I grew up in a school district that spanned all or parts of 12 towns, spread across areas of four counties in Upstate New York – Otsego, Herkimer, Oneida and Madison. This meant that some of us had to be up incredibly early to catch our school bus, and it meant on certain days we arrived home close to the time some of our parents did. If you’re new to rural living, and your children are used to being dropped off and picked up, or even walking, the school bus can be an interesting new “adventure.”
First, being ready and waiting for the school bus is a must. Bus drivers are on a tight schedule (and an even tighter one in the winter, when cautious driving is paramount) to get all the students to school on time. In warmer weather, this is easier – kids don’t mind standing outside if it’s sunny. On days it’s raining, snowing, sleeting or the wind chill drops the temperature below zero, it makes it a little less appealing. Although they may fight you on it, make sure they have warm clothes: jackets, boots, gloves, hats and scarves. (My younger brother was one of those boys that wore basketball shorts year-round, somehow, but he was always bundled up on top. Pick your battles, I guess!)
If you have a particularly long driveway, you can also consider building a “bus stop” for your students. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy – a three-walled structure with a roof, with the open side away from the usually prevailing winds, can help keep the kids warm on the mornings it feels like the bus is never coming. Your local lumberyard can help you get the goods you need.
Reiterate safety to your children too. Unless otherwise marked, the speed limit on most wide-open rural roads is 55 mph, and hills and curves greatly reduce visibility. Make sure they look both ways and wait for the bus driver’s signal to cross, if they need to do so.
(Driving-age teens and parents, this is a reminder to you as well – if you see a school bus, or you’re out during school bus hours, slow down and be cautious. If those red lights are flashing, you have to stop.)
As for the bus ride itself… Riders might be on there for a while, and although most kids have phones and gaming devices to distract them, you can also encourage them to get some reading done on the bus, if they’re comfortable reading in a moving vehicle. Just make sure your kids are responsible with whatever objects they take out. There’s nothing worse than forgetting something valuable on the bus!
