For Parents Archives - Page 4 of 11

10 Proven Ways to Encourage Your Kids Effectively

Posted on March 20, 2018 by TSB Super Admin

Children at their young age needs to be motivated and encouraged so that they have definite set goals in their lives. Words of encouragement when used in the right way can have a very positive effect on the child’s life.

Be it at school or at home, words of encouragement used in the right way can help in the developmental stage of the child. Kids yearn to be appreciated for what they do.

Though they are scolded for being mischievous and breaking things, they should be appreciated an encouraged when they do good things.

It is quite natural for children to try out new things while they are in the growing stage. Parents as well as teacher should keep an eye out to the things they do and find out things that they do that deserve encouragement.

You never know what words children carry with them throughout their lives. So, it is important to choose your words wisely when it comes to encouraging children.

Words that are not followed by action are useless but words instil in the minds of kids things that will last for a life time.

Listed here are the 10 proven ways that can encourage your kids effectively.

1. Story Filled Life

Making your child’s life full of stories is one way to make their life interesting. Pick up a book and read it out to them. If they are of the age to start reading them, read it along with them.

Let them read it aloud and act out the story. This engraves the words in the story in their minds and helps them to communicate better later in life.

2. Sincere and Honest Praise

You must praise them honestly and sincerely. Insincere praise is not just ineffective but it can sometimes be harmful.

It is futile to think that they can’t differentiate between an honest and dishonest encouragement. When given an insincere praise they tend to think ‘I was not good enough and I know it’.

Such praises can lead to children’s self-criticism and must be avoided at all costs.

3. Specific and Descriptive Comments

Instead of using generic comments use specific and descriptive comments. ‘I appreciate that you had come up with a good solution for this problem’ is better that ‘You are a genius to solve this question’.

Children perceive such descriptive comments as factually correct and sincere that comments that are less general.

4. Praise their Effort not their Ability

Kids can differentiate between praising their effort and their ability. Appreciating the effort that they took to solve a problem is much accepted than their ability in doing so.

Proven Ways to Encourage Your Kids Effectively

Effort can be perceived as a long term goal and kids will try to improve their efforts rather that saying they are capable of doing something because of their ability. Kids need to attribute success to their efforts rather than their ability.

5. Avoid Controlling or Conditional Praise

Positive informational feedback should be preferred to controlling praise that intends to control or manipulate.

The conditional encouragements that you show to your kids will engrave a contingent self worth in children. You must ensure that praise is not used as a controlling tool.

Self-worth is nothing but what they feel they deserve from others. So always remember praise is not to control your children but to promote them.

6. Avoid Comparison

You might have the tendency to compare your child with other children. No, this is not acceptable. Parents and teacher tend to compare children in academics, sports or extracurricular activities with other children.

At times it helps children to become motivated by seeing another kid do it. But if it back fires it will be worse. Your kid might feel insecure that they are not good enough.

Just imagine that you are being compared your colleague who is more successful than you. If you perform well you will be motivated and excited. But in case you fail you will feel more depressed than motivated.

7. Unnecessary Praise

Some parents praise their children unnecessarily. This has a negative impact on children. When children are praised for easy tasks they tend to be laid back and not try things that are hard to do.

Proven-Ways-to-Encourage-Your-Kids-Effectively-2

Children who are praised for simple things will only do things that please their parents and refrain from doing tougher tasks. They tend to follow a pattern to do things that gets them appraisal and not experiment with new things.

8. Hands on Experience

Let them do the simple tasks in daily life themselves, be there right beside them but let them do it themselves.

Washing clothes, planting saplings, taking the dog out for a walk, etc are some of the simple tasks you can let them do on your watch. This way it cultivates a sense of everyday work and things related to them.

Your child will understand the need for routine and if he/she is happy to do it, the better.

9. Ample Playtime

All work and no play makes jack a dull boy. Give them enough time to play around. Kids should be and must be having a great time when they are young. This way they also understand the need for a recess while at work.

10. Reward and Motivation

It is important to give reward and motivation when your kid does something that deserves it. If they are given a reward when they do something good, they tend to repeat it and make it a habit.

A good habit when reinforced becomes a pattern and they will continue it their whole life.

Conclusion

It doesn’t matter what age your kids are, teaching them properly what is right and wrong at an early age will help them throughout their lives.

Children look up to their parents to understand how to live in this world. At this age children are curious and creative and have a fast learning curve unlike adults who have a slower learning curve.

Children will carry with them their whole life whatever that is taught at this age. Buying a lot of toys so that they stay put is not the only thing that parents can do for their kids. They must be given ample space for their creativity to be used and flourished.

Parent’s Concerns About School Bus Transportation

Posted on March 14, 2018 by TSB Super Admin

Parents in general are always concerned while their children are outside either for studies, games or any other things.

While at home or at school, the parents have that sense of feeling that their children are safe. But there is a common notion, which is true that happens in between their school & home: yes their school bus journey.

You may be aware of the recent unfortunate events related to school bus safety on road where the innocent children had to bear the brunt of road rage & careless driving.

These things have aggravated the emotional distress of parents sitting at home or office concerned about the safety of their children.

Uses of Technology

Technology has always been a life saver in these kinds of situations not just in terms of prevention but also to let the parents or authorities know that help is needed.

An in detail analysis is needed in terms of identifying the grey areas in bus timetable and live bus arrivals also to suggest and implement solutions enabled by technology for solving those problems.

There are situations wherein the children are dropped off from a school bus in a totally different location than the one he or she should be dropped in.

