This time of year, our focus is on getting kids ready to go back to school. We give a lot of thought to buying just the right school supplies, reestablishing our school day routine, and packing a safe school lunches. We should also be teaching or reminding kids of tips for staying safe while traveling to and from school.
Remind your child that if they are walking to school, they should:
- Always walk on the sidewalk.
- Choose the sidewalk on the side of the street that allows them to face traffic.
- Of course, always look both ways before crossing.
- Don’t run out from between parked cars.
- If possible, have an adult walk them to school
If your child will be biking to school:
- Make sure your child has a helmet that fits well and that they wear the helmet
- Always stop before coming into an intersection
- Teach your kids the rules of the road for riding a bike
If your child rides the school bus:
- Make sure your child knows the proper way to get on and off of a school bus.
- Let them know that they need to be able to see the bus driver at all times if they need to cross in front of the bus. That crossing should be 10 feet ahead of the bus.
- Tell them to stand at least 6 feet away from the curb while waiting for the bus to arrive.
You may want to make a practice trip to the school with younger children who will be walking or biking to school. School will be here before we know it; the first day of school is next week for all of my grandchildren.
These tips courtesy of Mississippi State Extension Service.
