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Many cities have robust public transportation that makes traveling around the city incredibly accessible. Not only can you get around yourself, but you can also bring your kiddos with you on buses, subways, trams, trains, and monorails.
Whether you live in a big city or are traveling to a big city with kids, public transportation can be a great way to get from place to place. Yet, things can happen that make the ride a little bumpy with kids, like tantrums, accidents, boredom, and transportation-specific issues out of your control.
Ironing out details ahead of time and figuring out how to best keep your kids entertained on the trip can make navigating public transportation much more manageable and enjoyable.
You can ensure your kids have the safest, best experience possible with the advice shared here. But first, if you need a little convincing, there are some significant benefits to using public transportation with your kids.
Why Using Public Transportation With Your Kids is a Good Thing
Introducing your children to public transportation early in life is a good thing for many reasons, one of the most significant being how it opens them up to more of the world. They get to see all kinds of different people and maybe even interact with them. They also get to see different places.
What’s more, if you’re trying to save money on a family vacation, you’ll need to use public transit. It’s best to familiarize your kids with this mode ahead of time.
Understanding public transportation is a practical matter. Your kids will know how to get around safely and efficiently during times in adulthood when they don’t have a car. And if they’re going to have to take a trip by themselves at some point, preparing them to navigate solo travel is absolutely essential.
Tips for Successfully Navigating Public Transportation With Kids
After reading the benefits, you’re convinced and ready to brave public transportation with your kids. But how exactly should you go about it to ensure you all stay safe, get to where you need to go, and most importantly, have a great time?
These tips will help you get around successfully:
Do detailed planning
Attempting spontaneous public transit travel with kids is probably the worst approach. A lot of things can go wrong even when you plan properly. Imagine not preparing at all. That’s a nightmare waiting to happen.
So, your first step is detailed planning. Determine the following to ensure your kids have fun and are secure on your public transit trip:
- Where you’re going
- Which transportation option you’re taking
- What the route is to get there
- How much everything will cost
- What time you have to leave
- How many stops are along the way
- Where you can get off for bathroom emergencies
- What you’ll pack
- What activities you’ll do when you get to your destination
- When you need to head back home
- Any other details unique to your or your children’s needs
You’ll also want to spend time figuring out how to best keep your kids entertained.
Letting your kids play games on your phone, for example, is a good option. You can download their favorite games and let them enjoy while you’re on the move. Keep in mind that many of these games require tokens or money to play.
So, it’s in your best interest to find ways to save on your phone bill, such as by signing up for autopay or using WiFi instead of data to offset some of those costs. Other ideas for keeping your kids entertained are:
- Let them listen to music
- Journals or coloring books
- Activity books and books for reading
- Simple travel games, like “I Spy”
I Spy is a great option while using public transportation with children. The games helps them notice what is around them. This can help teach them situational awareness, which can be impactful in many places throughout their lives.
If your kids are old enough, get them involved in the planning. It will build up excitement. They’ll also be more likely to be on their best behavior because they’ll want to enjoy all that is to come.
Show and talk to your kids about what to expect
As you plan your transportation adventure with your kids, it’s also important to show and talk to them about what to expect.
USAHello offers a helpful page on how to use public transportation. You can have your kids help find your bus route, visit the bus station, and practice the ride. Then, when you’re no longer in practice mode and actually need to go somewhere, the kiddos will know what’s going to happen. You can also check out your city’s public transit webpages and read over the info with your kids.
Talk to your kids about what kind of experience they can expect too. For example, you can discuss what it will feel like to travel on the water via ferry. Or, you can discuss who rides the bus or subway, how it might be crowded, and how important it is for them to be mindful of space.
Also, be especially thorough when you’re going over safety measures.
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Be thorough when going over safety measures
A lot of people move through bus, train, and other public transportation stops, making it easy for your children to get lost, or worse, abducted.
Share safety concerns with your kids in a digestible way. Then, talk to them about how to stay safe on the trip with rules like:
- Hold your hand whenever you’re on the move
- Always stay within your eyesight
- Don’t go with or talk to strangers
- Don’t play on or near the area where the bus will arrive
- Sit correctly and securely whenever the bus or train is moving — newly manufactured buses and motor coaches have seat belts to improve security during transit
- Go to the main office (show them where it is) or approach an adult in a particular uniform (show them which ones) if they ever get separated from you
- Keep an address and phone number card in their pocket at all times
Go over everything about traveling via public transportation with your kids so that they’re thoroughly prepared for the experience.
Let your kids take it all in
Planning and going over safety and other details with your kids is vital. But what’s just as important is for your children to have a fun, meaningful public transit experience. So, let them take it all in.
Help them grow their independence by letting them lead the experience. This means letting them add money to the train or bus card and swiping it to get on. Ask them to point out important signage. Let them choose where to sit and signal the stop when necessary.
When they’re on the ride, let them take in the sights and point out what interests them. Talk, laugh, and have as much fun as you can.
Many cities in the United States have a vast public transportation system that makes traveling through cities accessible and efficient. And other countries have public transportation that can take you around the country. You can enjoy it with your kids without too many issues when you create a good plan of action using the tips above.
Guest post: Ainsley Lawrence is a freelance writer who lives in the Northwest region of the United States. She has a particular interest in covering topics related to good health, balanced life, and better living through technology. When not writing, her free time is spent reading and researching to learn more about her cultural and environmental surroundings.
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