Getting Your Child To and From School Safely

Bus, Walking & Biking Tips for Kids

Back-to-school season brings new routines, new schedules, and sometimes new ways for children to get to and from school. Whether your child rides the school bus, walks with a trusted adult, or bikes to school, a little preparation can help the day feel calmer, safer, and more predictable.

For young children, especially ages 3–8, safety lessons work best when they are simple, repeated often, and practiced in real life. A quick visit to the bus stop, a practice walk to school, or a helmet check before the first ride can help children feel more confident before the school year begins.

Here are practical safety tips to help your child get to and from school safely.

1. School Bus Safety

For many families, the school bus is part of the daily school routine. If your child has never ridden the bus before, start by helping them get familiar with the process before the first day.

How to Prepare Your Child to Ride the School Bus

Before school starts, visit the bus stop together. Show your child where they will wait, where they will stand, and how they will safely get on and off the bus. This can make the first morning feel much less overwhelming.

Remind your child to arrive early, stay calm while waiting, and avoid running or playing near the street. A good goal is to arrive about five minutes before the bus is expected.

It also helps to review a few simple bus safety rules ahead of time.

Simple School Bus Safety Rules for Kids

Teach your child to:

• Wait in a safe place away from the curb and street.
• Stay about 10 feet away from the bus until it is time to board.
• Stay calm while waiting for the bus.
• Wait until the bus has fully stopped before moving toward it.
• Watch for the bus safety lights.
• Get on and off only when the bus driver says it is safe.
• Listen to the bus driver and follow directions.
• Stay seated while the bus is moving.
• Keep hands, backpacks, and belongings out of the aisle.
• Tell the bus driver if something falls near or under the bus.
• Never run back toward the bus after getting off.
• Cross in front of the bus only when the driver says it is safe.
• Never cross behind the bus.

For younger children, it can help to practice a simple phrase:

“Stop. Look. Listen. Wait for the driver.”

What Parents Can Watch For

Parents and caregivers can also help keep the bus routine safe by paying attention to the bus stop area. Watch for unsafe conditions such as construction, heavy traffic, poor visibility, bullying, or anything that makes the stop feel unsafe.

If your child mentions something concerning, such as unsafe behavior on the bus, a driver concern, or a dangerous bus stop condition, contact your school or transportation administrator.

2. Safety Tips for Kids Walking to School

Walking to school can be a wonderful way for children to get fresh air, move their bodies, and start the day with a little independence. For younger children, walking should usually be done with a trusted adult, older sibling, or supervised group.

If your child will be walking to school, even part of the way, a little practice before the first day can help them feel more confident and prepared.

Practice the Route Ahead of Time

Before school starts, walk the route together. Point out sidewalks, crosswalks, crossing guards, school zones, driveways, parking lots, and busy intersections.

Choose the safest route, not necessarily the shortest one. A safer route may include sidewalks, marked crosswalks, crossing guards, flashing school zone signs, and traffic lights with pedestrian signals.

Teach Safe Street-Crossing Rules

Young children need simple, repeated reminders when crossing streets. Teach your child to stop at the curb, look left, right, and left again, and keep looking while crossing.

Helpful walking rules include:

• Hold an adult’s hand when crossing the street or walking through parking lots.
• Cross only at corners, crosswalks, or with a crossing guard.
• Obey traffic lights and pedestrian signals.
• Walk on the sidewalk whenever possible.
• If there is no sidewalk, walk facing traffic.
• Never cross behind a bus or between parked cars.
• Make eye contact with drivers before crossing when possible.
• Walk, do not run, across the street.

A simple phrase kids can remember is:

“Stop. Look both ways. Hold hands. Walk across.”

Avoid Distractions

Children need to be able to see and hear what is happening around them. Remind your child not to use phones, tablets, headphones, or earbuds while walking to school.

For younger children, this can be explained simply:

“Eyes up. Ears open. Stay with your grown-up.”

Help Your Child Be Seen

Bright clothing, colorful backpacks, and reflective details can help drivers see children more easily, especially on cloudy mornings or during early school hours.

If your child walks in low light, consider adding reflective strips to backpacks, jackets, or shoes.

