Now that they’re at a new school, your child may need to take a bus for the first time. It can be a great learning experience as they can develop their independence, confidence and the skills needed to find their way around. At first, like with any new change, they may be nervous and a little apprehensive but that will soon fade. Here are some tips that we’ve created for parents to prepare their children for this transition.
Safety First
A bus is a moving vehicle so your child will need to know about how to stay safe. Learning about the safety features can offer them comfort and make them seem less scary. They will need to keep the aisles clear as they can be easily tripped over, keep their hands, arms, and legs inside of the bus windows when open and keep their feet firmly on the ground. Also, when approaching their destination, they must wait for the bus to come to a complete stop due to turbulence on the road.
Be There to Accompany Them
On their first few days, it may be a good idea to ride the bus with your child. It will give them some reassurance as they get used to the route and help to make sure that they don’t get lost. As they become familiar with the route and develop confidence, you will be able to take a step back and rest easy knowing that they will be okay.
How to Read a Timetable
Timetable changes can happen from time to time, and buses can often run late. If things don’t go as planned, knowing how to read a bus timetable can help them to find alternative routes. Now, thanks to technology, there’s not much guess work involved as this can easily be worked out with apps and live tracking.