these experiences teach our toddlers about these vehicles they find so fascinating?

They do, but the real deal is much more meaningful.

Going on an actual bus field trip allows them to see how massive these vehicles are up close. A field trip shows them the process of riding the bus. A field trip answers some of their questions and gives them new ones to ponder with their toy trucks back at home or school.

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Friday Field Trip on a City Bus

I have done this type of field trip a couple of times. I did it will a class of 3-5 year olds in Minnesota and also twice with my own twins when they were 20 months old and again when they were 2. Below are my top tips from what I learned from these experiences, along with the many things they learned from these fun and easy busy field trips.

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*Transportation

*City or Community

Before the Field Trip

Before our field trip my toddlers were very familiar with two things;

1. “Wheels on the Bus song” which we had sung more times than I could count.
2. Wheels on the Bus stories. We did a whole story study inspired by their love of the song.

6 Tips for a successful City Bus Field trip

1. Plan Your Trip Ahead of Time

Bus schedules and maps are online – just search online for your city’s transit system.

Consider how long your child can sit when planning the length of your trip. We were on the bus for about 30m both ways.

2. Avoid Rush Hour

An over-crowded bus will distract from the adventure and potentially overwhelm your toddlers.

3. Talk about Expectations Beforehand

Talk to your toddler about expectations before you get on the bus – for example, you must sit while the bus is moving. Walk through the whole experience so they know what to expect.

4. Have Bus Fare Ready

Have your bus fare ready to go before you get on the bus. Your toddler or preschooler is probably free (another thing to double check online beforehand!) but you will need to pay the fare. Have that handy so you don’t have to dig around for it when the bus arrives and your toddler is super excited.

5. Have a Plan for Wait Times

Plan a few waiting games. We had to wait for a while to get back on the bus and this was the hardest part of our trip. We survived with singing songs and playing ISpy.

6. Dress for the Weather

If possible, plan your adventure for a day with pleasant weather. If it ends up less desirable, make sure you are dressed appropriately for waiting outside.

after the field trip

• Continue reading and singing The Wheels on the Bus
• Set up a pretend area to play bus. For older toddlers and preschoolers ask them what they would need to pretend to be on a bus. They will often have some very creative ideas. All you really need are a row of chairs and some pretend wheels. Paper plates and markers can easily be used to make as many steering wheels as you want.

what do toddlers learn on a bus field trip?

Are field trips with toddlers actually meaningful? Aren’t they too young to remember anything? I get asked this all the time and I understand.

Your toddler is probably not going to remember this bus field trip when they’re 10 or 50. They will remember it next week. They might remember it 6 months from now.

The point is that it is meaningful right now.

• It answers their questions. Even ones they can’t quite verbalize yet.
• It deepens their understanding.
• It gives them more things and experiences to think about and build on. It affirms that their interests are valuable.

At the end of the day the things we take for granted as common knowledge are often brand new information to young kids. Real life and hands on experiences offer a wealth of knowledge that is learned more quickly and integrated in their minds with deeper purpose than reading that same knowledge in a book or having it just explained to them.

Here’s what my toddlers learned on our Bus Field Trip Adventure:

1. That people get on and off a lot! My kids were fascinated by all the different people they saw.

2. That you have to pull the cord to tell the bus driver you want to get off. (Self Help)

3. Where your money or bus pass goes and that you have to pay money to get on a bus. (Math)

4. That buses have to stop at red lights, just like cars. (Cognitive)

5. That the bus does actually bump (like in Wheels on the Bus). (Sensory)

6. You have to look for the right bus number or letter by reading the sign at the bus stop and on the front of the bus (Literacy)

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There is something so cool about a museum ON a ship and something incredibly awesome about the Intrepid itself.

It is inspiring.

There are absolutely some things I wish I had known before we went – so keep reading and you will be far more prepared than I was.

Things to Know Before You Visit the Intrepid

1. It is huge.

Huge. You can easily spend a whole day here. We were on board the Intrepid from 10 am until 4 pm and there was a ton we didn’t see.

Plan at least a few hours.

read also: Outer Space Unit for Preschoolers

2. It is expensive.

If this is something your kids will love then I would argue it is worth the money, but this is one of the most expensive things we have done in New York City. See #3 for more.

3. And there are hidden costs that make it more expensive.

My one compaint about the Intrepid Museum is that everything is extra.

Want to see the Space Shuttle? Extra and admission to the museum is not included in that ticket.

Want to go on the submarine? Extra.

I get that some things, like eating lunch, are always going to be extra but it borders on ridiculous how many times I had to reach for my VISA on this trip.

Bottom line: figure out what you want to do and pay for those things at the start. Then don’t do the others.

4. The Space Shuttle Exhibit is limited.

Again I have mixed feelings about the Space Shuttle Exhibit.

On one hand it was extra money and since we didn’t know this beforehand I had to trapse all the way through the museum to buy tickets – which weren’t cheap. It was expensive and inconvenient and since it was 100 degrees I was a little crabby.

This didn’t set me up to have a great experience. The exhibit itself was not as interactive as much of the museum and I was disappointed you couldn’t get a closer look at the Space Shuttle.

On the other hand, the Space Shuttle is awesome. You basically walk around and under it and that should be boring. However, something about its size and existence is impressive.

It was very cool. If your child likes space I would definitely recommend this additional area.

5. There is a lot to do without spending extra money.

If you don’t want to spend a fortune, you will still find a lot to do on the Intrepid itself.

Our kids love the Explorem Hall the most.

They got to try out helicopters and sit in a space shuttle.

We learned about the living quarters for sailors on board Navy ships.

read also: Everything guide to nyc with kids

6. Avoid Peak Times

Despite being a massive ship, it can easily start to feel crowded.

We went during the week and go there when the museum opened. Despite school being out for the summer, this worked fine.

By lunch time the museum definitely starts to pick up. It is still doable but your child will wait more to try things and been urged to move along more.

7. Consider the Weather.

When I think Museum I think air conditioning or heating. Most of the Intrepid is air conditioned, but not all of the corridors circulate the air well and the upper deck is completely exposed to the elements.

We visited on an unusually hot day for New York City and had to take several water breaks just while touring the top deck.

More Good Things to Know:

• There is a paid parking lot a couple of blocks from the museum if you don’t want to take public transportation.
• A stroller would be possible in some places, but also difficult to maneuver in parts.
• Cafe had some decent variety and options for kids.

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