Spinoff: If your DC is starting Kindergarten in the fall, are they taking the bus if driving them is an option?

I always thought I would send DD on the bus, but I have been hearing so many bad stories about experiences on the bus, I am thinking about driving her. What are your plans?

Re: Spinoff: If your DC is starting Kindergarten in the fall, are they taking the bus if driving them is an option?

She is going on the bus, just like DS does now. I don't mind though because it is only K kids since the school is all K.

I know the school doesn't like parents driving.

Re: Spinoff: If your DC is starting Kindergarten in the fall, are they taking the bus if driving them is an option?

DD will be getting picked up and dropped off.

Re: Spinoff: If your DC is starting Kindergarten in the fall, are they taking the bus if driving them is an option?

We have orientation next month so I guess I will find out how the bussing works but if its mixed grades I may drive her.

Re: Spinoff: If your DC is starting Kindergarten in the fall, are they taking the bus if driving them is an option?

Dd can take the bus, but I'm not comfortable with her taking the bus. The school is less then 2 minutes from our house, so I'll drop her off.

Re: Spinoff: If your DC is starting Kindergarten in the fall, are they taking the bus if driving them is an option?

Well, I'm sure my story I shared on here was one of the horror stories you've heard lately.

Buses got cut drastically in our district a few years ago. There are only 2 buses for my dd's whole elementary school. Pick up and drop off are a nightmare now due to so many kids NOT getting a bus. My DD is lucky enough to get a bus so my mission is to make sure the bus is safe. I'm not going to not put my dd on a bus because a few little shits can't behave themselves. I'm going to make sure that they behave themselves!!!

Re: Spinoff: If your DC is starting Kindergarten in the fall, are they taking the bus if driving them is an option?

Re: Spinoff: If your DC is starting Kindergarten in the fall, are they taking the bus if driving them is an option?

Both mine take the bus. It's only for their school (private) and it's only about 10-15 kids, and they have a big bus! Never had a single issue with either of my kids on the bus.

Their school is only 1.5 miles up the road, but I am glad they have taken the bus from the get go. Now with a new baby, I don't have to drive them every day. Plus, it helps in bad weather that I don't have to trudge out. PLUS, they get picked up and dropped off at my front door.

Message edited 3/8/2012 10:38:01 PM.

Re: Spinoff: If your DC is starting Kindergarten in the fall, are they taking the bus if driving them is an option?

Our school is K-8 and we qualify for the bus. DS will take the bus this fall. Our neighbors have children in 1st and 3rd grade who play with my DS. I actually asked them today to keep an eye out for DS. They readily agreed to do so. They said that one side of the bus has three to a seat and the other side of the bus has two to a seat. The kids are apparently seated with other kids in their grade levels. K in the front to grade 8 in the back. The kids told me that there is only a bus driver on the bus, but a monitor gets on the bus once in a while and every day when leaving to do roll call.

Re: Spinoff: If your DC is starting Kindergarten in the fall, are they taking the bus if driving them is an option?

bus.

Re: Spinoff: If your DC is starting Kindergarten in the fall, are they taking the bus if driving them is an option?

no bus

Re: Spinoff: If your DC is starting Kindergarten in the fall, are they taking the bus if driving them is an option?

We will give the bus a try first but plan B is for me to drive DD.

Re: Spinoff: If your DC is starting Kindergarten in the fall, are they taking the bus if driving them is an option?

While the school is literally less than a 5 minute drive, he will be taking the bus and he can't wait! I find the bus more convenient for me - even though he could leave the house later in the morning and get home earlier if I drove.

My older son is also on the bus and has been since day 1 (even though he was so fearful at first - I forced the issue). Honestly , I think the bus is my older son's favorite part of his day!! We haven't had issues on the bus - my older son is on it 2 years now. My school district changes schools every few years so they aren't mixed with older kids and from what I hear that is a nice thing!

