Please ease my fears about sending DS to kindergarten on the bus.

So after waking up at 5 am this morning and listening to DH snore for the next 2 hours , I was unable to fall asleep because the thought of sending my DS to school on the school bus next year crept into my brain.

I started to get myself into asking questions of 'what ifs' and now I'm nervous. I know that kids can be mean on the bus, and I'm worried about that too, but not as much as:

1. The bus getting into an accident and DS getting hurt, and him not being in a car seat like he should. I know there are seat belts, but lets be honest, these kids don't wear them.
2. Getting off the bus at school and someone stealing him.
3. Getting off the bus and him wandering and getting lost.
4. Him not getting on the bus at the end of the day and him not coming home.
5. Him being on a bus for an hour before/after school when I could drive him down the road in 5 minutes.

I know that once he gets to school he'll enjoy himself, I'm mainly worried about him getting to and from school without my supervision. I feel like I want to drive him there everyday and pick him up, but I also don't want to start that habit for the next 18 years.

Any comforting words for me? Help me cut the apron strings.

Please ease my fears about sending DS to kindergarten on the bus.

I went through the same thing... the worry, the panic... i've been there. But everything worked out just fine. I would talk to the school about there protocol of getting the kids on and off the bus. They should have some sort of orientation before school starts to explain everything to put some of your fears at ease.
I found a good compromise for me was to drive DD in the morning and then let her take the bus home. I felt better and she got the "bus expierence". Also, you dont want your DS to sense fear from you. Try to make it exciting for him. Seeing him excited may make you feel better about putting him on that bus.

Re: Please ease my fears about sending DS to kindergarten on the bus.

Please ease my fears about sending DS to kindergarten on the bus.

What about if you put him on the bus, then drive to the school to meet him as he gets off... he will see that he will NEVER lose you!!! Not saying everyday, but maybe a few times until he see's that.
I also think this is different for little boy mama's... My expierence was with my DD and she was like " later mom"... and hopped on that bus. lol.

Re: Please ease my fears about sending DS to kindergarten on the bus.

That's why my kindergartener doesn't ride the bus

I am home though and am able to drive her and pick her up every day. My older child (special needs) was put on the bus at the same school one year, and wasn't supposed to be. Everyone forgot he was to stay after that particular day of the week (ever single week). I was outside the school waiting for him to come out and I received a phone call that a teacher saw him wandering the neighborhood. They are lucky something didn't happen to him! He now rides the mini bus, and my youngest will be driven as long as I am home.

Re: Please ease my fears about sending DS to kindergarten on the bus.

Re: Please ease my fears about sending DS to kindergarten on the bus.

Well DD doesn't ride the bus until 2nd grade but I wouldn't have worried to much with our system. The school she is at is only k and 1st. Would there be older kids on your child's bus? Do you have parents in your area you can speak with about their experiences? That might help calm your nerves. Rides vary. I hear for us it is less than 20 mins. I know when I drop off my DD her school's principal meets the bus or other teacher and walks the kids in and ensures they get in safely. Could you maybe observe a drop off to see how they work? I know the stop on our corner parent has to be there or other designated adult or they don't let them off. That is for 2nd - 5th grades. Obviously driving is easiest and less sressful and if it is 5 mins and you can great but if you can't speak with parents who are busing now on your block or with a child a year older in K now.

Re: Please ease my fears about sending DS to kindergarten on the bus.

I'm not sure if this is what you are looking for but, if you are not comfortable with it I would not send him on the bus. While many of your fears are unfounded - honestly, I've heard enough stories in the few months that my DS has been in K that have convinced me that I 100% made the right decision not sending him on the bus. For me, I did not feel comfortable sending him on a bus when he had just turned 5 with kids that were 11. My point is, I don't think you need to drive him until he is 18 but, if you are not comfortable with it there is no reason he needs to go on a bus at 5.

Message edited 1/23/2013 3:50:13 PM.

Re: Please ease my fears about sending DS to kindergarten on the bus.

1. The bus getting into an accident and DS getting hurt, and him not being in a car seat like he should. I know there are seat belts, but lets be honest, these kids don't wear them.

Anything can happen anywhere, even in your own car.

2. Getting off the bus at school and someone stealing him.

The teacher is there when Kindergarteners get off the bus and bring them into there class. There are so many teachers and staff out there that no child is getting stolen.

3. Getting off the bus and him wandering and getting lost.

The bus driver will not allow a K-child to get off the bus alone. Someone who has signed with the school has to be there.

4. Him not getting on the bus at the end of the day and him not coming home.

The K teachers bring the kids to the bus and they wear the bus # for the first few weeks around their neck.

5. Him being on a bus for an hour before/after school when I could drive him down the road in 5 minutes.

Not sure why he would be on the bus for an hour. My child is on the bus for about 15 mins the most for a 10 min ride.

Re: Please ease my fears about sending DS to kindergarten on the bus.

Thank you all. I'm sure some of my fears are unfounded, because it's been 20+ years that I've been in kindergarten. I remember getting off the bus without a teacher or aide there and walking to my class by myself.

I'm sure I'll just have to wait and see how they do the bussing with the kids when I get to the registration/meeting.

I just had this sheer panic when I was alone with my thoughts. I wish there was someone in our neighborhood with a young child that DS could ride with, but I don't know of any (yet).

Re: Please ease my fears about sending DS to kindergarten on the bus.

