7 Back to School Safety Tips for the Whole Family

As the summer heat begins to fade, children are enjoying their final days of free play and parents are preparing to send the kiddos off to school. As the new school year approaches, it's important to prepare your family for back to school safety.

Apartment dwellers with school-aged children can help prevent accidents by teaching and adhering to these safety tips.

1. Drive with extreme caution

When school starts again, more children will be on the roads in the morning and afternoon hours. It's always important to be focused when driving, but during the school season, it's especially important to be alert and aware of your surroundings.

Small children will be on the roads and you may not see them in your blind spots. Recognize those children on the road, err on the side of caution and don't assume kids see your car and know your intentions. It's best to drive slowly and cautiously to keep kids safe.

2. Adhere to school zone lights

In designated school zones, you'll see the yellow flashing lights signaling for drivers to slow to 20 mph. Any time you see the school zone lights on, you must slow down to ensure the safety of children walking to school.

Children may not be observing traffic, and it's up to the adults to follow school zone speeds to help keep kids safe. Even if you don't see children in the school zone, it's better to play it safe to ensure back-to-school safety.

3. Stop behind the school bus

School buses are one of the main modes of transportation for kids. When the stop sign is activated on a school bus, never try and pass the bus on either side.

Children will be exiting the school bus and crossing the street. Passing a school bus when the stop sign is on is not only dangerous, it's illegal.

4. Follow the school's pick up and drop off policy

Each school will have a different system in place to help parents safely pick up and drop off their children.

Before the school year starts, talk to your school and get a thorough understanding of the policy. This will help protect your child and other children during pick up and drop off times of the day.

5. Teach your kids how they'll get to and from school

Not all kids are driven to school, so there are some rules to teach your children about walking and biking to school safely. First, you'll want to ensure they know how to get to school from your apartment. Second, you'll want to make sure they know which direction to walk back, which building they live in, what apartment number and floor level.

Apartment complexes can be vast and buildings can look similar to a child. To keep them safe, make sure they know how to get to and from school on their own. Also, if they're walking to school without parental supervision, you may want to consider a GPS tracker for kids. This will loop you in on their whereabouts so you can confirm that they got to school safely each day.

In the weeks leading up to the first day of school, practice walking, biking or scootering to school so you can teach your kids the safest route to take, how to use the sidewalk and crosswalks and where to park their bikes or scooters when they get to school.

If your children will be biking or scootering to school, teach them to always wear a helmet. Once they get to school, ask the principal where the kids should park their bikes or scooters during the day and when and where they can pick them up after school.

6. Stop, look and listen

This may be the most fundamental back to school safety lesson you teach your children. As simple as it is, it's one of the most important lessons a child can learn. Anytime they're about to cross a street, make sure they follow the three-step plan:

1. Stop at the end of the sidewalk
2. Look both ways to make sure there are no cars coming from either direction.
3. Listen for cars even if you cannot see them.

7. Teach school bus etiquette

As the school season kicks off, kids are excited to ride the school bus with their friends. While this is a fun time of life for children, it's important they know the proper school bus etiquette and rules to promote back to school safety.

Before they start school, walk with your children to the bus stop so they know the safest route. Next, let them know that they need to stay on the curb until the school bus pulls over. When the doors open, the school bus driver will tell the kids when it's safe to hop on board.

Teach your kids that they should never run to the school, but that the school bus will pull over for them and let them know when it's safe to get on. When they get off the bus, let them know that they need to always look both ways before crossing the street.

Better safe than sorry

The beginning of the school year is often an exciting and, sometimes, scary time. Ease some of the nerves by teaching your children what's expected of them and what could happen if they don't follow the rules.

And you should follow these guidelines to promote back to school safety in your apartment complex, neighborhood and community. Remember to share the road and keep your eyes open for kids once the school season begins.

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