Home Speech Activities For 1-Year Olds and 2-Year Olds

Why school bus toys are actually magic

I’ve never met a toddler who didn’t love a good school bus toy! 

And yes, much like the 90’s TV show, the school bus is actually magical! That’s because you can play with it in a seemingly infinite number of ways. Flip it upside down to spin its wheels, push it off the couch and watch it fall, fill it with spoons from the kitchen, or pretend to drive some “kids” to school.

If you are looking for a foolproof toy to grow your child’s language skills while having fun, look no further; play with a “magic” bus! 

Important Features For A “Magic” Bus

There are lots of different toy buses out there. For the activities we describe to work it’s important that you find, purchase, or create a toy bus that has:

• A door that can open and close

• Wheels so you can push it

• Enough space inside to put a few other toys/items or toy people

 

How to Play and What to Say At Different Stages 

At home play and speech practice will look different depending on how your child communicates with you. We have defined 3 different stages of communication development and created at home language practice to go with each stage. 

• Explorers communicate with you by showing you what they want or need.

• Pioneers talk to you using one word at a time and some gestures.

• Builders talk to you by putting words together in phrases or sentences.

Explorers 

How to Play:

Think of your toy bus as a bucket. Remember that we said it’s important for your toy bus to be big enough to put things inside it? That’s because you are going to fill your bus up with anything that is fun and safe for your little one. Blocks, tissues, clementines, and balls are a few ideas. 

Lead by example, putting some things inside the toy bus. Wait and watch for your child to do the same. Once you’ve filled up the bus, dump it out! 

Keep repeating the same routine of filling up the bus and dumping it out, and use the same words to comment as you do it (more on their below).

It’s okay if your little one takes the lead and dumps out the bus before you’re ready. Follow their imagination; the number one priority is that your little one has fun!

What to Say: 

It doesn’t matter what your play looks like because the important thing is what YOU are saying and doing. Here’s your “job” description for playing with the toy bus: make sounds!

Specifically, make sound effects related to your play. You aren’t going to be saying “beep beep” because this bus is actually a bucket, remember. Say “Oh-No!” or “Woah” as your child dumps its contents. And make it dramatic! When you are animated your mouth actually moves more, which makes it easier for your child to copy your sounds when they are ready. 

Extra Credit: You can also make sound effects or label your toys as you drop them in the bus. 

 

Pioneers

How to Play:

It’s time to take the bus on a ride! For pioneers, you are going to be pushing your toy bus around on the floor, outside, or wherever might be fun! 

Show your child how you want to play with the bus by pushing it across the floor the first time, then let them take over. At this stage we aren’t focusing on turn taking, but it can be fun to get another car or toy with wheels for you to play with in the same way your child plays with the bus.

At this stage it can be really fun to play the same “game” alongside your child. For example, you push the toy car at the same time they push the toy bus along the floor, maybe it’s even a race!

 

What to Say:

Ready set “GO!” That’s what you are going to say while your child pushes their toy bus around. You might  also “Stop!” the bus so you can “GO!” as many times as is fun for your child. 

Your focus is going to be on listening for your child to say “Go!” Using the same repetitive phrase over and over helps children learn to say new words faster because they can anticipate which word is coming next. 

Add a pause after you say “Ready, Set…” and listen for your child to say or try to say “GO!” 

Extra Credit: If you child has learned “GO,” try adding on another word. In the same routine you can say “Go bus!” and listen for your child to repeat back one or both of the words you said. 

 

Builders

How to Play:

At the builders stage, you and your child are pretending that this is in fact a school bus that other kids are on their way to school. Your bus stops at the bus stop, the kids open the door, and everyone takes their seat before they head down the road to school. 

It’s okay to use your imagination at this stage, don’t feel like you have to buy the figurines that go with the toy. Instead of toy people, you might use blocks or draw smiley faces on spoons and pretend those are the people. 

 

What to Say:

At this stage, how to play and what to say go hand in hand. Your “job” is to add comments about what is happening in play with your child and maybe ask some questions. 

For example, your child says “Let’s get in!” referring to a boy walking on to the bus, and you ask, “Are you going to sit in the front or back of the bus?” 

You might also assume the persona of one of the characters you are playing with. Maybe you are the “driver” and your child is the “little girl.” You have a conversation in character!  

Extra Credit: Add in another imaginary problem. For example, the bus could get a flat tire or run out of gas and the pretend people talk about how they are going to solve it. 

 

 

Toy: School Bus

Category: Transportation Toys

Age Suggestion: 6 Months and Up (*Always refer to manufacturers recommendation for age*)

Price: $10-$20    

Communication Levels: Explorers, Pioneers, Builders

 

© 2020-2023. Stephanie Keffer, MS CCC-SLP. All Rights Reserved.

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