It’s heartbreaking every time that a parent hears that their child is not in the designated location.

These errors are mostly inadvertent one from the bus drivers or the caretaker who is supposed to be inside the bus throughout the journey.

The staffs assigned to each bus would not be the same one every day. They would probably be on a rotation basis.

A practical solution for this problem would be to enable the caretaker inside the bus with a low cost tablet with an app that has a bus timetable and routes with the list of students to be dropped at stipulated destinations. This could be a fool proof solution.

Most of the school buses do not have a system to tackle emergency medical situations. There are children who always suffer from long time travelling health issues.

An emergency infrastructure has to be deployed inside the bus. If there is an acute medical situation, the bus driver or the caretaker inside should be able to report it immediately to a clinic that is close by.

A GPS module inside the school bus along with a distress button would enable the caretaker to send a signal to the close by clinic wherein they can track the live bus arrivals.

The parents are always in a state of oblivion about where their children are after the school bus journey begins from school to home. Imagine the situation if the journey takes close to or more than an hour. It’s bad.

Location based bus tracker solutions are always the life savers here. Consider a proposition wherein the parent is enabled with a mobile application that gives the exact location of the school bus in which their child is.

With the emergence of smartphones, most of the parents would be having a phone wherein you can install an application. The parents would never hesitate to have an app in their phone if it’s concerned with the well being of their children.

Live bus arrivals can be tracked easily with the GPS system installed in the bus. The parents only need to get to the stop when the bus is close by, no need to rush or no need to wait for such a long time in anticipation.

Bus tracker solutions are very much common in countries in the west. Those adoption rates are slowly picking up in India as well.

Advantages of GPS Tracking

The one major advantage of GPS tracking system is that it can help save children from being abducted.

There are cases of missing children are increasing, leveraging tracking technology to save and keep children safe is beneficial for both school officials and parents.

A decent GPS tracking device can confirm live bus arrivals and check whether a child had been on an assigned bus based on the bus timetable and had they been out of the bus or not.

With the help of the bus tracker, a parent is aware of the fact that a child is inside their assigned bus and heading to the right location provides a safe thinking to parents.

School bus safety concerns are aplenty to handle and it becomes worrisome for the parents. They do have the thought whether their children are in safe hands or not.

It’s always going to be a headache for the school management to ensure the duty to the right people for transportation.

The driver has to be assigned with full charge or responsibility while on duty and it has to be ensured that his instructions are to be followed at all times. It's always advisable not to make noise inside the bus, by that way could distract the driver.

The children have to be educated or made aware to not to loiter inside the moving bus or to keep their arms and head outside the bus while in motion. Misconduct inside the bus will result in damage of the bus or physical abuse to the people inside.

Conclusion

A lot of things are to be concerned about, but a systematic risk mitigation approach could lead to a much better environment in terms of travel and learning.

The people involved here including the bus caretakers, drivers, management, parents and the children are equally involved in the safety and professionalism in taking things forward in a smooth way.

15 Tips for Organizing School Trips

Posted on March 12, 2018 by TSB Super Admin

School trips have always been fun filled and enjoyable. There would always be memories created which could be cherished in the years to come.

Whenever the plan for a trip is initiated, the excitement begins. But the tricky part here lies always in the execution.

Organizing school trips always requires good planning as well as execution since the onus always rests with the school management and the staffs involved.

Being entrusted with the safety of other people’s children definitely invokes safety concerns. Here are a few tips to be taken into consideration while organizing school trips.

#1 Where You are Heading

The place of school trip is of utmost importance. You should be brainstorming with your peers and identify a place that is safe, with good modes of transport.

Also ensure that if you are visiting places, it should be during the best time of the year also check whether its open during your visit.

#2 Conduct a Meeting

Arrange a meeting with the key staff involved and the parents of the children going. This is a key part in student travel planning.

#3 Prepare a Checklist

The tour planners, here the management/ parent volunteers should be having a checklist about places to visit, hotels, and accommodation. Make necessary steps for the visit like time to depart, schedule, engagement activities.

#4 Medical Help

The students would be having health issues while travelling. Get an understanding of them and know what to do if an emergency occurs in the worst case.

#5 Mode of Transport

Convenience is the key here. It's always better to avail the service of your school bus or at the least a bus from a private vendor that you trust or have a very good professional relationship with. Even better to have one of the school bus drivers maneuvering the bus.

#6 Food plan arrangement

Plan the food schedule and check your itinerary and check with the decent food joints available on your route. Always better no to take a detour for having food or finding restaurants. Do the grunt work to find places with good reviews and can accommodate large groups.

#7 Keep a Tab on the Budget

Ensure you don’t run out of money which would be a really awkward situation. Apply your money management skills. The things you plan to do should not be expensive and that does not mean that it has to be dirt cheap.

Always seek help from the local population and get to know the best rates regarding food, sightseeing, souvenir shopping etc.

#8 Local Acquaintance

This factor is a double edged sword. Mingle with good local populace. This is one critical part of organizing school trips. They can guide you with good locations to see and leverage the best out of your trip.

#9 Supervising the School Trip

Always ensure that the group has to be supervised by efficient staff or volunteering parents which would be grist to the mill. The people accompanying the children could put them in groups and assign themselves to each one.

#10 School Tshirts

It's always advisable to be in a same color shirt if the trip is a single day trip. This is an important part in student travel planning as you can identify the students without any problem.

#11 Accommodation

Choose cleanliness and price friendliness over posh accommodation. With the advent of technology, it's easy to find budget hotels for accommodation. Check with the major hotel booking providers, the option for bulk booking.

