Seeing the world of a 3 year old.

When DS was at primary school we didn't live on a bus route so either had to walk or go by car. Our local primary school didn't have a swimming pool so we had a trip there, which involved a bus journey. Most of the children were so excited to go swimming but DS, who had been going since he was 3 months old and it was something we did weekly as a family, was beside himself at the prospect of going on the bus. I was helping the little ones to dry and get dressed and one of the girls, who had never been swimming before, took off her swimsuit and had left her knickers on. Luckily she was wearing trousers.

missdeke

My grandson now 10 still calls me bus nanny after I took him on a bus when he was 3, I didn't have a car at the time. Funny how times change, when I was a child it was so exciting to go anywhere in a car....

So true missdeke! Me too. Our family didn’t get a car until I was 10y old.... and then it was a 3 wheel Robin Reliant! So buses everywhere, even to Blackpool on our holidays, dad carrying the suitcases (no wheels on them either in those days).
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Too cute chrisssy!
Our almost 9y has a school swimming lesson today. He can swim as he’s had leisure centre lessons since he was 4y. But today walking to school he’s still loving going with his friends and the teacher ‘on a coach grandma’! Small pleasures when you’re young. Grandchildren help to remind you of that world again don’t they?
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My father and then 3 year old son used to have a great adventure nearly every week, they used to travel from our local train station to Birmingham International then get the Maglev train to the Airport to look at the planes from the viewing gallery. My son knew the name of every station on the way and could recognise different planes. My Dad always bought my son a can of fizzy pop at the airport even when told he couldn’t have pop, but 30 years later I forgive him!

I saw taking my boys on a bus as one of life's lessons!
Living in the country we had to use the car a lot and of course did lots of walking but I reckoned they needed some 'real world' training so we did 'projects' like going on a bus, on a train, buying your own food in a cafe, knowing what to get in a supermarket of you were hungry, how to use a payphone (and later a mobile phone) and so many other adventures that taught them independence and safety too
Now they are so confident and well travelled (one has been to over 50 countries, lived in 4 abroad and is not phased by anything).
Education takes many forms and learning how to manage yourself and the world is equal to basic curriculum subjects.
We have a cousin who is incredibly clever (Maths Professor) but can't get himself home on a train at the age of 33)
I always wanted to know that my children could take care of themselves and their friends, would know what to do if things went wrong and who to approach and how to get help
The simplest of adventures as small children have set them up for life

EllanVannin

It's so exciting at that age, how lovely that the young chap enjoyed himself so much. It's lovely to hear.

It was magic when I went on a train----years ago when it was steam and the clickety click of the wheels. Belle Vue zoo it was.

My mum still talks about going on a ride on an elephant at Belle Vue when she was young - she’s 89 now with dementia and it is one of her treasured memories! She used to get the tram there from Burnage which was another treat.

I used to take my GS to the local station. We’ d go on the bus, and take a picnic, he would be in his pushchair and we’d go on the platform. The ticket collectors got to know us and let us through. We would stay there about an hour watching trains come and go, and all the people rushing about. He loved it (and so did I)!

Sounds a lovely day and one you will never forget.

It was a lovely day and I am glad we were able to go on Wednesday was warm and sunny because the weather since then has been horrendous.
Tomorrow gs will be going on a train with his parents as we have an historical railway near by. The track is only about 600metres long but they get to go both ways twice. The railway is having its grand reopening tomorrow after Covid but unfortunately we won’t be able to go as we are heading to South Devon for a weeks holiday ( I am hoping for better weather).

How times have changed - it was exciting for our generation to travel in a car, as we mostly had to use the bus, whereas the reverse is now true for our children and grandchildren. The first time I took my 3 year old son on the bus, he was besides himself with excitement and he insisted that we had to go upstairs and sit on the front seats. When we got to town and the bus station (which was the terminus) he refused point blank to get off! Each time I unfurled his little chubby fingers from the chrome bar at the front of the bus, he simply grabbed hold if it with his other hand ? I finally managed to get him off when I explained that we would get on the bus again for the journey home!

