If your child is going to start catching the school bus soon, you may find that they are feeling quite nervous.
As your child grows up, they will face both big and small milestones which at the time might feel like a big deal but something they will get used to and make part of their everyday life.
If you know your child gets anxious quite easily and they struggle with change, it may be a good idea for you to help them prepare for the school bus so it doesn’t feel so scary the first time they do it by themselves.
Here are some top tips on how to get started.
Practice in advance.
Catching any form of public transport can be scary as there are a whole bunch of strangers around as well as responsibility falling on one’s shoulders.
Practicing with your child may give them the confidence they need so they aren’t stressing on the actual day.
You can show them how to stick their hand out as the bus approaches and when to press the button to alert the driver of their stop. Introduce them to the driver when they first get on too.
These all may seem simple right now but to a child who has never experienced it before, it can make a world of a difference.
Chat with any other parents to see if their children are also taking a similar route to school.
If your child has someone to go through these first-time motions with, they may feel more secure within themselves knowing they are not alone.
Ensure your child stays safe.
Buses are full of strangers so make sure they don’t start chatting to people they don’t know.
Teach them to wear their belt the entire time the bus is moving and to only stand up once the bus has stopped.
Go over the rules until your child knows them by heart to know that they will be safe once they start travelling alone.
Disclosure: this is a collaborative post