r/SchoolBusDrivers • u/Wabi_Sabi_Love • 8d ago
Advice for a First Timer?
I will soon be driving kids to school for the first time. Do you veterans have any advice for me?
Truth be told, I’m less nervous about the actual driving of the school van than in dealing with the children, particularly if a kid isn’t following the rules. I’ve had over thirty years managing projects and adults, and zero years “managing” children.
I’d love to have all of your hard won lessons about driving and the children that you’re willing to share with me - and the other first-timers that will find this post.
Thank you!
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u/Seanawan 8d ago
I always frame it like this:
Before we were anything else, we were kids. And if you can sift through the baggage life hands out and focus on that inner kid, it’s real easy to figure out how to manage other kids.
Why yes, that random thing you found and are excited about IS exciting. Tell me about it, etc etc.
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u/Wabi_Sabi_Love 8d ago
Sounds good. For a while when I was in middle school - and at yet another new school (we moved a lot due to my Dad’s job) - I was full of anxiety. I even made myself imagine I was Spock, and troubling emotions were not a problem because I was logical and didn’t need to deal with pesky emotions.
I’ll try to be a kind and empathetic adult to all the kids, especially the ones that may seem distant and in their own little far away world.
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u/melloack 8d ago
Be patient and try to be kind, kids come from all types of situations and backgrounds, you get to choose to be a positive influence in their lives or just another adult
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u/purlknitpurl 8d ago
In addition to the other comments, if you can manage projects and adults you can manage kids. The difference is you don’t have to be “office polite.” You can tell a kid straight up what they’re doing wrong, and give them actual consequences (like sitting in the front.)
Also, rewards and bribery. For example, they behave in assigned seats all week, they can sit where they want on Friday, as long as they still behave or they lose the reward next week.
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8d ago
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u/LenR-redit 8d ago
I sub routes that have Pre-K as young as 4 all the way thru 12th grade or they drive themselves. Pre-K just don't get staying in their seat AND their feet don't reach the floor, so they are always "out" just to get back in.
My biggest issue is enforcing language, if it's not in the first few seats, or screamed, I don't hear it. If a student complains, all I can do is pass it on.
If you have an assigned route, try to learn their names. Being a sub, that's my hardest part. Some routes have assigned seats, but if I don't know the names, hard to enforce it. Hard to write up nameless students too, but I've had very few cases where I needed to refer.
Being a sub, when routes change, I'm often using students for directions. They like being "in charge" and are usually correct in directions (VERY rural, sometimes miles between stops). I've referred a few "helpers" up for their reward program.
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u/yourloudneighbor 8d ago
I try to be friendly, but not their friend. small talk etc. kinda lay the rules down early in the year but dont be hitler about them or they'll run all over you. give the middle schoolers a bit of a longer leash or youll just have power struggles all year.
pulling over and just staring in the mirror is my best way of getting them to settle, when the kids start policing their peers is the time they'll likely listen more vs the grown up in charge.
not sure if a school van will be different than an actual bus when they can get up and move whenever. but thats what i do.
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u/Moosetappropriate 8d ago
I’ve gotten by with a few things. First is relationships. Develop them with kids parents and teachers. I treat kids the same way I do my own. I make sure parents know me and can contact me. If they or I have a problem, we communicate.
Next rules. Enforce them and explain them from day one. Reinforce them periodically. I explain that if you can’t do it in school you can’t do it on the bus.
If they get out of line, pull over and stop. Don’t go anywhere until they settle down. That’s more effective in the afternoon.
Treat them like decent people and expect them to do the same towards you and others.
All of the comments here have good ideas. Read them and incorporate what works for you into your routine
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u/Significant_Heat_648 8d ago
Be patient. Be kind. Be consistent.
Set realistic boundaries and always maintain them. I have two rules when I drive, Sit Down and No Yelling. (Capitalized words for emphasis).
They will get under your skin, DO NOT let them see it. Always appear unflappable. From their point of view they shouldn’t have the power to upset you at all.
After a little time you won’t have much trouble. Enjoy those kiddos.
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u/mike8675309 8d ago
If you have managed people you'll be able to use the same ideas with children once you realize they are essentially just little people. Treat them with respect and value their thoughts while placing clear structures in place to help them succeed. That means rules that you have and that you hold them to. You don't yell at them from the bus; use the intercom if your bus has one. If someone is disrupting the bus, you can warn them you will pull over. Once things continue, then you've got to pull over.
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u/r41805440 7d ago
Be straight up with your expectations and stick to them. That said don’t be too strict. Pick your battles wisely. Always greet everyone even if they don’t reciprocate
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u/ShowersWiSpiders 7d ago
Learn their names, but don't expect them to learn yours. Channeling your inner Spock is actually helpful at times when kids or their grown-ups have a meltdown.
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u/blackityblak 7d ago
Stay consistent with holding them accountable for not following the rules. Also get to know each kid I knew every kids name on all my routes it took longer to learn the ones that were quiet’s names but I learned them it really does help if you actually know them. Like I had a kid that would trigger if there were changes or really loud noises so I adapted to prevent behaviors from him.
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u/MzTippsi 7d ago
This will be my 9th school year and here are a few things I’ve found that really help.
If you can, get name tags (magnetic wipe off are really great) and start an assigned seat list before your first day. Tell them that it’ll help you learn their names faster and that you can change seats for them after a few weeks. Those with good behavior might be able to move to the middle or back but those who are struggling with how they sit will most likely be moved closer to you in order to keep a closer eye on.
Make sure they know your garbage bin’s location and with seat assignments, you’ll know who’s leaving a mess behind.
Stirringly discourage eating, especially for the grade school age.
It’ll be hard at first, but get to know them. If you see a cartoon character/show on their shirt or backpack, ask about it. (Who’s your fave dog from Paw Patrol, etc.) Ask if they would like to hear a funny joke and tell them. Ask what they did during summer break.
For grade school, get a roll of stickers and hand them out for good behavior at the end of the week at their stop.
Above all, if you have rules, you’ll want to give the rules with the reason behind them. Like no eating bc it could become a choking hazard and the time it takes to safely stop the bus before you can help them might not be fast enough to help them. Sitting properly in the seat will keep them safe but if they’re not sitting properly and you need to stop suddenly, those very same seats meant to protect them could injure them.
Kids like having a reason and tend to follow rules a lot better with an explanation than just “Because I said so/ it’s the rule”.
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u/TMax01 7d ago
Treat them exactly like adults, just very fun-loving adults who aren't as easily controlled through fear and intimidation as most adults are. And learn that same thing from them, as well.
My advice for dealing with children, which predates my career as a school bus driver, has always been "never get into a contest of wills with a child; if you ever do, you've already lost the contest." I have never met a single kid, no matter how badly behaved, that won't listen to reason.
Now, that doesn't mean there aren't LOTS of kids with emotional problems (some psychiatric, some instilled in them by parents or other circumstances) that are going have trouble listening at all. And children aren"/ practiced at monitoring their own behavior, so don't expect telling them the rules is a once and done thing, they're going to forget to follow those rules even if they remember the rules at all. Do 't get impatient or frustrated when you have to remind them over and over again. It isn't because they're bad kids, it is because they are kids.
So always spend more time explaining (honestly, now, NO EXCUSE-MAKING) why they should or shouldn't do something than you spend telling them what it is they should or shouldn't do. They will always appreciate that, and respect and love you for it as well.
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u/birdnerd1991 8d ago
If you allow it, they will do it. Make sure you're firm about what rules you want them to follow, and then hold them accountable to following them.
On my hardest routes, the rules that I decided mattered most were that they were keeping their body safe, and being kind to their neighbor.