First Day of School?

DS is going to NIS this September and I am beginning to stress out. He is not even 3 yet, is going to be going on a bus and I feel like crying! What do most parents do the first day of school? Do they follow the bus? I do not understand the point of this unless I am going INSIDE. BTDT?

Re: First Day of School?

Let me first start off by saying I'm a nut!!

When DD started preschool I drove her and after she went to class, I sat in the parking lot for the entire day and the next two days after that. I told them to call me and I'd run in if there was a problem and nada nothing. No calls and everything was fine.

When DD started K I did the same thing. I sat in the parking lot the first full day and again nada nothing. I wasn't needed.

The professionals at the school know how to take care of our kids and how to calm them down. They've dealt with separation anxiety and probably everything else we can think of. They are in good hands.

Now after two years of being crazy, after dropping DD off for 1st grade I'm going to get a mani and pedi : ).

If she was taking the bus for the first time though, I'd probably follow the bus the first day just to make sure she got out ok, but its really not necessary.

Re: First Day of School?

My son went to NIS when he was 3 and rode the bus, and I felt like you. I didn't end up following the bus though, but I remember it was such a sad day. Good luck!

Re: First Day of School?

My DD is just 3, and also will be taking the bus this year. I'm a wreck about it! I may end up driving her. I don't like the feeling of never seeing her teachers/aides or touching base to see how she is doing. I think she'll be fine on the bus, but I'm still worried about leaving her at the curb! The thought of wondering what will be going through her mind as they drive away with her will probably kill me! She won't be able to understand even if I explain to her what is happening, I'm afraid she will just feel lost and abandoned.

Re: First Day of School?

My DS is being driven to school and all the other kids in his class are taking the bus. He had a really hard time transitioning last year for his mini-program so his teacher doesn't want me to come into the classroom with him. She just wants me to drop/pick up at the front door with her to help the transition to school- he is a Mama's boy and just turned 3 as well. She wants to limit our conversations at pick up/drop off to ease the transition. But she said she would call everyday at lunch to let me know how he is doing and is going to write home a note in his notebook everyday. She told me to write down what type of info I want her to report on in the notebook. Ex. What he ate that day (he has a Gtube so we count calories), his mood, did he socialize, did he tantrum, ect. She also said that the therapists would be writing notes as well.

Maybe you can ask the teacher to call/write to you to help with the transition.

Re: First Day of School?

My DS started taking the bus at 3.5.
The first day, I drove up to the school and waited for him to come off. I just wanted to know he got there OK.
I found a whole group of moms doing the same thing. LOL
All was good and he LOVES the bus!

DD is 3, however, is not walking yet. I'm driving her. It's just easier with the stroller and walker for me to do it. Once she's walking, she's getting the bus.
Not going to lie. Bus does make things easier.
Of course, I'm anxious every single day, but, I know they're in good hands.

First Day of School?

AJ started taking the bus at 3 also, when he was 2 i drove him. i followed the bus the first day, and joined the PTA of his school. i signed up for EVERYTHING, and went to any meeting possible (they were all during the day) so i got to know everyone in the school and they knew me

he is starting K this year and i turned the bus down, because we live right down the street and since the PTA meetings are at night, i want to be seen everyday.

good luck , it does get easier

Re: First Day of School?

My DS was 2 years, 3 months when he started a half day EI class and started riding the bus. It was the thing I was most worried about, but since I work FT, I had no choice. I wasn't there when he got on or off, because he was in an afternoon class and his daycare staff put him on and took him off the bus. He LOVED the bus and when he started full day the next year and I put him on at home, he was so happy to get on the bus.

I didn't follow the bus to school, but since his daycare is near work, I did leave work the first week to see him picked up and getting on the bus (without him seeing me). I am a big believer in doing the first day whatever you plan on doing the rest of the school year. I have a kid that thinks if I do something once, that I am going to keep doing it that way. I was afraid if I drove him, even the first day, they would have a harder time getting him on the bus. But that's what works for us. The school nurse at our school is really good at checking to make sure all the kids are there. She has called me even after I left a message saying he wasn't coming to lfind out if he was not at school that day. In my experience, they are very careful with these kids, because they know many of them are not verbal and may have trouble communicating.

Message edited 8/28/2012 10:28:57 AM.