Posted by GoldenRod

1. The chances of being in an accident in your car driving him to school are much higher than him being on the bus.
2. In our district, only designated people can pick up DS at the bus stop. If you aren't designated, you can't get him, and the bus driver will bring them back to school.
3. Same as 2. The bus driver cannot drop off a K or 1st grader without a designated person at the bus stop.
4. The K teachers and assistants know who goes on which bus, and who get picked up, and they make sure everyone goes where they are supposed to.
5. Do you know it's an hour, or are you just worried that it might be? DC are on the bus for about 2 minutes. I think the longest ride for some kids is about 20 minutes.

Please ease my fears about sending DS to kindergarten on the bus.

DD started K at 4 and loves the bus!!! I wouldn't take that away from her based on "what ifs".

The bus driver knows exactly who is in K and they must sit in the 1st or 2nd row. The driver will not drop off unless there is someone there.

When they get to school, DD knows to immediately head to her classroom. The first week or so there were teachers out there directing them and I am sure year-round there are teachers on morning bus duty. We have never had an issue.

Re: Please ease my fears about sending DS to kindergarten on the bus.

I have the same fears! Ds will be 4 when he starts k. It's only k children though, but I do think I should drive him I worry about him getting lost too.

Re: Please ease my fears about sending DS to kindergarten on the bus.

Re: Please ease my fears about sending DS to kindergarten on the bus.

I think everyone's made some great points. I too was very anxious about DD riding the bus, mostly for the same reasons as you. But your district is undoubtedly very diligent about this aspect of their day.

I was very lucky- there are two moms at the bus stop and we have all become friends, so we've put each other's names down to pick up each others kids from the bus stop in an emergency. Though even if we hadn't, we all look out for each other so that has taken a lot off my mind. I hope you find a mom or moms at your stop who you feel comfortable with- it'll be a big help.

Re: Please ease my fears about sending DS to kindergarten on the bus.

No advice because I have the same panic attacks. I am dreading sending my DD to Kindergarten in September. She's never been away from me and I worry how she will be without me there to protect her. I know she HAS to go to school and realistically, she will probably be fine but I am nervous wreck too. I don't want to lose my baby all day and I am worried about everything while she's away from me.

ETA - I hate that grades K through 6 are together on the same bus. Wish they had a Kindergarten only bus. Such a huge difference in age, it worries me.

Message edited 1/24/2013 10:55:01 AM.

Re: Please ease my fears about sending DS to kindergarten on the bus.

Posted by Hofstra26

No advice because I have the same panic attacks. I am dreading sending my DD to Kindergarten in September. She's never been away from me and I worry how she will be without me there to protect her. I know she HAS to go to school and realistically, she will probably be fine but I am nervous wreck too. I don't want to lose my baby all day and I am worried about everything while she's away from me.

ETA - I hate that grades K through 6 are together on the same bus. Wish they had a Kindergarten only bus. Such a huge difference in age, it worries me.

Re: Please ease my fears about sending DS to kindergarten on the bus.

I too was worried about DD riding the bus at 5 years old. I did let her, as it is part of childhood. She does wear her seatbelt every day! I was surprised too, but she does. She has even told me that she has helped other kids open their seatbelts when they've gotten stuck. And the other day, she came home with the knees of her pants dirty and I asked what happened, and she said that her backpack fell on the floor and slid under the seat and she kind of whispered that she opened her seatbelt to get it (it was so cute...she obviously knew she shouldn't have and didn't want anybody to hear what she did). So maybe that will ease your safety fear.

On the bus, the kids sit in grade order, so they are not all mixed together.

Once at school, the K teachers are all out in front of the school on the first day to collect their kids. Each child will has a coded card (usually a cartoon character) and each K teacher looks for their character. And you will tell your DC to look for the teacher holding that character (usually a stuffed animal of the character). There are tons of people outside the school to help the kids get to where they need to be. He will not be wandering around lost.

When he gets home, he will not be allowed off the bus unless the person designated is there to retrieve him. Even now in 1st grade DD isn't allowed off the bus without us there.

Once he goes through the routine a few times, he'll be a pro and won't even need the teachers to help him. But at DD's school, there are teachers assigned to bus duty every day and make sure that all the kids get on and off the proper buses every time.

HTH.

Re: Please ease my fears about sending DS to kindergarten on the bus.

My DD will be starting K in Sept. at the age of 4. I am a nervous wreck like you. Due to mine and DH's schedule, she will have to do before and after care and because of this my DH will be driving her to school and I will be picking her up. I am elated about this because I wouldn't want her on a bus with kids up to 5th grade at this young age.

Re: Please ease my fears about sending DS to kindergarten on the bus.

Re: Please ease my fears about sending DS to kindergarten on the bus.

Re: Please ease my fears about sending DS to kindergarten on the bus.

I had the same fears. And I was seriously considering not sending my DD on the bus BUT my DH said I would be taking a good experience away from her because of my own fears. I'm glad I let her do it because she made nice friends on the bus

Re: Please ease my fears about sending DS to kindergarten on the bus.

Please ease my fears about sending DS to kindergarten on the bus.

That is not the norm at all. The drivers do not enforce it, nor are they supposed to since its not a law. Most of my friends kids have said their kindergartners do not buckle on the bus.

Re: Please ease my fears about sending DS to kindergarten on the bus.