OT Series: Sensory Processing Disorders and Going Out – How to Manage – How to Strategize

What You Can Do: Using Public Transportation

Judy Benz Duncan, Occupational Therapist

What You Can Do: Using Public Transportation

Many children do not have much experience when it comes to riding a bus (other than possibly a school bus or van), and when on vacation or traveling, the family may find they need to use a city bus, a commercial bus, or a train to get to the travel destination or to travel between places. Sometimes, even riding a train at a theme park is overwhelming to a child!

Becoming comfortable with using public transportation, either on a regular daily basis, or for traveling, is found through repeated exposure and practice.

Taking the time to practice bus and/or train riding skills well before the actual trip will tremendously help your child manage these new experiences, new sites, noisy environments, busy stations and stops filled with people moving in all directions.

For children with sensory processing issues, giving repeated exposure and varied practice experiences will help your child manage and tolerate the situation easier, and will help the whole family’s stress and anxiety levels.

Beginning with, and continuing with introducing changes as a child grows will help them learn to adjust to changes and differences in their day-to-day life. This strategy is a great idea to incorporate into your daily life – well before you ever notice sensory disturbances or sensory meltdowns – any and all children can benefit from the variety and stimulation of change.

Try any and all of the following ideas and suggestions to help your child develop their tolerance and ability to participate with the family in regular daily activities, events, and travel.

Tell your child where you are going and what they will be doing or seeing along the way
Drive by the bus stop or train station, talking about going for a ride, letting them see other people and kids getting on and off the bus; talk about the kind of seats that will be there, the driver, what they might hear. Do several drive-by’s from different directions if possible; Stop and park in the lot for a couple minutes to 10-15 minutes to “just watch.”
Practice walking up to the bus stop and/or bus – train station. Let them know you are “just looking” and ask them to help you “search and find” specific items from your adventure list – ask them to find ticket counter, a man with a hat, a suitcase, door to a bus, count the wheels on the bus, count the train windows in one train car, a person wearing a coat, an umbrella, look for where the luggage is loaded on, and so forth – have your list ready, and make a different list each time you go!
Try to visit the bus or train stations at the least busy times.
Plan your practice trips so that you do not have to hurry.
Have a seat on a bench at the stop or station and just watch the people come and go, get on and off – make up some stories about where you think they’ve been or where they are going, and what do you think they may see on their trip. See if your child can participate in making up the stories with you!
Ask the station manager or driver if you can let your child step up into the bus or train car to see how it feels to get on and get off – let them know you are getting your child ready to use the bus / train.

Check out some kid-friendly travel books, and books about riding a bus or train
Look through magazines to cut out pictures of buses, trains, planes, whatever you can find and let your child make a collage with them
Take a photo of your child with their bus ticket, at the bus or train stop, sitting in their seat, at the start of your adventure, and throughout the trip to make a little scrapbook page later on
Take along a small laminated map showing main places you may be passing on your trip. Let your child check them off as you go so they can see where they are, what to expect, and see an end-point to the trip. Visual cues and clear points of reference will help
Try to give your child a purpose for the bus or train trip: “We are going to visit grandma,” or “we are going to the zoo” or “we are going to some fun time at the beach,” or “we are going see mountains and trees,” – let them know what’s waiting for them at the end of the trip.
For short in-town bus, subway / train rides, give them clear cues and directions of where they are going, why they are going, what they will see along the way, and so on.
Use a portable timer or the timer on your phone if needed – let your child know you are going to be on this bus or train for so many minutes before we can get off, or til the next stop, or til we can get up to use the bathroom, etc. Give good clear cues to help your child manage their reactions and not feeling like “it’s never going to end!”

