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09.10.19, 16:27 PM General Topics
51 replies
Ideas to help entertain my kindergarten son on the bus? His ride is much longer than anticipated (up to an hour+ on the way home) and I am feeling incredibly guilty. Any suggestions for activities or anything to help keep him occupied? [ Reply | Watch | Flag ]
General Topics 09.10.19, 04:27 PM Flag
 

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Audio books. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 09.10.19, 04:32 PM Flag
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paper books. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 09.10.19, 04:34 PM Flag
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I always thought it's not good for you eyes to read in a moving vehicle. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 09.10.19, 04:39 PM Flag
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It can make some car sick. But not all. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 09.10.19, 04:41 PM Flag
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it would me and dc at the time who got really car sick and then grew out of it mostly. I still get car sick even in the front seat! [ Reply | More
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General Topics 09.11.19, 01:00 AM Flag
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It the movement bothers you, just stop. A bus doesn't move all that fast. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 09.10.19, 04:42 PM Flag
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Get a subscription for Epic. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 09.10.19, 04:34 PM Flag
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At that age my ds loved having one of those old ipod shuffles. He had headphones and would just chill listening to music when we were waiting for his older brother. It was a cheap mp3 player that he could clip to his shirt and it had no screen interface, just a button to pause or skip to the next song, etc. So something like this: https://www.amazon.com/AGPTEK-Shuffle-Portable-Sweatproof-Silicone/dp/B0722KVJM3/ref=sr_1_9?keywords=mp3+player+with+clip&qid=1568133768&s=gateway&sr=8-9 [ Reply | More
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General Topics 09.10.19, 04:43 PM Flag
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This is the name of it but anything cheap geared for someone who plays sports so therefore more rugged, and comes with its own clip. He can clip it to his shirt. AGPTEK G02 8GB Clip MP3 Player with FM Shuffle, Portable Music Player with Sweatproof Silicone Case for Sports, Blue [ Reply | More
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General Topics 09.10.19, 04:44 PM Flag
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NP DD has a Sony Walkman (it's an mp3 player now, granny moms!). It's been very easy to use and reliable and durable. Not a shuffle -- has a tiny screen for choosing what to play. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 09.10.19, 04:49 PM Flag
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yes the shuffle required him to listen to songs or skip forward or backward, there is no screen for going to pick music. I have to look at this new sony walkman! So funny it isn't a cassette tape player! [ Reply | More
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General Topics 09.10.19, 04:56 PM Flag
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This is the model DD has: Sony NWZE384 8 GB Walkman MP3 Video Player (Red). I shan't link to it on Amazon, because when I do I get accused of getting kick-backs from them. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 09.10.19, 04:58 PM Flag
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I would get some little travel games maybe? Like my DS enjoys travel tangram type games -- they're magnetic pieces so harder to lose. Books wouldn't entertain him. He can't read on his own yet, and he doesn't like flipping through picture books. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 09.10.19, 04:43 PM Flag
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Read to him? [ Reply | More
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General Topics 09.10.19, 04:46 PM Flag
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OR: I was under the impression the kindergartener was riding the school bus himself without a parent. If parent is with him, sure, read. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 09.10.19, 04:55 PM Flag
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OP: Yes, he is on the bus alone! [ Reply | More
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General Topics 09.10.19, 04:56 PM Flag
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This is a good time to get him interested in books! [ Reply | More
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General Topics 09.10.19, 04:48 PM Flag
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OR: He is very interested in books! He loves being read to, but he cannot read independently so giving him some picture books and telling him to just look at the pictures would only occupy him for 5 minutes. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 09.10.19, 04:56 PM Flag
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np Pearl River Mart has about half a dozen different small magnetic game sets -- parcheesi, a Battleship knock-off, etc. Saw them yesterday at the location on Broadway south of Canal. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 09.10.19, 04:53 PM Flag
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My DC had long commute like that for a few yrs,. the kids interact and joke around and entertain each other. what about something to color? or some gadgety games to occupy his hands? like a bunch of mini magnets? or fidget spinner type thing ? [ Reply | More
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General Topics 09.10.19, 04:49 PM Flag
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This. This is one of the ways kids make friends and get to know each other. Let him have the time to NOT be occupied with some gadget. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 09.11.19, 04:25 PM Flag
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Pick him up [ Reply | More
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General Topics 09.10.19, 04:49 PM Flag
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OP: Thanks I never thought of that... I am sure my job won't mind leaving at 2:30 pm every day... [ Reply | More
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General Topics 09.10.19, 04:57 PM Flag
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np I had same thing w one DC on the bus for an hour. DC was fine. the kids entertain each other. they joke around. they become friends. even though my DC was the last drop off, Dc was fine. hung out w bus driver etc! looked out the window. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 09.10.19, 05:10 PM Flag
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OK, so here's a radical reply. Why does he need to be "entertained" and "occupied"? The hour-long ride is a great time for him to interact with other kids on the bus, sit quietly and daydream, look out the window and chill, or just be bored. Any of those options is age-appropriate, and there's no reason to feel guilty. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 09.10.19, 05:03 PM Flag
