The Bus Ride Home

Sitting in a line like on a bus, children take an imaginary ride home with the teacher as the driver, rocking gently and looking out the window until they get to where their family is waiting. It's a calm-down at the end of the session that helps children look forward to pickup peacefully.

How to play

1. Sit in a line one behind the other, like bus seats; the teacher is the driver (1 min).
2. The bus starts very slowly and we rock side to side, softly singing "The bus goes slow, slow, slow" (1 min).
3. Look out the pretend window and point to what we see: a tree, a dog, the bakery (1 min).
4. The bus goes over gentle bumps: move just a little and take deep breaths (1 min).
5. We're almost home: close your eyes and imagine who's waiting at the door (1 min).
6. The bus stops, we open our eyes and slowly get off saying "I'm here!" (1 min).

Rules

• On the bus we stay sitting in our seat.
• We rock gently without pushing the person in front.
• When we close our eyes, we're quiet.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: the child in the wheelchair is one more seat in the line and rocks however they can.
• Autism: if the line feels crowded, the child sits next to the driver with more space.
• Hearing impairment: the teacher faces the group so children can see their face and backs up each step with a gesture.

Learning goals

• Calm down at the end of the session.
• Look forward to seeing family again calmly.
• Follow an imaginary story with the body.

Teacher tip

For children who really miss their families, always tell them when pickup is: "After recess, Dad comes." Keep the ride calm, not a speed game.

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