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If your child has always travelled with you to school in the past, catching the bus can come across as quite daunting. It is important to remember that there are many benefits that come with sending your child on the bus. They can gain a small amount of independence, have the chance to make new friends and it gives both of you some freedom in your daily lives. It is important to remember that like everything else, your child needs to be prepared for this new step in their life. Here is some advice from this senior school in Cambridge on helping your child prepare for the school bus.

Plan ahead
This is the most important part of preparing your child for the bus, especially if they are feeling nervous. The key is to plan as far ahead as possible and keep your child in the loop along the way. You can do this by reading books or watching videos about getting the bus. You can also do a trial run to give them an idea of what the route will look like. Take this time to show them which one is their stop, how to put their hand out at the bus stop, and who their local bus driver will be. This is the best way to ease them into the new routine and remove the fear of the unknown.

Talk about bus rules
Remind your child that a bus is a public service which means anyone can use it. Teach them to be polite to the driver and respectful to the other passengers. Be assertive when you talk to them about how they behave on the bus. They should be reminded to wear their seat belt, not to stand up unnecessarily or leave any rubbish behind. Talking loudly or playing music could be disruptive to those around them, so ensure they are cautious at all times.

Be safe
At the end of the day, the most important thing is that your child gets to their destination safely. Remind your child not to talk to any strangers on the ride to school. If they feel uncomfortable at any point, tell them to tell the driver straight away. This is also an appropriate time to give them a phone if they don’t already have one, as it will give them direct access to you if they need to contact you for anything.