#12 Keep Them Engaged

Most of the travel time is boring. Involve the students in activities like singing and involve each and everyone in activities.

#13 Risk Assessment

Have a prior assessment of the things to do during the trip and portend the risks en-route the trip. Have mitigation strategies in your mind.

#14 Overnight Stays

You should be advising students to possibly stay out of trouble in this scenario. Making them aware of the trip rules is mandatory and part of student travel planning. Enforce rules immediately and consistently.

#15 After the Trip

When you come back, enable a closure activity on the trip by getting students to explain why, where, how, and what was done during their outing and share their experiences.

Send gratitude notes from the class and the teacher to the, bus drivers, admin staff, parent volunteers.

School trips are always an integral part of the wonder years the students spent in their school life.

They are always motivating for students, bring a creativeness or reality you cannot evoke with conventional textbook learning, and provide understanding for learning in a relevant real world context.

Conclusion

The aforementioned points would definitely be valuable in a real world context. Planning is always the key here. If it's done properly with the major decision makers involved, then everything would be a breeze.

Hope you have a trip that’s safe, fulfilling and memorable for many years to come.

13 Best Tips for Kindergarten Teachers 2018

Posted on March 8, 2018 by TSB Super Admin

It is fun to spend time with toddlers who are active most of the time. But as much as it is fun it is also a tedious task to handle the kids.

Many consider it as a special job that requires special attention.

Yes, it is kids that you are dealing with, what else should you expect?

Kids go in different directions and it is your duty to make sure that they don’t get lost or if you are able to get their attention. Not everyone can handle the kids and get their attention.

Kindergarten is a place where children are introduced to schools and instil in them an interest for learning.

With only a few days for summer vacation to be over this article is to help Kindergarten teachers have a head start so as to make the transition easier for them and thus students too.

Here are a few tips for Kindergarten teacher that comes handy when dealing with toddlers.

1. Read Stories to Them

Children loooooove stories. It is the first stage of reading and readiness. You can keep them interested for hours if you can narrate them a story to keep them busy listening to your stories.

Even the most mischievous kindergartener can’t resist a good story. Children develop a readiness to listen and learn. This is the first step to knowing the world and what is around them.

2. Introduce Them to Music

Music is paramount to a child’s development. Children like to listen to words that rhyme from which they learn new words. Moreover music is important for the mental growth of a child.

Listening to patterns will always stimulate the thought process. It might be the nursery rhymes they listen in the school bus or the one the teacher narrates during kindergarten hours.

3. Encourage Responsibility

Children should be encouraged to do things responsibly. They should be made familiar with simple things like packing up to school or while they are returning from school.

These small tasks will improve the responsibility. They must be taught about how they should keep their classroom clean or wash themselves up after they have their food.

4. Teach Them Everything

Teach your children from scratch. Don’t assume that they know things, they are kids you, have to teach them how to close the door behind them when they use the washroom, they need to taught ‘thank you’ and ‘welcome’.

Teach them little things like how to wash their hands and how to use toilet paper. Once they fall into a routine they will make it a habit to do it throughout.

5. Choose and Store Supplies

You need some supplies to keep your kids engaged. A good example might be a stuffed pet that is washable which is kept in the classroom. Children can take turns to take it home for a weekend.

Make sure your classroom is not cluttered as it will deter you from having an effective learning environment. Keep unused objects out in your storage and clearly label them for use in future.

6. Involve Parents

It is important to involve parents as much as possible. Tell them how the child is performing in his daily activities. A parent’s involvement ensures the complete education of the child.

Communication is not just enough, but you should do it often and make sure you communicate the progress of the child to the parents. In fact you must care for the child as much as the parents do. Talk to them over phone, return their emails are simple things you can do.

7. Plan Your Activities

Plan your activities ahead for the day and ensure that you keep your children occupied throughout the day. If you haven’t got a plan, be ready with activity sticks.

These activity sticks come handy when you don’t have anything planned for your kids. Hand out these sticks to kids and keep them engaged with different activities.

8. Keep Them Moving All Day Long

Plan lessons or activities for not more than 15 minutes. Children tend to lose interest in them easily. So, some kind of movement activities in between can keep them occupied all day long.

Games like sight word slap can improve their vocabulary help them structure sentences.

9. Adventure Spree

In between classes it would be great to take kids out through the school for an adventure. Take them around the school and ask them to locate the teacher’s room, the cafeteria, the nurse station, the bathroom, the library etc.

Children can take a break from sitting in the classroom and take a stroll through the school for a change.

10. Celebrate Childhood

Most important of all let your kids celebrate tier childhood. Let them laugh, play and make messes. Let them plant a garden, bake, and create new things which will help them to be creative. These actions will nurture their creative side.

11. Talk to Them

Children will improve their oral skills by starting conversations with the teacher and with one another. Teacher will make sure of this that they ask them questions regarding what is happening with their lives.

Instead of slipping a disk in the car while driving to school teachers can ask parents to start a conversation with their child.

12. Help the Parents

Parents might be having a tough time working and taking care of their child. Children might be not willing to take up school on the very first day.

Give them an assurance that you will genuinely take care of their kid. Devise plans to get the attention of the child as they say goodbye to their father and mother.

13. Teach Them to Make Friends

Children might be hesitant to make friends with other kids in the classroom. Guide them on this matter and help kids to get to know each other.

The greatest advantage of this is that kids will be pre-occupied with each other that they forget to cry or make havoc. Some kids will do this naturally while other might need help with it.

