6 Tips To Help Your Kids Feel Confident Riding the School Bus
Many kiddos, especially young first-time bus riders, get anxious riding the bus during the first few weeks of the school year, which is pretty understandable. After all, they’re getting on board a big vehicle full of a bunch of people they might not know. However, there are a few steps you can take to help your kids feel more relaxed stepping onto the big yellow bus this upcoming school year!
Talk to them about school bus safety rules before their first day
It’s likely that your kiddo will get a rundown of a bunch of school bus rules within their first week, which may intimidate them. Knowing the basics of school bus safety before their first bus ride will put them at ease because 1. They’ll know what to do and how to act when they get on the school bus, and 2. The school bus rules lesson they’ll likely get will feel more like a review and less like they need to learn a bunch of new information. You can find a simple collection of school bus safety rules for kids here!
Enjoy school bus themed activities with them
There are plenty of resources out there (such as this book, or this video) that do a great job of explaining in a kid-friendly way what it’s like riding the school bus. Also, there are so many other ways to introduce kids to school buses in a positive way that aren’t explicitly about riding the school bus. You could get them school bus toys or games, or introduce them to the Magic School Bus TV series or books… anything that will get them excited to ride the school bus themselves!
Ask your child if they have any concerns about riding the bus
Sometimes, kids can be reluctant to ride the school bus due to some misconceptions they’ve come up with. Whether your child seems ready to ride the school bus or not, ask them if they have any fears. Most children who fear the bus worry about not knowing when to get off. If your child worries about not knowing when to get off at school, simply say “the school building is really big, so you can’t miss it, and you’ll know when you’re at school when everybody stands up and gets off all at once” and if they worry about not knowing when to get off the bus to go home, you can say “the bus driver is your friend and will make sure that you get off at the right stop.” In the majority of situations, you’ll be able to explain to your kid that riding the school bus is nothing to fear!
Meet your bus driver
Many school districts provide a chance for young kids to tour a school bus meet their bus drivers. If you missed this opportunity or if your district didn’t offer it, encourage your kiddo to say “hi” to their bus driver on the first day of school. Once they see that their driver is friendly and enthusiastic to meet them, they’ll likely be more at ease knowing they’re in good hands!
Find a bus buddy
Are there any other children in your neighborhood that your kiddo is acquainted with? Does your kid have a sibling, other relative, or family friend that will ride the same bus as your child? If so, encourage them to stick together on the bus! Most first-time bus riders will feel more relaxed when they have a partner to ride and share the experience with.
Wait with them at the bus stop
If your child is young, especially under 8 years old, you should wait at the bus stop with them for safety purposes. Waiting with them also has the added benefit of making your kiddo feel supported and more confident. They’ll be so much less anxious when you’re there to confirm when their school bus arrives to pick them up and to see them off to school with a smile!
At the end of the day, what happens once your kid gets on the bus is out of your control, but that’s no reason for your child, or YOU, to worry! Our bus driver teammates are committed to keeping all of our students safe and in school, and keeping them comfortable on the way there! We’re looking forward to seeing all the smiling faces next school year!
