Adapting to the School Bus: 4 Tips for You and Your Child
For some children, riding the school bus can be a new and
exciting next step, but for others, it may cause anxiousness and worrying. Even
if your child feels ready for the bus, there may be occasions where your child
feels uncomfortable and a bit scared once the time actually comes. Here are
some tips that can help your child adapt to the school bus and overcome their
fears.
Review the Rules
Before sending your child off on the school bus for the
first time, it’s important to go over all of the safety procedures and typical
rules when in a moving vehicle. This will help your child be more aware of what
will be expected of them while on the bus. Children tend to respond well to
routines so having an idea of the general routine and bus procedures might help
them feel more confident.
Find a Bus Buddy
Your child could be particularly anxious about the bus
simply because they don’t know anyone that is going to be on it. Something that
could help them feel more confident is having a bus buddy. Encourage your child
to become friends with his or her peers who ride the same bus. It’s also a good
idea to have more than one bus buddy just in case one friend is not at school
one day. This will allow your child to become more comfortable with riding the
bus if they have someone that they enjoy sitting with or near.
Meet the Bus Driver
Whether your school has a formal meeting for new students
riding the bus or not, it is a good idea for both you and your child to meet
the bus driver. This will help everyone get to know each other better. It could
also make your child feel more comfortable speaking up on the bus if they have
any uncertain questions. It’s important that your child feels like he or she
can talk to an adult if needed.
Provide Entertainment
If your child is shy or even has trouble sitting still for
longer periods of time, a book, small toy or a game might be a good idea. Make
sure you review the policy on what toys are allowed on the bus and in school.
This can also spark conversation between your child and their bus buddy. You’ll
want to write your child’s name on any toys they bring with them because it is
easy for things to get lost on the bus or in school.
Daycare, Preschool, Childcare Center in Oswego County and
Syracuse NY Area
Little Lukes is a leading Syracuse and Oswego County
education provider with five inclusion preschool locations. The early education
program includes credentialed and caring staff that specializes in
comprehensive infant, toddler and pre-kindergarten development. Additional
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For information about Little Lukes, please contact us at
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