12 School Transportation Trends to Watch out in 2018

Posted on March 6, 2018 by TSB Super Admin

In the past few years, educational field has greatly been influenced by Information technology. School transportation management is an area where a number of IT companies focus on.

Most of the entrepreneurs consider this as a good opportunity and thus, make innovative products to solve the school transportation issues.

Some key trends in school transportation management that captured the attention are as follows:

1. Route Optimization

Now, it is not difficult for us to think about organizing school bus routes, bus stops and then, allocating students to their respective bus stops.

One can automatically build optimized routes, resolve the most appropriate bus stops and match students to those stops based on their addresses.

2. School Bus Tracking

Now, people are more interested in keeping track of school buses during their movement. Many schools have started implementing the school bus tracking software for effective school transportation management.

The software helps transport managers to effectively manage fleet of buses, tackle emergency situations properly and create weekly reports regarding school transportation management.

3. School Bus Attendance

Due to working hours and tight schedules, parents will have great concern about their child's safety in transportation. In order to put a stop to this worry, schools have implemented software that provides instant notifications to parents whenever their child gets on or off the school bus.

With apps like driver console, drivers are able to know whether any particular child is missing from the bus or not. The app will have details regarding each student and their assigned stops which help the drivers to instantly recognize them. Thus school management can guarantee a secure and risk-free transportation to students.

4. Tracking App for Parents

From morning to evening, parents will be worried about their child and eagerly wait for the school bus to arrive. When there are unfavourable weather conditions, the situation gets worse. School management can tackle such situations by providing an app that enables the parents to track their child's school bus in real time and thus, reach the bus stop in time.

Once a child boards the school bus with tracking, parents are able to see the real-time location along with route which helps them to plan accordingly. They are also able to manage more than one child with a single app.

5. Tracking App for Transport Managers

With the help of the transport manager app, transport managers are able to have exclusive control of the school bus. With this app, even minor possibilities of accidents or mishaps that can happen in the school transportation services can be avoided.

Transport managers are able to communicate with the driver whenever they feel a need for that. Using the app, they are able to schedule school bus trips easily. New pick up points can be built and assigned. Also, it is possible to update bus stop locations if any relocation needed.

6. Tracking App for Bus Attendant

This app includes a complete attendance management system which helps to reduce attendance flaws. Manual way of collecting attendance is usually a tedious task and is prone to errors. Each and every minute detail is considered in the attendant app.

Drivers are able to instantly get notification, along with the contact details and a picture of the child. They get exact direction of the trip and the confirmed trip paves way to trip history.

7. Alternative Fuels

Many trends are coming in many areas of school transportation, one such is in fuel. As we all know gasoline is used in buses which have volatile prices and low efficiency level per gallon. Today worldwide we are draining petroleum resources which are forcing us to go for alternatives. There are many alternatives such as compressed natural gas (CNG), propane, electricity, and much more.

8. Live Camera Feed

With the help of cameras, drivers obtain live camera feed of students inside the school bus. Drivers can view this feed via their own console. This helps them to save time, thereby adding comfort, convenience and safety.

9. Geofencing

Parents as well as school authorities can restrict the movement of school bus to a particular area. They will get instant notification if any school bus enters the restricted area. Parents can also set their own boundary by using the geofencing feature of parent app and receive alerts when the school bus approaches near to their child's pick up point.

10. Manifest Feature

Produce routine school bus passenger details like pick up details, route diagram indicating pick up location, list of students present inside the bus etc. If a student applied leave on a particular day, his pick up details will not appear in that day's stop list in the app. This saves valuable time of the driver as well as the students by not having to stop at unnecessary points. It is a useful feature that is going to be a trendsetter in the future.

11. Alcohol Detection

It is not a pleasant thing to discuss but still we have to. There are certain cases when drivers are under the influence of alcohol while driving which they hide it. But it is not possible now as there is a sensor which detects alcohol in driver. This sensor can be installed into steering wheel which helps it to stop any unsafe driving as it locks down the bus before it reaches the road.

12. Auto Routing

School bus routing is quite a difficult job for transport managers as well as fleet managers as they have to optimize bus routes, check the seating capacity and much more. But now routing is not a problematic task as school transport software has auto routing feature which does the routing automatically with the use of its smart routing algorithm.

These are trends that have revolutionized the school transportation management. They not only help the new drivers to have better control of the school bus, but also give parents peace of mind. With the advent of various technologies, costs for fuel can also be significantly reduced with the facility of route optimization.

Is My School Bus Tracking App Safe to Use

Posted on February 22, 2018 by TSB Super Admin

Parents are always worried about whether their child has boarded the bus from their pick up point and got down at the drop point. They are concerned if the driver or attendant in the school bus is well behaved and is taking good care of your child.

These concerns are real and parents look forward to a system which can help track the movements of their children. If there was an effective system which can undertake this task it would be easier for parents, drivers, attendants and school management.

One of the questions that is raised by everyone is that if the school bus tracking app is safe to use. The sensitive data of the students need to be protected from all piracy.

School bus tracking enables parents to monitor the child or school bus location while they are on the go. Let us look at how safe school bus tracking applications are.

Parent’s concern

Why is the bus late, have my child boarded the bus, where is the school bus right now, will the bus drop my child before I finish my work. These are some of the worries that parents have when they send their child to school or while they come back after school.

After realizing the concerns of parents an app was developed to solve the basic problems that parents and school management faces. It gives a peace of mind to parents who worry about their child’s safety. Parents worry about when the bus will reach to pick up their child and when it will drop off their child.