Talk About Stranger Safety

Keep stranger safety rules simple and clear. Remind your child not to accept rides, gifts, or invitations from anyone they do not know.

Teach them to stay with their trusted adult or group, and to find a safe grown-up, such as a teacher, crossing guard, school staff member, or parent with children, if they ever feel unsafe.

A Helpful Parent Tip

If your child is not ready to walk independently, consider walking together or organizing a “walking carpool” with other families in your neighborhood. This gives children the benefits of walking while keeping the routine supervised and safe.

3. Safety Tips for Kids Biking to School

Biking to school can be exciting for kids. It gives them a chance to move their bodies, enjoy fresh air, build confidence, and practice responsibility. For younger children, especially ages 3–8, biking to school should usually be done with a trusted adult or supervised group.

Before deciding if biking is the right choice, think about your child’s age, bike-riding experience, ability to follow safety rules, and the safety of the route to school.

Practice Bike Safety First

Before your child bikes to school, practice basic bike safety together. Make sure your child knows how to stop safely, ride in a straight line, look before turning, and understand simple traffic signs.

Helpful skills to practice include:

• Stopping at corners and intersections
• Looking both ways before crossing streets
• Riding in a straight line
• Using hand signals, if age-appropriate
• Watching for cars, driveways, and parked vehicles
• Following signs, signals, and adult directions

You can also point out bike safety while driving. Talk about what safe biking looks like and what unsafe biking looks like when you see cyclists on the road.

Always Wear a Helmet

A helmet should be worn every single time your child rides a bike, even for short rides. Make sure the helmet fits snugly, sits level on your child’s head, and covers the forehead.

A simple rule for kids is:

“Helmet first, bike second.”

Bright clothing, reflective details, bike lights, reflectors, and colorful backpacks can also help drivers see your child more easily.

Check the Bike Before the First Ride

Before school starts, do a quick bike check. Make sure the bike is the right size for your child and that everything is working properly.

Check:

• Tires
• Brakes
• Chain
• Seat height
• Reflectors
• Bike lights, if needed
• Backpack fit and balance

A well-maintained bike helps make the ride safer and less stressful.

Choose the Safest Route

The safest route may not be the shortest route. Look for quiet streets, bike lanes, bike paths, sidewalks where allowed, crossing guards, and routes with fewer busy intersections.

Practice the route with your child a few times before school starts. If possible, let your child lead during practice so you can see how comfortable they are with stops, turns, crossings, and directions.

It is also helpful to practice where your child will park and lock their bike at school.

Encourage Riding With a Group

If your child is old enough and ready to bike with others, riding with friends or a supervised group can make the ride more fun and more visible to drivers.

Some families organize a “bike train,” where children and adults ride together along a planned route, picking up other riders along the way.

Remind children that riding with friends still means staying focused, following safety rules, and avoiding playful distractions while biking.

Prepare for Emergencies

Have a plan for what your child should do if something unexpected happens, such as a flat tire, a fall, getting separated from the group, or feeling unsafe.

Make sure your child knows:

• Who to contact
• Where to go for help
• What to do if the bike has a problem
• When to stop and ask a trusted adult for help

If your child carries a phone, make sure emergency numbers are saved and easy to find.

Make a Weather Plan

Children should not bike to school when it is dark, foggy, stormy, or difficult for drivers to see. Rain, slick sidewalks, and wet roads can also make biking more challenging.

Have a backup plan for days when biking is not the safest choice. This may mean walking with an adult, taking the bus, carpooling, or choosing another school transportation option.

A Calmer Start to the School Year

Getting to and from school safely is an important part of the back-to-school routine. The good news is that children do not need complicated safety lessons. They need simple rules, calm practice, and trusted adults who help them feel prepared.

Whether your child rides the bus, walks to school, or bikes with supervision, a little preparation can go a long way. Practice the route, repeat the rules, leave extra time, and remind your child that safety always comes first.

A safe, confident start to the day helps children arrive at school ready to learn, play, and grow.

Sources & Helpful References

This post was informed by school transportation safety guidance from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the National Safety Council, and Safe Routes Partnership. These organizations provide helpful reminders for walking, biking, riding the bus, driving near schools, and creating safer routes for children traveling to and from school.