Preparing a child for the school bus is a tricky balancing act between making sure those first trips to school are viewed with joy and excitement, and giving the child the knowledge of how to deal with the situation if it doesn't turn out as happy an experience as everyone hopes.

BULLYING
Way up high on most parent's worry list, is the prospect that their child might fall victim to bullies. The sad truth is that at some point most children have to deal with some level of being bullied.

We all know that bullying can happen inside the school grounds. What we must also be aware of, is that the bus trip to and from school is heaven for a bully - it provides victims with no means of escape, an audience and the prospect of being "Top Dog" on the bus.

Parents need to be aware of the school's bullying policies and whether or not they cover the school bus. They also need to be aware of the bus company's policy on bullying and at the end of the day who will take responsibility for ensuring that any bullying on the school bus is stopped.

The fact that bullying does happen needs to be made known to the child, but without making it into something huge and scarey. Mention that sometimes naughty children can be mean to other children, but that they are in the wrong for doing this and that an adult can and will put a stop to it.

Let them know that if they or one of their friends ever has to deal with a bully they need to let you or a teacher know. Make sure that they know they will not be in trouble for telling on a bully and that it won't be seen as their fault.

SITTING ON THEIR OWN WORRIES

There is nothing more lonely than being the only child sitting without friends on school bus. This is a circumstance that many children find themselves in because they are shy about making friends or because all their friends just happen to live on a different bus route.

Many bus companies solve this problem by allocating seating, but if you are not so lucky then try and organise in advance who your child will sit with. Mums in the same area usually already know each other through playgroup, swimming lessons and the like. If you don't already know the other Mums then make an effort to join in some of the groups so that both you and your child can make some very important friends and allies for the school years.

Ensure that your child already knows another child on the bus route, preferably one who will get on at the same bus stop. On the run up to the first

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