Talk to me about the bus!

I am having such anxiety that school is approaching and my 2 1/2 yo son will be taking the bus to The Little Village school. At first I was just going to drop him off and let him be bussed home but if I do that then I won't get home from work until 6:30 on the 3 days I go in the office.
He has PDD and minimal speech right now. I am so worried that he won't understand and may cry and get anxiety himself. I just feel horrible at the thought of putting him on the bus and then letting him drive away without him. Especially since he is so attached to me right now. Anyone have experience with this? Please tell me your positive stories!

Re: Talk to me about the bus!

I tell people all the time that the bus was the thing I worried most about when DS started school. He was not even 2 1/2 yet and I kept thinking "what if he gets lost? He can't even tell anyone his name..." I had no choice because I work FT and he was in a half day afternoon class.

He LOVES the bus. I think the transition might have been easier for us, because he was put on and taken off at daycare, so I was not part of the equation. From what I can tell, most of the kids like riding on the bus and DS's teacher even told me that the kids who don't ride the bus want to ride on it. Little Village should have given you a nametag for his backpack and a sticky one to stick on his back for the first day of school. I bought extra sticky ones and used them for the whole first week of school. The drivers are used to this and the school runs a tight ship with the bussing. Once he was used to it and I spoke with his teacher, I relaxed a lot about it.

I know they are so young, but try to think of it as just another transition, or milestone. Before you know it, it will be no big deal at all.

Re: Talk to me about the bus!

Thank you! I do feel a bit better. We go for orentation next week so I am sure a lot of my questions will be answered. I didn't know they need backpacks! I guess it would make sense if your sending them with a snack right?
Do they each have their own matron?
I wish I could just explain to DS that he won't be gone long and Grandma or I will be here when he gets back, KWIM? Did you go watch him the first couple of days on those TV's there?

Re: Talk to me about the bus!

My son is also PDD with very little speech. I was so nervous this summer because he doesn't know how to say his name, express his needs, etc. I helped put him on the bus the first day and then, like a stalker, followed it to school.

He literally runs to the bus in the morning now. His drivers and bus matrons are great. He usually falls asleep on the way home.

My DS is in a full-day program. He needs to bring a lunch box with 2 drinks, snack, and lunch. He has a backpack and they send home a communication book everyday in it. So far he has transitioned nicely. He started in July.

Re: Talk to me about the bus!

I'm glad to see this post. DS is going to take the bus this Fall, for the first time. I have been driving him to and from school, and while he's 3.5 and has good speech overall, he doesn't communicate his needs well at times. Or doesn't say what he means, more so when he's angry or anxious.

So I've been wondering how this will go. Every school we went to recommended it though, especially if he has transition issues (which he does).

Still, I feel bad not taking him to school myself his first day. But I'm guessing he'll be fine at the end of the day and so will your DC!

Re: Talk to me about the bus!

Re: Talk to me about the bus!

I was so worried about the bus.

Turned out DS loves it. Make sure to request a matron also. It's a different form.

Re: Talk to me about the bus!

Oh and I agree with the backpack. We put everything in it for the day. Even his lunch box.

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Re: Talk to me about the bus!

Re: Talk to me about the bus!

Re: Talk to me about the bus!

As I mentioned, this is a great post. Very timely, and I feel better knowing other children did well with the bus.

I just have to say, I'm picturing all these little guys and girls staggering under the weight of their backpacks! But I guess it should be good for DSs upper body strength--his OT recommends lots of heavy work for him, this should do it!

Re: Talk to me about the bus!

Re: Talk to me about the bus!

I am relieved also to hear that other kids did well on the bus. Really the only part that gets me upset is the thought of him not seeing us and wondering where we are and why we left him.
Did any of you go to he school the first day? Or do we just send them on their way?

Re: Talk to me about the bus!

My DS was a little older when he started taking the bus (he was 3).
I was a nervous wreck.
Turns out, best thing I could've done!
He LOVES it and I do too! So much easier, especially with DD at home.

The first day, I didn't follow the bus, but, I did go up to the school and watch the bus pull in. Watched DS come off the bus and walk into the building with the teacher assistant. I left right after that, feeling good that all went OK!

Re: Talk to me about the bus!

Re: Talk to me about the bus!

On our 1st day. DS was just a bit older than 3.

DH took the day off. We were waiting for the bus. Ready to follow the bus. I had my camera.

But arrived super late. BTW... they will be NOT on time for 2 weeks.

Took pics.

Bus leaves.

I misplaced the car keys. Finally find them. DH caught us to the bus on the road.

Then bus takes turns we are not sure about.

I asked DH if it was the right matron. He said yes.

Then bus turns left. It's a woman driver... we had a MALE driver.

Panic!!!! Then laugh that we are such morons and followed the wrong bus.

I scream to DH to catch up to the bus. I have to take pics of him getting off the bus at school.

We never catch up to the bus.

Go to his classroom and DS is NOT there. I panic. What do you mean he is not there? The bus was ahead of us, etc... Teacher calls the main office. DS' bus has not arrived yet. AND BTW... the bus will drive OTHER KIDS than yours. So they may stop to drop them too.

Teacher tells me to go outside and wait for him. DH tells me to breathe.

A few minutes later, bus arrived. DS is super happy of the bus drive.

I take the pics.

We go with him to his new classroom.

I need the whole morning to relax after that.


SO.... take note of your bus NUMBER if you follow it. Understand they might pick up other kids on the way to school and also drop those kids.

Re: Talk to me about the bus!

ugh DS is 4 and starting the bus this year! Do they sit in regular seats?

We were invited to come the day before, so I will do that, but DH will follow the bus the first day, since someone has to stay and get our other son on the school bus.

I haven't received bus info yet. We received for our older son already from the bus company - might start panicking soon, but I guess they have to figure out all the pick ups.

Re: Talk to me about the bus!

I didn't follow the bus or meet him at school. I wanted to start the first day the same as every other day he would go to school. I think I did call to make sure he arrived and made it to the classroom.

I guess we got lucky with drivers, ours weren't late. In fact, the one we had this past year was awesome, I could set my watch by her arrival, even from day one. I am hoping she does our route again this year.

They will come and do a dry run the week before school and drop the information off in your mailbox if you aren't home. The route #, pickup time and driver's name.

They have built in car seats, you probably requested on the paperwork what kind of seat you wanted your DC to have.

Message edited 8/19/2011 4:29:33 PM.

Re: Talk to me about the bus!

DS started preschool last year at 2 1/2 yrs old...he was nonverbal and had transition issues as well as tantuming issues because he couldnt communicate...i was working FT and was psycho about finding a daycare center for him so that his bus ride was literally 2 seconds...daycare was around the corner from the school...b/c it was a new daycare, i drove the director nuts about his needs, transition issues...i wanted to make sure he got on the bus on time, had bkfst, etc...We met the bus driver and she happened to live up the block from us...and she kept in constant communication with the staff at preschool about how he was on and off the bus...i even found out he wasnt having bkfst at daycare b/c the bus was picking him up when they were serving bkfst! We ended up sending bkfst for him...the first time i saw him get on the bus i cried my eyes out...he looked so cute and then of course the bittersweet feelings behind it all...his preschool is phenomenol...they made me feel comfortable that he was there all day, the bus driver looks out for my son and he looooves the bus! I see how happy he is when he sees the bus so that makes me feel comfortable...he is talking now....using his words to request 3-4 words and also labels everything that he sees that he learns...once yu see a positive difference in your child, you definitley feel more at ease that you "are not leaving him there" and you know that he is learning so many new things throughout the day! Good luck to him (and you!)