AD| Helping Your Child Prepare for the School Bus

If your child is soon to take the bus alone for the first time it can be a bit of an unnerving prospect for the both of you. You will want to prepare your child so they can ride the bus safely and with confidence, giving you peace of mind as they take this small step towards independence. Below is some advice shared by an independent school in London, to help you and your child seamlessly navigate this transition. 

Safety First 

As a parent your main concern will be for your child’s wellbeing, so it is crucial to discuss safety with them before they ride the bus solo. They will need to be briefed on the basics such as staying seated whilst the bus is moving or holding onto the handrail if there are no seats available for them to sit on. You must also remind them that they shouldn’t talk to strangers or get off the bus before their stop for any reason other than the driver instructing them to do so. It might be a good idea to introduce your child to the bus driver who operates the route prior to them travelling alone, so that they will feel comfortable having a friendly face present and will be empowered to speak up if they feel unsafe for any reason. 

Practice Makes Perfect 

Make sure your child is familiar with riding the bus before they attempt to do it by themselves. Take them out on a few practice runs and show them the ropes, teaching them how to flag down the bus, where to get off and when to press the bell. Fear of the unknown will be the driving force behind their initial worries, but as soon as riding the bus becomes comfortable and familiar, their nerves will melt away and they’ll be prepared to tackle the journey single handedly. 

Talk About Their Concerns 

By hearing their worries and offering solutions you’ll be able to give your child the peace of mind they need. They may be worried about missing the bus and being late for school, in which case you can come up with strategies to prevent this from happening, such as dropping them off at the bus stop yourself or arranging that they catch an earlier bus that will get them there in plenty of time. Many of your child’s worries can be easily offset if you take the time to listen and come up with solutions, which will put their mind at rest for when the day arrives.