Re: Spinoff: If your DC is starting Kindergarten in the fall, are they taking the bus if driving them is an option?

what bad experiences have you heard about the bus??
Matthew LOVES taking the bus, even though the school is like 5 minutes away. He socializes and enjoys that time with his friends.

Re: Spinoff: If your DC is starting Kindergarten in the fall, are they taking the bus if driving them is an option?

I think the problem with busses is that there is such a diverse age group. I mainly hear that the 5th graders are yelling at the younger ones etc... I know people that ONLY drop off their children but I just dont see that as an answer and I am not willing to do this bc the school cant control situations. I also dont want to make dd think busses arent safe. I will from time to time pick her up or drop her off but I want her to be able to go on a bus which is generally the "norm" in our society. Eventually they will be going on one anyhow. On a side note, I do know one protective mother that is driving her HS kid to date. I am not into avoidance. I cant forsee us skipping the bus for life. KWIM...

Re: Spinoff: If your DC is starting Kindergarten in the fall, are they taking the bus if driving them is an option?

No bus. Unless circumstances made it absolutely necessary, I didn't feel like putting my kindergartener on a bus full of mixed age kids where the only adult in charge is DRIVING. I would probably feel more comfortable with a somewhat older child taking the bus.

Right now driving is a bit easier for us anyway. Every morning I see parents and kids standing outside on the bus stop, in the cold, in the rain, etc. Meanwhile I put the kids in a car that I already warmed up, zip right to the school, and then go directly from there to whatever errand I have that day-- Target, supermarket, bank, etc (I'm a SAHM).

Re: Spinoff: If your DC is starting Kindergarten in the fall, are they taking the bus if driving them is an option?

We usually drive him in the morning, and he takes the bus home. I like to limit his time on the bus. Everyone says its great for them to take it but i don't know if I agree. It goes both ways.

Re: Spinoff: If your DC is starting Kindergarten in the fall, are they taking the bus if driving them is an option?

DS really wants to take the bus. We will try it and if there are issues I will drive. I have heard driving is hard due to limited parking.

Re: Spinoff: If your DC is starting Kindergarten in the fall, are they taking the bus if driving them is an option?

Bus for us...

Usually the kindergarteners will sit in the first couple of seats. also my school gives assigned seats by the 2 nd weekon school.

Re: Spinoff: If your DC is starting Kindergarten in the fall, are they taking the bus if driving them is an option?

We are walking distance so we will be walking or driving and dropping off. I am not sure I would like putting a 5 yr old on the bus with a 5th grader. In our district she will ride the bus when she goes to the next school which is 2nd - 5th grade. I will put her on the bus - but if there were issues I would not mind bringing her to school.

Re: Spinoff: If your DC is starting Kindergarten in the fall, are they taking the bus if driving them is an option?

Bus-for me I never considered not using the bus. Even now that I WAH and could do either, I plan on using the bus. Hanging out t the bus stop with the neighborhood kids, huddled in the cold or rain, playing tag before the buss gets there, seems like a rite of passage for kids.

I guess if I had heard of crazy stuff going down on our bus I might feel differently. We also know a lot of kids in our neighborhood and she is looking forward to taking the bus with them. I've seen the drop off line at school, no thanks!

Message edited 3/9/2012 11:42:42 AM.

Re: Spinoff: If your DC is starting Kindergarten in the fall, are they taking the bus if driving them is an option?

E takes the bus (she started K this year). I was concerned about it, but she met 2 sisters (one in K, one in 2nd) on the bus the first day, and it really helped her get comfortable. She still sits with them everyday and they walk to class together.

Occasionally I'll drive her or pick her up, but most days its the bus. (and I like that she's on a little bus)

Re: Spinoff: If your DC is starting Kindergarten in the fall, are they taking the bus if driving them is an option?

Yes, but he has been riding the bus to preschool for 2 years already.

I will tell you if you are not too worried about them being on the bus, putting them on the bus is about 1,000 times easier than dropping them off. The days where I have to drive him because of a doctor appointment or whatever are a pain. He takes the bus because I couldn't make it to work on time if I had to drive him every day.