Down by the Station: questions to ask and activities to try
Puff-puff, toot-toot, off we go! Down by the Station is a bouncy, peep-through version of the favourite rhyme, full of trains, buses and taxis.
What age is it for? Down by the Station is best from birth to age 4. Good for: Singing a favourite rhyme and spotting vehicles.
Down by the Station (Jess Stockham)
- Age
- 0-4
- Best for
- Singing a favourite rhyme and spotting vehicles
Sing it rather than read it, and add actions for each vehicle. Let your child poke a finger through the holes and guess what's coming next.
What it helps with
- Singing and joining in
- Vehicle names and sounds
- Rhythm and repetition, for early language
- Peep-through guessing games
Comprehension and discussion questions
Pick two or three, not all of them. “I don’t know” is a fine answer, and you can always come back to it another day.
- “What did you see down by the station?”
- “What sound does a train make? A bus?”
- “Who drives the train?”
- “Which vehicle would you like to ride in?”
- “Where would you go?”
- “Can you make up a new verse?”
5-minute activities to try together
Train game
Line up chairs as a train. Take turns being the driver and sing the rhyme as you go.
Vehicle spotting
On your next trip out, spot as many vehicles as you can and sing a verse for each.
Free printables: Down by the Station worksheet and activity pack
This book’s one-page worksheet with the questions and activities above, plus our activity pack: printable scenario cards, three 5-minute activities and a “What could I try?” page for practising everyday skills together. Enter your email and download them straight away.
Free. We’ll only email you if you tick the box.
If your child liked this, try
Dig Dig Digging (Margaret Mayo and Alex Ayliffe)
- Best for
- Machine-mad little ones, and joining in with sounds
- Age
- 1-5
Driving My Tractor (Jan Dobbins and David Sim)
- Best for
- Counting, farm animals and a song to join in with
- Age
- 1-5
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? (Bill Martin Jr. and Eric Carle)
- Best for
- Colours, animals and joining in with repeated words
- Age
- 0-4
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By the Growing Wise team · Last reviewed: 10 October 2026
Growing Wise offers educational ideas for parents and carers. It is not a substitute for professional medical, developmental or mental-health advice. As an Amazon Associate, Growing Wise earns from qualifying purchases.