As the carefree days of summer end and the excitement of a new school year begins to build, children eagerly anticipate returning to classrooms, reconnecting with friends, and embarking on new learning adventures. Amidst this enthusiasm, it's crucial for parents and students to be mindful of these important general and safety considerations.
First-day preparations
- Fill backpacks ahead of time. Several days before school starts, verify you’ve bought everything on the school supply list. When you’re finished reviewing, start packing.
- Lay out clothes. This seems like a "no-brainer," especially on the first day of school, when there are probably new outfits. The challenge is keeping this part of your routine as the school year progresses.
- Identify a departure time. Inevitably, the morning routine will go differently than planned, but do your best to be prepared by deciding the night before when you'll be leaving. Remember to build in a five-to-seven-minute cushion for extra traffic or the missing gym shoe.
- Set several alarms. This will help ensure that you don’t arrive late on the first day of school.
Driving safety
- Avoid curbside drop-off/pick-up. If you're dropping off or picking up your kids curbside, don't do it where they must cross the street alone. Darting out between cars can put them in a dangerous situation. Use this option only if your school has a crossing guard or flashing crossing lights.
- Don't rely solely on a backup camera. The primary purpose of backup cameras is to prevent back-over accidents of young children who aren’t otherwise visible to drivers. They don’t always help you see pedestrians or other cars. Continually move your head to scan all directions.
- Allow three feet. Safe-passing laws require a motor vehicle to allow at least three feet of clearance when passing a bicyclist.
School parking lot safety
- Pick a parking spot that you can pull through. This helps avoid backing and turning hazards. If you must park in a parking stall, try to arrive early when there's less traffic and fewer people. Back into the spot in the morning so when it's busier later, you’ll have better visibility when forward pulling out.
- Be sure to travel in the direction designated in the parking lot. If you're going the wrong way, drivers backing up may not see you because they might not look in that direction.
- Arrive a few minutes later. If you’re picking up kids, arrive 5-10 minutes after dismissal. This can reduce your chance of being in an accident by as much as 50 percent! Give it a try! You'll be amazed at how much less congestion there is at school.
School bus safety
- Familiarize yourself with the bus route and schedule. Parents and children should know the bus number and pick-up/drop-off locations.
- Accompany younger children to the bus stop. An adult or older, responsible sibling should wait with them until the bus arrives, and then be there when they return.
- Follow the rules. It’s essential to stay seated, keep aisles clear, and listen to the bus driver.
- Cross streets safely. When crossing the street after getting off the bus, walk at least ten feet ahead of the bus before crossing. Always look left, right, and left again before crossing the street.
Online safety
In today's digital age, online safety is just as important as physical safety. Parents should ensure their children know not to share personal information, such as address, phone number, or school name, online. Parents should teach kids to recognize and report cyberbullying and to avoid chatting with strangers on social media.
