The Wheel on the Bus
A classic sing-along about a ride on the bus, with a different playful twist each time. Watch, sing along, and explore every The Wheel on the Bus song below.
All The Wheel on the Bus Songs
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Questions to Ask Your Child
- What sound does the horn make?
- What do the wipers do when it rains?
- Have you ever ridden on a bus?
- What's your favorite part of the bus?
- Can you make your arms go round and round like the wheels?
Movement Activity
- Sit down like you're on a bus.
- Roll your arms in circles for the wheels.
- Wave your arms side to side for the wipers.
- Beep like the horn!
History & Background
“The Wheels on the Bus” was written by Verna Hills (1898–1990), a composer from Boston. The earliest known published version appeared in the December 1937 issue of American Childhood magazine, under the title “The Bus” — with slightly different wording than the version most people know today.
The song is thought to have been influenced by the older British children's song “Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush,” which shares a similar repeating, verse-by-verse structure.
Since its first publication, it's become one of the most widely sung children's songs in the world, recorded and adapted by countless artists and performed in classrooms and car rides across many countries.
How the Song Goes
Each verse focuses on a different part of the bus or the people riding it — the wheels, the wipers, the horn, the doors — paired with a simple, repeated sound or motion for that part.
Every verse follows the same short, predictable pattern, which makes it easy for toddlers to join in even before they know all the words.
Because each verse introduces something new to point to or imitate, it keeps young children engaged from one part of the song to the next.
Learning Benefits
- Introduces vehicle and bus-related vocabulary
- Builds cause-and-effect understanding (the horn beeps, the doors open)
- Encourages imitation of sounds and motions
- Supports gross motor skills through hand and arm movements
- Reinforces rhythm and repetition through predictable verses
Frequently Asked Questions
What age is The Wheel on the Bus best suited for?
It works well from around 12 months for the rhythm and sounds alone, and becomes even more fun once toddlers can join in with the motions and imitate the sounds themselves.
Is this song good for car rides or circle time?
Yes — its short, repeating verses and simple motions make it a favorite for car rides, classroom circle time, and playtime in general.
Who wrote The Wheels on the Bus?
It's credited to Verna Hills, first published in 1937. Since then it's become such a widely sung and endlessly adapted children's classic that many different versions exist today.
What's the difference between the different Wheel on the Bus songs?
Every version uses the same basic sing-along structure — only the theme and characters change from one video to the next. Pick whichever theme your child loves most, or watch them all.