Another concern is that they don’t have any contact with the bus driver or the attendant. In case there is a delay in pick or drop the parents want to be notified regarding this. If there is a change in the point from where the child is picked up or dropped that needs to be reallocated that is to be communicated with the driver or the attendant.

Driver app

Using the driver app, drivers can have all the details regarding the students that he needs to know. They can mark the attendance of the children so that they know which student is attending school and who is not.

This helps them to plan the best routes so that it saves money and time.

They can collaborate with transportation managers and take the route that is best suited. They can also monitor students from the inside and ensure the student’s safety.

Drivers can view live cam feed so as to monitor activities without leaving the driver console. This also makes sure that your child is not bullied while they are in the bus.

Drivers have an instant access for student details which helps them to take the best routes to reach the pick up or drop points.

Drivers receive notifications regarding change in pick up points and even birthdays of students which helps them to build a rapport with the students.

Parent App

Parents can check on their pupil as the application marks the attendance four times a day when a student gets on or off the bus in the morning and in the evening. Thus parents get to know the attendance of the child without contacting the school management.

Parents get real time notifications of the activities of their child which gives them a peace of mind. Thus they get to know the location of the bus.

This can help them know when the bus if arriving to pick up or drop their child. The parent app can be used to assign a new pick up point without having to call up the driver or school management.

The app can be used to manage more than one child who comes from the same house.

Bus Attendant App

Bus attendant can make use of this app to perform their duties clutter free. They can figure out the next location which the school bus needs to make a stop.

The trip history can be mapped which helps to record the journey taken. When a student boards or gets off the school bus a notification is sent to the attendant. It even notifies the attendant if a child misses a school bus.

Attendants can schedule and direct driver throughout the trip as when a trip is confirmed, it automatically moves to the trip history.

Just like in the driver app attendants also get notification about the student birthdays. Students will be happy to be wished on their birthdays.

Transport Manager App

Sometimes the whole trip is conducted and managed by a transport manager. A school might have a fleet of vehicles that needs to be managed from a control centre.

They can also help with planning the best routes and efficiently manage the fleet. If in case a vehicle is not being tracked the transport manager will get an immediate notification regarding this.

They can send group messages which help to communicate a message to all drivers and attendants. Each bus can be tracked by the transport manager and this real time location can help to choose the best available routes.

Conclusion

School bus tracking apps not only is safe to use but it also ensure the safety of our kids. There are various facets of school bus tracking application that ensures co-ordination with parents, bus drivers, bus attendants and transportation managers.

It is definitely a value addition for schools and parents looking for the safe transit of their children to and from school.

School Bus Routing Software – How It Supports School Bus Drivers

Posted on February 12, 2018 by TSB Super Admin

The ultimate goal of every school transportation is to constitute a safe journey for students. However, the success of school transportation insist the active involvement of the school bus drivers.

Meanwhile, the task of a school bus driver is challenging and involves risk as they are transporting the precious cargo in the universe.

With the advent of school bus routing software, the drivers are able to govern and assign routes efficiently. Moreover, the route optimization feature enables you to recognize the efficient school bus route and thereby enhance the student safety.

Let’s check out how a school bus route software advocates school bus drivers:

Substitute Drivers Can Relish the Benefits Offered by School Bus Routing Software

The number of substitute driver depends on the number of regular drivers. Ordinarily, there will not be a sufficient number of substitute drivers. In fact, drivers are also human, they also deserve a vacation, sick leave, or encounter personal issues.

Route optimization feature in the app enables the substitute drivers to determine the apt route for the trip.

While the regular drivers split the route with the substitute drivers, every child will obtain the opportunity to relish school transportation services to and from school.

The only matter you should consider is that whether the school bus driver has a valid license, adequate knowledge of the routes, and procure experience in driving those routes.

Routing Software Integrates and Track School Calendars

Different schools have different sessions and have different holidays. Routing software renders an immense assistance to drivers and schools in tracking school calendars and determining the apt route for the specific days.

However, the public and private schools have different timings. As a result, you should arrange transportation services for public schools when private schools are closed and vice versa.

Let’s check how the routing software supports the drivers in tracking school calendars:

Routing software allows you to track alternative routes for “public school only” days and vice versa
Driver will be aware of the routes they are driving
Instant alerts to students and families whenever there is no school transportation services on a particular day

Real-time Alerts for Inclement Weather

In foreign countries, the snowfall is a major concern and will result in road closures as there is a chance of flooding. Even though there is a delay, school bus drivers should commit all the procedures, adhere to the schedule, and clear the snow. Furthermore, the buses should be tested, cleansed, and examined carefully after clearing the snow.

At times, during the inclement weather, it is risky to travel on certain roads due to the increased chance for accidents or roadblocks.

The routing software intends to avoid such congested roads and suggest alternative routes, which is previously loaded into the system. In addition, it will reduce the requirement for taking last minute decisions that endanger the student safety.

Ensures Proper Licensing

Licenses are evidently crucial for school bus drivers. With the software, you will obtain assistance as you receive licensing alerts whenever the requirements are due.

For instance, drivers will acquire alerts regarding their commercial driver license, regular license, criminal background check, physical examination, child abuse checks, and bus inspections that require to be updated immediately.

Meanwhile, with the support of a routing software, schools are able to add and customize alerts. As a consequence, you will be able to confer safety and enhance driver satisfaction.

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, the school transportation routing software constitute a range of benefits for school bus drivers such as effortless documentation, real-time notifications, and on the road guidance, which offers solutions to overcome the road related challenges.

In the meantime, the school bus routing software establishes a healthy working relationship between drivers and school transportation officials.

