School starts soon. Do you know how your child will get
there? More importantly, does
your child know how to get there?

"Don’t wait until the first day of school to be sure
your child knows the best
route to school, whether he’s walking or riding a bus or a
bike," said Don Bower, a
family and consumer science specialist with the University of
Georgia Extension Service.

"The first day of school has plenty of excitement,"
Bower said. "Don’t
add to it by sending your child out of the house unprepared for
how to get there."

Bower said generally children under age 9 shouldn’t ride
bikes in the street. And
children under age 8 shouldn’t walk to school without an adult
or older child.

"If your child is walking or riding to school, select
the safest route," he
said. "Choose the one with the fewest street crossings.
Then walk or cycle it with
your child to be sure she understands the route and how to stay
safe."

Your cyclist must have an approved bicycle helmet required by
law.

If your child is under 8, plan to walk him to and from the
bus stop. Or arrange for an
adult or an older child to be there.

"If your child will ride the bus, teach her to stay a
safe distance from the bus
until it comes to a complete stop," Bower said. "After
she gets off, she should
stay on the sidewalk until the bus pulls away. Or watch for
traffic while the bus waits
for her to cross the street."

If your child will ride in a car pool, check to be sure each
car has safety belts for
each child. Find out if any drivers intend to smoke, exposing
your child to secondhand
smoke, Bower said.

Consider what supervision your child will need after school
if an adult is not present.
Many younger children enjoy after-school programs right at their
school.

You may decide that an older child may be responsible enough
to spend some time at home
alone after school. If so, consider some questions about self-
care:

* Have you chosen a dependable, nearby adult who can help
your child?

* Does your child know how and when to dial 911 for help?

* Have you developed a fire escape plan and practiced it with
your child?

* Does your child know the family rules on whether and how to
answer the phone or the
door if she’s home alone?

* Have you discussed what your child should do if severe
weather hits?

* Have you taught your child how to prepare safe snacks that
don’t require cooking or a
knife?

* Are important emergency numbers posted by the phone?

* Have you collected items for a first-aid kit, a power
outage (flashlight, radio and
batteries) or boredom (coloring books with crayons)?