Keeping our kiddos safe this school year!

Going back to school is an exciting time for everyone! It also has to be a time for ALL people on the road to be more cautious and alert. By teaching children back to school rules and tips regarding their safety, they enter this exciting time with the knowledge and skills they need to stay safe while seeing their friends, meeting new ones and getting through another grade level.

Regardless how your child or children get to school, I think it is very important to discuss with them rules of safety for school EVERY year. Today I am going to share with you a few rules that I think are very important.

I will start with “walking to school”….

First, as parents we need to make sure our children have the sufficient skills to walk to school. As a mother of a child who likes to walk sometimes, I have walked with her to make sure that she knows the “right” path. I explain to her that she doesn’t need to take another path; she needs to take the path that we practice every day because if I need to find her I can. I guarantee that the path that she is taking is safe and secure with crossing guards to help. I only let her walk to school with a group of friends, never by herself.

If you are a bus rider, never step off the curb until the bus comes to a complete stop. Do not get up from your seat, please stay seated while the bus driver is driving. Although, drivers are supposed to stop for buses, make sure you look before you cross the street and always cross the street in front of the bus driver.

If you ride your bike, please make sure you wear a helmet. Do not listen to music with ANY device, please pay attention to the traffic. Learn and follow hand signals. Always stop for stop signs and follow the rules of traffic lights. Lastly, ride your bike on the right hand wide of the road traveling in the same direction as the traffic.

If you drive your children to school or they carpool make sure that they have their seatbelts fastened at all times. Make sure they exit the car nearest the curb. Lastly, make sure your children are safe on the sidewalk before pulling off.

Following these safety tips will ensure your children are safe and make this school year more AWESOME than it is going to be.

A few other safety tips that I can offer you are…making sure your children know about stranger danger and talk to your children about bullying and being bullied.

Have an AMAZING school year!