What can I use if I do not have picture cards?

Draw a quick bus on one side of a paper and a simple done mark on the other. Keep the same symbols in the same places each round.

Can this replace practicing near a real bus?

No. Use this as calm home practice for the wait, walk, sit, and reset sequence, then keep real bus exposure separate and gradual.

Back to library

Toddler standing on a floor spot beside a bus picture card while a grown-up points toward a nearby chair.

Skill builderAutism supportPause Before ActionIndoor

Bus Stop Seat.

Use the floor spot and chair only. Say "wait," count to 1, say "bus," help your child sit, show "all done," and end the practice.

A quiet pretend bus routine where your child waits on a floor spot, moves to a chair on cue, and resets for another turn.

Skill builderAutism supportPause Before ActionIndoor

Bus Stop Seat.

A quiet pretend bus routine where your child waits on a floor spot, moves to a chair on cue, and resets for another turn.

Play time

5+ min

Age

2-3 years

Energy

Low

Mess

Low

Effort

Low

Where

Indoor

Start here

The recipe.

Low parent effort

4 things

What you need

1 paper, foam, or tape floor spot
1 child-sized chair or steady household chair
1 simple bus picture card or bus icon
1 simple done card or done side on the same card

5 min minimum

Setup

Then start the loop

Step 01

On the floor in a calm room, place 1 bus-stop spot with enough clear space for both of your child's feet.

Step 02

On the floor a few calm walking steps from the spot, place 1 steady chair facing the stop. Put the bus picture card on or beside the stop and the done card on or beside the chair.

Step 03

Beside the stop, stand or kneel where you can point to the spot, show the short countdown, and walk with your child to the chair if needed.

"Feet on the stop."

The loop

How play unfolds.

Three-panel sequence showing a toddler waiting at a pretend bus stop, walking to the chair on cue, and returning to reset.

1
Start with your child on the bus-stop spot and the bus picture card visible. Say "wait" and show a short finger countdown.
2
Say "bus is here," then let your child walk to the chair and sit.
3
Show the done card, then help your child return to the stop.
4
Repeat for up to 3 calm wait-and-sit turns, or stop after 1 clean sit if that is the better finish.

01
Start with your child on the bus-stop spot and the bus picture card visible. Say "wait" and show a short finger countdown.
02
Say "bus is here," then let your child walk to the chair and sit.
03
Show the done card, then help your child return to the stop.
04
Repeat for up to 3 calm wait-and-sit turns, or stop after 1 clean sit if that is the better finish.

Safety Check

Use a stable chair and keep the walking lane clear every round.
Stop if the chair slides, tips, or turns into climbing.
Choose another activity if the pretend bus theme, short wait, or seat transition keeps triggering bolting or strong distress.

Supporting the play

What to say in the moment

Match what you say to what you see.

Prompt ladder

Level 1 (Start)

"Wait at the stop."

Level 2 (Keep going)

"Bus is here. Find your seat."

Level 3 (Stretch)

"Show me calm feet while you wait."

Level 4 (Extend)

"Last bus ride, then all done."

If your child seems...

What you'd see

Focused

What to do

Say

"You know it. Wait, then seat."

Add

After the child sits, ask, "Where is your seat?"

Extend

Fade 1 gesture and let your child walk back to the stop with less help.

Make it easier

Younger end

-Hold the bus picture card at the wait spot so the child only has to watch, wait, and walk.
-Turn the chair slightly toward the spot so the seat is easier to line up with.
-Let the child keep 1 hand on the chair back before sitting if turning into the seat is the hard part.

Make it harder

Older end

+Fade the finger countdown and use only the spoken cue once the routine looks smooth.
+Pause for 1 quiet beat after "1" before saying "bus is here."
+Let the child return to the stop and reset the cards with only a point from you.

If it's not working

If you see

If child ignores it

Stand on the spot with your child, do 1 very short wait-and-sit round together, and praise the seated finish.

If you see

If child misuses it

If your child rushes early or climbs into the chair before the cue, guide them back to the spot, shorten the countdown to 1, and restart the same simple routine.

If you see

If child gets frustrated

Let your child hold a familiar comfort item or skip the picture cards for 1 round, get 1 quick wait-and-sit success, and stop there.

Skill spotlight

Wait For The Go Cue

Waiting for the bus cue before sitting

This helps a child hold back 1 body action until a go cue and move through a short everyday transition with less rushing.

•The floor spot gives waiting a visible job: stay here until the cue.
•The same short route repeats every turn, so the next step stays easy to predict.
•The chair gives the child a clear finish point before the reset back to the stop.

Real-world transfer