September is slowly but surely approaching and you know what that means: back to school! September brings on a lot of emotions. For kids, mixed reviews of the first day can range from excitement to a full-blown meltdown. For parents, nostalgia is bound to set in of the good ol’ times where you child is by your side every waking hour of the day. But as we all know, kids grow up — and they grow up fast. One thing they might be old enough to tackle now is walking to school or the bus stop without you!
As school time approaches, it’s important that your child knows some important safety lessons. To get the ball rolling, we’ve listed some basic prep tips to teach your kids how to safely walk to and from school or the bus stop.
1. Start early. Safely getting to and from school is best to learn well before their first day. For them to properly gauge what they are expected to do (and for your own reassurance), start practising a few weeks before Day 1.
2. Buddy up. Finding a close neighbour, friend, or sibling to walk with every day will reassure both you and your child. If there happens to be multiple kids in your neighbourhood walking to school, organize a walking group where each parent can take turns (and of course bring the dogs!).
3. Plan out the route. Before the first day, make sure you show your child exactly what route they should be taking, keeping in mind where the crosswalks are and any spots where there may not be a sidewalk.
4. Stay cautious. Inform your child of the importance of pedestrian safety. Make sure they know how to safely cross the street, especially if there won’t be a cross guard at that specific intersection.
5. Point out markers. While you practice walking your route, point out distinct houses, parks, or even an odd lawn gnome that they can look for to keep them on the right path.
6. Say no to music. Earphones can be very distracting and are best kept inside their backpacks. Not only can music distract them from their route, it could also interfere with their crosswalk safety. If your child isn’t budging with this one, compromise by deciding that only one earphone is allowed when walking.
7. Be visible. Choosing a brightly coloured backpack or a flashy coat is a great way to assure your child is seen by drivers. Even a couple pieces of reflective tape on their backpacks helps!
8. Traffic sign 101. Go over the most common traffic signs found in your neighbourhood and teach them what they mean. They will have a better idea of what they are and you will be comforted that they know their stuff!
How are you preparing your kids to walk to school solo? Let us know in the comments below!