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Life is about to hit full throttle once again, as parents and children alike wave goodbye to the holidays and prepare for a new school year.
While organising school shoes, stationary and lunch boxes, remember to also make time for good road safety practices. Parents play a crucial role in teaching and keeping their children safe on and around roads.
Here are some useful tips to ensure school drop offs and pick-ups are safe and stress free as possible.
Like everything in life, preparation is key to a smooth school drop off. That’s why it pays to plan as much as possible the night before. School clothes, school books, pencil cases, lunch boxes (full of healthy snacks!), and ensuring everything has a name label on it are just a few of the things you’ll thank yourself for organising ahead of time. How are they getting to school?
Driving kids to school is the only way some parents manage multiple drop offs and starting work on time, however it can be stressful.
From double parking to illegal u-turns, we’ve all witnessed the dangerous driving that occurs in school zones. The recipe for success is obeying the road rules, planning your journey and using common sense.
Working from home has allowed many parents the ability to walk their child to school or even to ride together which is a great way to start the day. It also helps to model safe behaviours so children learn from you and use them when they are old enough to travel to school solo. Remember that children are easily distracted and unpredictable. They are still developing the skills to judge speed and identify dangerous situations. Children are also small which makes them harder to see for drivers.
Starting high school is a big milestone and with it comes a new level of independence. One of the best ways to prepare your child for this transition is by teaching them how to travel to school on their own.
If they're walking, riding or catching public transport for the first time, it’s best to do a run through with them to make sure they know exactly where they’re going.
Make a point of pointing out landmarks along the way, as that’s the easiest way for kids to remember where they’re going. Write down bus numbers or train platforms so it’s easy to remember.
Over the summer break, make this a fun and practical activity. Plan a few trial runs together, then let kids practice with their mates. It’s a great confidence booster and helps them feel ready for the first day.
If your child will be catching the bus to school, here are some simple tips to make the ride smooth and stress-free:
Practicing these steps during the holidays will make the first day of high school less You can learn more about school bus travel from Transport NSW here.
Once you’ve got them safely on their way, take a load off. It’s natural to worry, especially for the littlest ones, but they’ve got staff and teachers looking out for them, and they’re off making new friends and having exciting adventures. So get ready to hear all about it at dinner time.