Wish to be an Awesome Parent? Follow these 15 Tips

Posted on February 8, 2018 by TSB Super Admin

How simple would it be if babies come with guideline manual?

The question every couple has in mind when on the verge of becoming parents.

Let us plot certain scenes and introspect! How will you react in the following instances?

Imagine a scenario where in your child’s longing for something quickly escalates into an outright tantrum. Or a situation you sense the child is hiding something from you. Or maybe you invariably sense fear in his or her eyes, however you can’t figure out why?

Still, no clue, is it?

Apparently there is no tough or rapid protocol to raise an ideal child. However certain parenting tips can assist you in avoiding the mistakes you often commit unknowingly, when it comes to children.

Your Time Matters

1. Every child loves listening to their parent’s voice. Studies have shown that the child starts to perceive the vibes and notions of the parents right from the mother’s womb.

Ensure that you maintain a positive environment for your child. Read out insightful stories, even when they are babies. This will aid you to bond with the child.

2. Spend time with your kids. The relevant and the only way to realize your kids closely is to devote time with them. This would render them a chance to understand you too. Even though you are busy, spend at least an hour or two listening to what they did for the day.

Don’t leave the chance to induce a feeling that you respect their interests. It doesn’t matter if you should build mud pies with them. Besides, when you set aside time for them, they will learn to value everything and balance their own lives.

3. Display curiosity in recognizing their routine, even though you are engaged. Questions such as “what did you perform in school today?” “what unique matters did you learn today?” “How to spend this weekend?” assure that you are there for them and they can always come to you with the problems they have. This will induce a sense of confidence and security in them.

4. Time with Dad – often spending time with their father has shown an exceptional development. Kids, who spend time with their dad are found to be keener and will act positively in whatever difficulties they confront.

Build Emotional Strength

5. When they commit something, pleasant or irritating, acknowledge it. Don’t just say they were excellent or poor. Be specific regarding what made you feel they were exceptional. If they miss something, point it out. This will assist them to work further on their strengths and weaknesses. Be their best critic, yet the strongest supporter.

6. Never ever compare!

Arguably, you will have a tendency for citing examples. At certain times, you don’t realize where the line is. As examples turn to comparisons, it only diminishes the child’s confidence and leads to insecurities.

Consider a situation, where your child is upset with her performance in the exams. Instead of telling them “Look how marvelous he performed, you need to learn from him”, tell them “let’s work on your methods, I believe you have superb potential”

At the same time, don’t attempt to push the limits beyond their withstanding capability.

Character replicates

7. Be the person you desire your child to be!

Your child is an absolute result of the idol you have carved. Just as in the examples you have set in front of him. This says a plethora of matters with respect to values, behavior, perseverance and responsibility. They will walk over the footprints you leave behind.

For instance, instead of asking them to apologize when they mess up ensure that you act the same when you blow up.

Practice what you preach. Actions create a lasting impression.

8. Don’t underestimate them when they grow capable enough. Give them a chance to handle issues by themselves. And never rush in to support them with issues they can manage, yet acknowledge their frustrations with care.

9. Discipline can’t be force fed! Teach them morals and values, although in a practical and positive manner. Demonstrate the obedience you desire to inculcate in them.

10. Express emotions – this will aid your child to be expressive regarding his or her feelings too. When you express feelings of love and kindness, the kids will reciprocate. They will maintain the same sensitivity and compassion towards other people.

11. The fights matter. Argue over concerns that assists you to mold your child rather than argue over the petty concerns such as food or TV. On the other hand, it is wise to avoid rudeness or hitting. Don’t resist everything they say, as this will shut them off completely.

12. The Eye game – Tell the kids to notice the color of a person’s eye. And no, this is not just for entertainment. This will genuinely build your child’s confidence and assist them to be assertive.

13. Give joy filled memories. They might not remember your words, however your actions they surely will. Develop family traditions such as trip on the last days of every month or cooking together as a family on weekends. These beautiful memories will be cherished by them forever. Whenever they are nostalgic, they will be jubilant

14. Respect your other half. Your marriage is the best example for your kids to show as to what a relationship honestly means in a person’s life. If you disrespect each other’s opinions and believes in front of your child, it takes a toll on your child’s mentality in regard to relationships. Always remember that they are watching you closely.

It’s the Little Facts

15. Don’t force them to finish meals. If your child refuses to finish the meal, let it be. Never force them to finish it for fulfilling your satisfaction. This could lead them to develop unhealthy eating habits as an adult.

Every child is different, although the basic human nature at the core remains the same. All children may not respond to your parenting in a similar manner. Nevertheless, if you observe your child’s psychological response patterns carefully, it will definitely assist you in the process.

No parent is excellent, No child is either. Follow your instincts, since parenting is hardwired.

If you wish to add your experiences and suggestions, please feel free to share it in the comments section.

7 Suggestions for Improving Student Road Safety Campaigns

Posted on February 1, 2018 by TSB Super Admin

Student road safety is a prime concern not only for parents but also for school administrations. Given the fact that road safety is crucial for all, students are particularly prompted to be aware of road safety rules. Along with parents, educators play an imperative role in imparting safety knowledge in kids.

If you are the guardian of a student, here are 7 essential suggestions that can improve student road safety drives. Hence, it is not only substantial that you realize these road safety specifications to teach your wards, but also pave the way for improving them enabling them be rest-assured of the safety of your kids.

Traffic Signs and Their Awareness

You should be aware of the different types of traffic signs that will assist you stay safe while on the move. Below is the rundown of the relevant traffic signs.