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NP: I agree with your radical, yet common sense reply. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 09.10.19, 05:08 PM Flag
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+1 kids can be ok staring out the window. joking around w other kids etc [ Reply | More
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General Topics 09.10.19, 05:10 PM Flag
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OP: I actually agree with you, and wasn't planning on any electronics or anything, but I do think there is a balance between being bored for an hour + straight and having a small something to occupy you/maybe share with a friend or use as a conversation starter. He is the only kindergartener on the bus and the other kids all know eachother already. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 09.10.19, 05:19 PM Flag
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PP - IMO, you don't have to give him any prompts about how to use the time. He'll figure it out. Just let him be. Is this about assuaging your guilt? Or is it truly about him having a hard time on the bus? . If he complains, don't give him explicit instructions about how to use the time. Just say, "It's down time." [ Reply | More
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General Topics 09.10.19, 06:01 PM Flag
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OP: We have only had a couple of bus rides so far, but he has said it was really long and he was bored/no one sat with or talked to him. He wasn't upset per se but definitely made me a little concerned and I had also not anticipated such a long ride when choosing the school, so I do feel responsible for him spending nearly two hours a day on the bus. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 09.10.19, 06:10 PM Flag
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There is no other option for him being picked up and brought home by a caregiver? [ Reply | More
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General Topics 09.10.19, 05:20 PM Flag
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OP: It is two subways no matter how you do it and my caregiving is also watching my 18 month old. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 09.10.19, 05:31 PM Flag
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How about having her pick him up 2-3 days a week? Gives her something to do w the 18mo. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 09.10.19, 05:36 PM Flag
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ugh. replies like this are exhausting. Nobody WANTS to put their kindergartner on a school bus for an hour. Why does she OP need to justify the whole backstory just to get some suggestions for bus activities. Do you really think that if she could have a personal escort to entertain her child that she wouldnt have thought of that already? jfc [ Reply | More
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General Topics 09.10.19, 05:40 PM Flag
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+1 and I have been in OPs shoes too. and guess what, my DC had fun on the bus. even just listening to what the big kids talked about. of course they learn some non age appropriate things but isn't that what school life is all about? [ Reply | More
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General Topics 09.10.19, 05:51 PM Flag
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NP: I was just thinking this. Poor mom is I am sure doing the best she can with whatever her personal circumstances are. It seems clear that if she had other options she would use them... [ Reply | More
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General Topics 09.10.19, 05:51 PM Flag
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She has a nanny who could go pick up the kid a couple days a week. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 09.10.19, 06:14 PM Flag
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it sounds like a pretty bad commute to bring an 18 month along on both ways . think about nap time and bad weather. BTDT [ Reply | More
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General Topics 09.10.19, 06:22 PM Flag
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make sure he has snacks to eat so he doesn't get hungry [ Reply | More
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General Topics 09.10.19, 05:51 PM Flag
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my DC did this daily for two yrs and was fine w out snacks. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 09.10.19, 06:22 PM Flag
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in fact the bus didn't allow food [ Reply | More
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General Topics 09.10.19, 06:23 PM Flag
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Is he into Pokemon cards? My son got into that on the bus home in K and it helped him make friends too. They would trade them and such. Don't think they have any idea how to actually play the game. I even got him this Pokemon encyclopedia to look up each card. Of course, you might not want Pokemon cards to enter your life, and that's fine too! [ Reply | More
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General Topics 09.10.19, 06:01 PM Flag
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Actually this is really good. Pokémon. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 09.10.19, 06:17 PM Flag
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+1 [ Reply | More
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General Topics 09.10.19, 06:22 PM Flag
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OP: Thank you! [ Reply | More
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General Topics 09.10.19, 06:42 PM Flag
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Great idea, and I feel bad for not suggesting it. We have so many of the cards. They are great! [ Reply | More
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General Topics 09.10.19, 07:46 PM Flag
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Great idea [ Reply | More
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General Topics 09.11.19, 03:48 PM Flag
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I apologize if someone posted this already, but whatever happened to looking out the windows or talking to the other kids? Why does he have to have an object (that will probably get lost)? [ Reply | More
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General Topics 09.10.19, 07:20 PM Flag
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Audio book on the iPod shuffle. Magnetic tanagrams. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 09.10.19, 11:26 PM Flag
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I assume this is an sn school. An hour is too much for k but I understand there may have been no other option. We had many coming this far, the kids get used to it I guess. If not sn school you should rethink as this is really hard for dc. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 09.11.19, 02:42 PM Flag
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Magazines like Highlights - less likely to get carsick. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 09.11.19, 05:03 PM Flag
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