A great train game can spark a child's interest, but the real magic often happens away from the screen. Here are some simple, mostly free ways to enjoy trains together in the real world, from the living room floor to the station platform.
At home
Build a floor railroad
A wooden or plastic train set is one of the most loved toys there is, and it grows with your child. Toddlers push trains back and forth; preschoolers build loops and tunnels; older children design whole railroads. You don't need a big set to start. A handful of track pieces and a couple of cars is enough.
Ideas: Build a tunnel from a shoebox. Make a station from building blocks. Use masking tape on the floor to make a road crossing.
Make a cardboard train
Line up a few cardboard boxes, one for the engine and one for each car, and let your child decorate them. Number the cars, then practice putting them in order, just like the Expert Builder game. Big boxes can even become a train your child can sit in.
Play "switchyard"
Use toy cars or blocks as train cars. Draw or tape a few "tracks" on a sheet of paper or the floor, each with a number or color. Mix up the cars and let your child sort them onto the right tracks. Read A Night in the Switchyard first to set the scene.
Practice train whistles
Learn the real whistle signals from What the Whistle Says and turn them into a game. Long, long, short, long means "Here I come!" Two long means "Let's go!" One short means "Stop!" Use them for a game of red light, green light.
Read train books
Your local library will have plenty of train books, from picture books and board books to nonfiction books with photos of real trains. Librarians are usually happy to help you find more once they know your child loves trains.
Out and about
Watch real trains, safely
Watching trains go by is a free and exciting outing. Good places include:
- A public train station platform, standing well behind the safety line.
- A park or public viewing area with a clear view of the tracks from a safe distance.
- A safe spot near a road crossing, well back from the gates.
Count the cars, spot the different types (boxcars, tank cars, hoppers, flatcars), and listen for the whistle.
Take a train ride
Even a short ride on a commuter train, a light rail line or a subway can be a big adventure for a train-loving child. Many areas also have heritage railways or tourist railroads that run steam or vintage trains, often with special family events.
Visit a railroad museum
Railroad museums let children see real locomotives up close, and sometimes climb into the cab. Some famous engines, like the Big Boys, are on display in museums and parks around the country. A museum visit after reading Big Boy, the Biggest Engine can make the story come alive.
Look for model railroads
Model railroad clubs often hold open houses and shows where children can watch detailed miniature trains run through tiny towns and landscapes. Some libraries, museums and garden centers have permanent displays, especially around the winter holidays.
Bring the games into the real world
The three games in The Train Yarder each connect to something you can do off-screen:
- Build Your Track → build a real track on the floor, and add scenery like a barn, a church or a water tower made from blocks.
- Expert Builder → play switchyard with numbered cardboard cars.
- Freight Runner → make "cargo" from blocks or pebbles and deliver it around the house in a toy truck or train, from the "mine" to the "power plant."
The more connections children make between their games, their play and the real world, the richer their play becomes.