Planning the Route
Take the route together
You and your child should have an agreed upon route that they will take to and from school and this route should be the same everyday. This ensures that you know where your child is in the event of an accident, for example if your child injures themselves on their way home and are unable to call you, you will know the route to check.
Activity Time!
My Route
Print a map of the local area and help your child to mark out some possible routes that they could take to common locations e.g.: school, the bus stop, the park etc.
Discuss the pros and cons of each route and work together to decide upon the route they will take. For example, Route A may take five minutes longer, but Route B involves crossing several busy roads, you and your child may decide that the extra time travelling is better than having to cross busy roads.
If your child is travelling by bus ensure they know their bus number and how to identify their stop. They may make note of any landmarks or distinguishing features around their stop. You should also agree upon a plan if your child misses their stop. Will they travel to the end of the line and contact you there? Will they know the route home from a stop that is unfamiliar?