Traffic Signs and Symbols

Of course, you will be aware of the striking traffic pole that flashes three bright lights; red, amber and green. Nevertheless, these traffic poles installed at every junction have different meanings according to the color. While traffic signs aid you drive safe and ensure the safety of fellow travelers and walkers, you should also pay attention to certain essential traffic signs.

Check out the signs which indicate a bump head, prohibited zones, no honking areas, hospital and school zones or a one-way indicator. Moreover, only when you follow these traffic signs will you avoid accidents that will result in losing the lives of students. Students, in turn, should be informed regarding the above traffic signs in such a way that they are in line with the approaching road traffic.

Indicators of Directions

Night time driving is no simpler than a jig. Fading natural light during dusk can become the reason for accidents. It is for this purpose that vehicles come with direction indicators. Given a scenario when there was a school-day celebration and the road chock-a-block with vehicles, students and parents, it is significant that you utilize your directional indicators. On the other hand, these indicators will assist students and parents to be aware of the vehicle movements and stay safe.

Hand Signals

Furthermore, gesticulating with hands during driving has its own benefits. While you can steer clear of accidents you can also avoid a number of confusions provided you have awareness of what a particular hand signal means. Here are certain basic hand signals that can ensure the safety of students on the move.

If you are swinging your right hand up and down with your palm facing down, you are asking for the driver behind you to slow down. However, if you wish to stop your vehicle after noticing a student crossing the road, you can raise your forearm vertically. In case the driver behind you attempts to overtake you, you can swing your right arm back and forth in a semicircular motion.

Road Lanes

When you are at the wheel, you should always stay on the left side of the road. However, when you are switching lanes, you can apply both the hand signals and direction indicators for informing the approaching group of students when to cross the road. Additionally, it comes as a wise move to evade regular lane changing.

Check on Speed

Over-speeding is one of the major reasons for road accidents. If the students should be steered clear of all such instances, it is the duty of the concerned authorities to set permissible vehicle speed limits. These tabs on vehicular speed will not only assist you exercise enhanced control over the traffic, but will also ensure the safety of students on the road.

It is the age of the automated devices, which enables you to track the speed of vehicles. Speed check radars are the mechanized devices that ensure the safety of students in high traffic areas. If such devices are installed, you can penalize erring drivers who have crossed the specified speed limit with fines and enable them to realize the safety of students.

The Mandatory Usage of Safety Gear

All in an attempt to ensure the road safety of students, seat belts come in as safety mechanisms for four wheelers. In the event a student is riding a two-wheeler, it is necessary that he/she steps out of the home with a helmet on. Helmets are safety gears that protect students from head injuries which might either lead them to a life of a vegetable or to face death in extreme cases.

Timely Maintenance of Your Vehicle

A stitch in time saves nine. This is a famous maxim that reiterates the significance of regular maintenance of student vehicles. In an attempt to offer road safety to students, you as guardians should always ensure that the vehicle your ward is riding is in top condition. Be it the petrol/ diesel indicator, the speedometer or the presence of bald tires. If you can monitor the timely maintenance of your child’s vehicle, you can ensure his safety at all times.

Usage of Hoardings

Another innovative yet highly effective suggestion to impart road safety suggestions is through hoardings. Huge hoardings with pictures catch the attention of all those who aren’t much informed regarding road safety. When students regularly view these informative hoardings, they will be informed in regard to the safety measures they need to implement while on the move. This way, students can not only preserve their own lives, but also the lives of pedestrians and fellow travelers on the road.

Being On Time – A Virtue That Guarantees Road Safety

Punctuality comes with its own benefits. Students who are aware of time management can vouch for a gratifying life . They need not rush. Hurry causes worry, leading to accidents. Hence, it is vital to inculcate time management skills amongst students enabling them drive at their own pace and reach their destination in peace.

Pick a Vehicle Designed for Safety

You as guardians of students can become strong advocates of safety when you insist on buying a vehicle that is high on safety standards. The design of the vehicle goes a long way in ensuring that your ward reaches home safe in spite of meeting with an accident. Vehicles which come with inbuilt shock absorbers result in a reduced impact on your ward. Since the crash impact is reduced to a considerable extent, your ward can save himself from such wrathful accidents.

The Last Word

All for the sake of simplifying the lives of students while promising them with road safety mechanisms, the above-mentioned 7 suggestions can improve the current state of affairs. Safety is a function of observation and implementation. Only when you keenly observe and implement corrective actions that you can preserve not only your life, but also the lives of travelers and pedestrians eager to reach their destination.

12 Different Technologies that Help School Bus Drivers in Driving

Posted on January 29, 2018 by TSB Super Admin

Technology is considered as an influential component of modern day lives. Nevertheless, while penetrating into every aspect of human life, you now have the luxury of obtaining real-time information on the whereabouts of your school-going kid.

Alongside supporting parents to be informed about the whereabouts of the school bus, a host of technological tools aid school bus drivers commit their jobs to the best of their abilities.

Here is the list of a dozen technological innovations that assist the professionals at the wheel in a multitude of ways.

School Bus Tracking Apps

A school bus tracking app renders real time data regarding the exact location of the bus and the duration of arriving at your stop.

As a consequence, when such an app is in place, schools can steer clear by eliminating a number of distressed calls from parents checking about the pickup and dropping times of their wards.

In the meantime, tracking apps insist the school bus driver to drive cautiously with a conviction that parents are informed about the timing of pickup and drop.

Tracking Systems

The School bus tracker utilizes RFID (Radio Frequency Identification Device) and GPS tracking, which intends to bring in transparency and convenience to both the parties concerned; the currently appointed school bus drivers and the parents.