If they complain about having to “sit too long” and fidget around in their seat as they feel the “need to move,” be prepared with seated stretch and exercises that both of you can do together. Reach and stretch with arms toward toes. Bring knees up to chest and then back to floor. Sit up straight in seat and arch your back, bringing head back to touch the head rest, then relax back into seat. Let them remove their shoes and socks (if they’d like) to wiggle toes and do some ankle rolls and curls – if you are sitting for a long time on your travels, there is nothing wrong with taking your shoes/socks off. Let them take their stuffed animal friend along for the trip
Let them take a fidget toy along in their pocket
Pack a variety of travel games and activities that they can do while seated
Provide some kid shows and movies on a tablet or on your phone
Bring a Sensory Travel Box! (see blog on TheraPlay4Kids.com for this)
Make them as comfortable as possible for the trip – dress in clothes that do not irritate, comfy socks and shoes; providing a hat and sunglasses or headphones if they will wear them.
Bring along some water and snacks in case they are needed

Enjoy! It’s all about learning and change – just go with flow, and keep calm! You are doing a great job in helping to support your child’s needs.

Please Return to Main Series Page to Continue on to Other Topics:

Car Trips / Traveling to an Activity

Walking Trips and Activities

Noisy, Crowded, Busy, Events and Places

Shopping Trips

Eating Out

Movies

Parks and Pools

Attending a Party or Family Event

Thank you for your support of TheraPlay4Kids.com

OT Series: Sensory Processing Disorders and Going Out – How to Manage – How to Strategize

What You Can Do: Using Public Transportation

What You Can Do: Using Public Transportation

Becoming comfortable with using public transportation, either on a regular daily basis, or for traveling, is found through repeated exposure and practice.

Taking the time to practice bus and/or train riding skills well before the actual trip will tremendously help your child manage these new experiences, new sites, noisy environments, busy stations and stops filled with people moving in all directions.

For children with sensory processing issues, giving repeated exposure and varied practice experiences will help your child manage and tolerate the situation easier, and will help the whole family’s stress and anxiety levels.

Try any and all of the following ideas and suggestions to help your child develop their tolerance and ability to participate with the family in regular daily activities, events, and travel.

Tell your child where you are going and what they will be doing or seeing along the way

Try to visit the bus or train stations at the least busy times.

Plan your practice trips so that you do not have to hurry.

Ask the station manager or driver if you can let your child step up into the bus or train car to see how it feels to get on and get off – let them know you are getting your child ready to use the bus / train.

Check out some kid-friendly travel books, and books about riding a bus or train

Look through magazines to cut out pictures of buses, trains, planes, whatever you can find and let your child make a collage with them

Take a photo of your child with their bus ticket, at the bus or train stop, sitting in their seat, at the start of your adventure, and throughout the trip to make a little scrapbook page later on

Take along a small laminated map showing main places you may be passing on your trip. Let your child check them off as you go so they can see where they are, what to expect, and see an end-point to the trip. Visual cues and clear points of reference will help

Try to give your child a purpose for the bus or train trip: “We are going to visit grandma,” or “we are going to the zoo” or “we are going to some fun time at the beach,” or “we are going see mountains and trees,” – let them know what’s waiting for them at the end of the trip.

For short in-town bus, subway / train rides, give them clear cues and directions of where they are going, why they are going, what they will see along the way, and so on.

Let them take a fidget toy along in their pocket

Pack a variety of travel games and activities that they can do while seated

Provide some kid shows and movies on a tablet or on your phone

Bring a Sensory Travel Box! (see blog on TheraPlay4Kids.com for this)

Make them as comfortable as possible for the trip – dress in clothes that do not irritate, comfy socks and shoes; providing a hat and sunglasses or headphones if they will wear them.

Bring along some water and snacks in case they are needed

Enjoy! It’s all about learning and change – just go with flow, and keep calm! You are doing a great job in helping to support your child’s needs.

Please Return to Main Series Page to Continue on to Other Topics:

Car Trips / Traveling to an Activity

Walking Trips and Activities

Noisy, Crowded, Busy, Events and Places

Shopping Trips

Eating Out

Movies

Parks and Pools

Attending a Party or Family Event

Thank you for your support of TheraPlay4Kids.com

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