7 Safety Tips for School Kids
7 Safety Tips for School Kids
If your kids are returning to school this year, you will want to check out these important safety tips for school kids!
Our kids are going back to school soon and there is a lot to deal with, remember and understand. Traveling to and from school can be a minefield of safety issues, so start talking to your kids now about how to stay safe. Following some simple rules can help to make school journeys safer and ensure peace of mind for both children and parents.
1. A Safe Place to Wait
Traffic is at its busiest when kids are waiting for the school bus in the mornings. Kids are going to need to use a lot of common sense. Ideally there should be a safe place for children to wait which is far away from the street and heavy traffic.
Make sure there are no busy roads to cross to get there, or you will need to escort your kids to the bus stop each morning.
2. Wait for the Bus to Stop
Teach children not to move close to the school bus until it has come to a complete stop and the driver has signaled that it is safe to board. Check with regular drivers how they will indicate this to kids or how they will greet them for the youngest children.
3. Move Away from the Vehicle
When kids leave the school bus at the end of the school day, they should move away from the vehicle quickly. Tell them to take at least a dozen large strides to a point where the driver can clearly see them. This helps the driver and keeps the child safe as well.
4. Watch the Traffic
Instruct your child to keep a close eye on all traffic near to the school bus. The law has some special protection measures for school buses, but car drivers are only human, and they can and often do make mistakes.
Children should never step out from behind a bus or parked cars. Teach them essential road safety such as being able to see and be seen both ways up and down the street. They should also be aware of corners, the brow of a hill or a dip where cars may suddenly appear from.
Related: Grab this 88-page 2020-21 Printable Student Planner!
5. Walking to School
If your child walks to school, make sure he or she wears reflective material, such as a patch on their backpack or an armband. Prevent potential accidents by making them as visible as possible to all drivers.
6. Riding a Bike to School
If a child rides a bike to school, instruct them to walk the bike through intersections, observe all traffic light signals, and be wearing reflective material. They should also be with a friend if possible, so one can help to look out for the other.
7. Driving to School
If you take your child to school in your car, always have older children in a seat with a safety belt on. Put younger children in a booster seat with a safety belt on, and very small children in special safety seats. All kids should be seated in the back with only you, the driver, in the front.
When dropping them off outside the school, remind them again not to step out between parked or stopped cars. Also, kids should look out for corners or other places cars may suddenly appear from.
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