If the pandemic taught us anything, it’s that kids need socialization in order to thrive. While it may have been necessary during the pandemic, social isolation is very harmful to their overall wellbeing and can cause a range of psychological issues. During the height of the pandemic, doctors saw a troubling increase in suicide and depression particularly amongst teenagers. This underscored how integral social engagement is to the lives of children.
At Buggy, we are all about building community and fostering friendships. We want the bus to be a warm, welcoming place where kids can relax after school and connect with friends. We also love that Buggy opens up kids to extracurricular activities or even schools they wouldn’t be able to attend otherwise. Here are 3 ways that we promote socialization within Buggy.
Joyful Buggy riders signing-a-long to the 'Baby Shack' song on the way home from school.
1. Buggy Playdates
We offer complimentary seating for playdates on all our Buggy routes. This helps us grow our community and encourages social interaction between kids. It also gives the playdate child a “taste” of Buggy, without causing any disruption to the route.
2. Meeting Local Kids
When you live in a driving city like Miami, it’s a little harder to meet kids your age than in let’s say, New York City. People often complain that Miami is not as “neighborhoody,” and it can lead to feelings of isolation from neighbors. On Buggy, kid who live the same area, who typically attend the same school, get a chance to connect. This is especially helpful for kids who recently relocated to Miami, of which there are many.
3. School and Extracurricular Choices
Buggy is all about helping kids expand their horizons, with us taking away the obstacle of transportation. Kids can navigate across the city as needed for their extracurriculars. This also means they can pick their school of choice with less constraints.
Buggy is committed to assembling a curated group of kids for each van, based on school and area. They say raising a child “takes a village,” and we aim to become an integral part of that for busy parents.
Onwards,
The Buggy Team