As a matter of fact, such tracking systems not only notify the parents about the journey of the school bus, but also work as tabs on speeding drivers.

Parents who are waiting for their kids to be either picked up from home or dropped back can approach these tracking systems to monitor on the speed of the bus along with certain unscheduled bus stops that the driver is taking.

Moreover, this information can apparently become invaluable data points to parents to assess the performance of school bus drivers.

Cameras – Tools to Peep Into What’s Happening Inside the Bus

Installing cameras inside the school bus is another technological move that establishes safe driving. Consequently, these cameras are activated when the bus stops for capturing the number plate of the vehicle that passes by in the territory of School Bus Danger Zones.

All in an attempt to evade the instance of accident, school bus drivers through the implementation of cameras can save the lives of students from being hit by other vehicles on the road.

Digital Cameras

Another propitious technology that assists school bus drivers keep a watchful eye on the road is through the installation of digital cameras.

Meanwhile, modern digital cameras installed in the school buses help the driver to constantly monitor and realize what is happening inside the bus when he is at the wheel.

In addition, these cameras also capture the audio and video of the school bus happenings, sparing the driver to turn around and control a group of mischievous students.

It is through such devices that school bus drivers can better engage and handle behavioral issues of misbehaving students.

The Prominence of Mirror Grid Systems

School buses fitted with mirror grid systems will help drivers relish a superior vision of the surroundings of the school bus.

On the other hand, through the usage of electric grids, which are fitted behind the mirrors, school bus drivers will be able to tackle extreme cold weather conditions while at the wheel.

Once the grid is heated, the frozen particles on the mirror get evaporated clearing the vision for drivers to appreciate an enhanced vision impending from clear mirror views.

Spouts in Front of Tires – Another Climate Control Mechanism In Favor of School Bus Drivers

Unfavorable weather conditions should in no way induce a concern for drivers at the wheel. In an attempt to counter all such circumstances, school bus tires come with spouts, which are located in front of them.

This is a technological innovation that helps bus drivers drive on icy roads. You might perplex how this is possible.

Spouts come into the picture of safety driving practice when they drop sand on the slippery and icy road. This sand constitutes friction to the tires allowing the driver to drive safe.

Another facility that comes through these sprouts is to chain up the tires if the bus is progressing on a route that is not safe for driving.

The Benefits of Computerized Diagnostics

Preparation is the key to effective decision-making. This preparation comes in the form of being informed about the need for vehicle repairs and maintenance.

Be it the vehicle engine which should be fine-tuned in accord of the Revolution per Minute (RPM) or the replacement of a damaged indicator light, drivers attach a lot of importance to computerized diagnostics.

Paying attention to the faulty functioning of oil tanks, issues concerning transmission and all the alarms concerning exhaust systems, school bus drivers can drive with a sense of preparedness.

Sensors Help Conduct Pre-Service Checks to School Buses

Technology also aids in improving the safety level of school bus drivers. The state of Connecticut takes pride in the installation of a wireless device that helps drivers to conduct pre-service checks, including emergency door inspections and brake checks.

It is through sensors that the school bus supervisor is informed about any malfunction that can lead to a driving disaster.

The Promise of Automatic Door Entry System

School bus drivers can invest in modern technology offering push buttons to better manage the opening and closing of bus doors.

Automatic door systems fitted with push buttons bestow a great deal of comfort to bus drivers, avoiding shoulder pains and fatigue that comes with manual operation.

Driving Made Comfortable With Air-Cushioned Seats

Air-cushioned seats are a boon to school bus drivers who can now drive comfortably. These seats, which come with a strong lumbar support ensure the correct posture while the driver is at the wheel.

This way, the school bus driver can enjoy every journey through a better driving position that will help him focus on the road ahead.

The Effectiveness of Smaller Engines

The diesel-powered school buses come as the safest and reliable modes of transportation for millions of school children. However, the size of a school bus engine has a bearing on the performance of a driver.

What to perceive the connection between these two parameters? Here it comes! A smaller bus engine means a shorter front part.

At the same time, with smaller engines, bus drivers will recognize as comfortable to maneuver when they enjoy a wide view of their surroundings.

In fact, it is because of this wide angle vision that school bus drivers will be able to manage the bus efficiently so as to avoid the issue of accidents caused due to inaccurate judgment of spacing.

Of course, smaller engines, thus come as another technological change that favors bus drivers to do their job in the best possible manner.

Wi-Fi Connectivity in the Bus

At times, kids on board can become a distraction to a school bus driver who not only has to concentrate on the road but also ensure the decorum of travel.

Furthermore, ruckus in school buses created by bullying and mischievous students can mar the performance of a driver. All for the sake of assisting the driver to better concentrate on the traffic, schools are looking at offering in-house Wi-Fi connectivity to school buses.

Identified as a trick to occupy students, Wi-Fi in school buses can work both ways. While the Internet connectivity helps students to complete their homework or play games during travel, school bus drivers are the benefactors as well.

As a result, drivers who drive Wi-Fi connected school buses cannot be affected by futile chatter from students on board and drive cautiously.

Closing Thoughts

After learning about the numerous ways in which technology can convince bus drivers to drive safe, it makes sense to go with the flow and institute these innovations on every school bus.

This way, you as a school administrator or a transportation manager will not only simplify your job, but will also become a truce to both parents and students.

With the safety of children on-board being your paramount responsibility, you can bank on the above mentioned technological advancements as your daily guide to safe and uneventful school bus journeys.