Kids learn skills through CityBus tours

LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - Kids in Purdue University's Pre-School Language Program received an up close look at public transportation Wednesday.

The kids were picked up outside their classroom and rode to CityBus headquarters where they toured the garage and rode through a bus wash.

City Bus Outreach Coordinator, Katy Dietrich, said not only do the kids have fun, but also the employees.

"The kids come over to the garage and they go in the garage and they see how the mechanics work. We have a couple mechanics who really get into it and exercise their fingers and they lift the bus with one finger, and that's by pushing on a button of course, but we don't tell the kids that ahead of time," said Dietrich.

Not only do kids learn the benefits of public transportation, the Kids' Tour can also help this special needs class develop personal skills as well.

Purdue Pre-School Language Program Co-Director, Hope Gulker, said the experience is important for the kids. Especially since in this class, several have hearing loss and one has autism.

"Even changing the words car wash to bus wash is what we call a word analysis experience. You know, you automatically say car wash, but now you have to slot the word. Those things, believe it or not, are critical in helping children learn to think and analyze and later learn to read," said Gulker.

Gulker said the pre-schoolers may be a year or two away from actually grasping the importance of public transportation, but it's never too early to prepare.

"It's a pretty abstract concept for them. So, we're building along the way. And if they have a firm foundation that's experiential that they really experience, then when those more abstract ideas come in they're going to be a lot more fit to deal with them and appreciate them," said Gulker.

Gulker said the tour also helped prepare the pre-schoolers in riding the school bus when they begin kindergarten.