Taking the School Bus

How to prepare your child for the school bus

Most mishaps take place outside the bus, so here are some precautions you care take:

• Don’t let your child arrive at the stop too early. They may be tempted to wander or get into mischief.
• Make sure they know to do if they miss the bus: come back home; or if at school, report to a teacher – and never, never accept a ride from a stranger.
• If the stop is a long way from home, plan and discuss with your children where they can go in an emergency.
• If it is dark on the way to or from the bus, make your children visible. Use retro-reflective tape on their clothing and avoid dark colours.
• Make sure they wait well away from the roadway, and stay well back until the bus comes to a full stop and the doors open.
• Explain they must walk at least three metres away when crossing in front of the bus so that the driver can see them. Children must make eye contact with the driver before they cross.
• Forbid running, pushing and horseplay!
• Tell your children to come straight home from the bus stop without taking any detours.