Sweet! I remember being about 6 and going to see my grandparents in London. It was a real treat to go into the city on a bus with my granddad.

We took our small grandson on a train - the first time he had been on one - and he was excited beyond measure at everything. DH pointed out various railway items along the way, and GS each time turned to me and said 'Look Rosie - that's a signal' - clearly under the impression that Nanny was deaf or daft. The whole carriage was amused, and a delightful hour was had by all; so simple, but a very happy memory from his childhood.

I used to take my youngest GCs on the bus then on the Metro to go to soft play in town. They loved the bus and ringing the bell. Once at the Metro it was down the lift the hop on. It wasn’t until they were about 3 1/2 that I braved the escalators both up and down. They loved it all and it prompted some interesting discussions. At the same time it was an opportunity to teach them how to behave on public transport. I didn’t get as far as taking them upstairs on the bus as their safety was on my mind. Such lovely times with little ones.

What a lovely thing to do. A really good example of getting inside the head of a child and going with it. Little cost, but it’s the precious gift of time spent together doing something that he wanted to do.

Some years ago when we lived in London we planned a day for the DGCs with as many forms of transport as possible. We did bus, train, water bus, Docklands Light Railway, tube and cable car. We all loved it!

What nice stories, thank you for brightening my morning!

Just on the news the other day was a boy from Toronto that had completed the whole route of the Toronto transit system, including every bus, subway and train route. I think they said over 6000km total. He loved busses from the age of 3 and wanted to check every route. His dad has been on his journey with him. They completed all the system before his 13th birthday, when he would have to start paying for tickets. A fun story.

I accompanied a grandma and grandson on the train to the nearest town (40 mins max) when he was just 3 years old. He was enthralled by the train, we had a picnic and a lovely day browsing, and he spent the entire return journey marvelling at the full moon in the sky 'coming with us'. A magical day I'll never forget.

At the ripe old age of 8 No 1 son was asked what he would like to do for his birthday. 'Can we go on a train?' To our shame, we had never done this. It was car everywhere and, for some unknown reason, we had never thought about it. We went the whole hog by taking him to Edinburgh and chose a trip over the Forth Bridge. He was ecstatic and we too were very happy. Still gets mentioned to this day over 40 years on.

Sounds a lovely day out and I’m sure you will be repeating it. My mum used to take my son all over the place on the bus or on coach trips, they both loved it.

We’ve just been to the coast with our 2small GDs. open top buses (cold!), small steam trains, pirate ships (!), land trains, model villages. We had a fabulous time and they were thrilled by it all.

My sil and I went in a bus yesterday whist having a few hours to kill whilst waiting for an appointment at the hospital.. we had a great time! We are both bug kids at heart...?

I often used to take my children on the bus, but one day I had gone out by myself. The man sitting next to me looked rather surprised when I suddenly exclaimed, “Oh, look! There’s a fire engine!”

Video message from 5 year old grandson in Australia.
(Jumps up and down in excitement) -

'Look what I've made, Nana!
A marble wun. Made out of toilet paper wolls!'

DGS2 (3) loves buses too. Last bus trip with him just before he was 3 was when we were snowed in and I was minding him - February - and the car was unable to move as our street was impassable. Intermittent buses were running so I got the bus (slithering about) to his house and he was so excited as the snow was really deep. Got on bus and it kept sliding into bus stops and getting stuck! He was ecstatic, I was terrified! After a day of snowballs, snowcats and Mummy's old sledge we got the bus home to Mummy. Same situation. We even watched cars and vans sliding round and round on his street which is hilly. He loved it! Was never so glad to get home!

Pap67

My sil and I went in a bus yesterday whist having a few hours to kill whilst waiting for an appointment at the hospital.. we had a great time! We are both bug kids at heart...?

i can see you now, jostling to get on the bus with your nets on bamboo sticks and collecting jam-jars....