bus riding kindergarteners

[Anonymous]

My child is entering kindergarten and this is her 1st year of school. She is eligible for bus transportation, but the school is close enough that we could drop off and/or pick up. Any thoughts/experience on kindergartners riding the school bus? How were you able to make that transition smooth for your young child? Did they ride the bus 1st day/week or not until after being settled in to the school routine?

[Anonymous]

Our school recommended that you send them on the bus the first day, if that's what you intend to do. We did that with DS1 who is now 8. He loved (and still loves) the bus. Favorite part of his day.
Doing the same with his little brother this year.

[Anonymous]

I agree with the PP, that your child should ride the bus. As a parent of Kindergartener, if you want to be there the first day of school, you can also meet your child there while they ride the bus. I know another parent who followed the bus and met the kids at school then stayed for a bit.

[Anonymous]

Yes have your kindergartener ride the first day. This gives your kid the power and confidence of the routine and the routines of where everyone sits, partners etc. arriving in one week later and he would be considered the new kid and might get shuffled in the seat assignments.

Also, most schools have the younger ones in the front few rows which I highly recommend. You really don't want your 5 year old mixed in with the oldest ones misbehaving in the back of the bus.

[Anonymous]

We took my kindergartner, now first-grader, to school on the first day to make sure he was settled and to savor the moment (and cry). He rode the bus home that day and loved it! The school has a wonderful system were all of the kids, not just the little ones, get to/from the bus to the classroom safely. In some ways, I think this is the highlight of his school day. Your little one will be fine and will get use to riding the bus quicker than you will.

[Anonymous]

Our principal said to do from day 1 what you're planning to do the rest of the year. We were nervous but dc was fine. I did follow the bus (as doc requested) but did not get out of the car at the school.

[Anonymous]

Also that first week everyone is looking out for kg kids and learning routines. It's better for kid to be part of that.

[Anonymous]

As dc requested*

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks for all the great advice. Makes sense to let her ride the bus from the very first day and get acclimated and comfortable with that routine. As suggested, I will probably follow the bus the 1st day, but I know she'll do fine. I suspect it will be harder for me than her

[Anonymous]

I have the same dillemma. Interesting to hear so many in favor of riding the bus. I'm struggling with being able to put my 5-year old on a bus with total strangers. Seems like a lot

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have the same dillemma. Interesting to hear so many in favor of riding the bus. I'm struggling with being able to put my 5-year old on a bus with total strangers. Seems like a lot

We struggled with this, too. How many kids are in your school and how many routes do they have? We realized that there were only 10-15 kids on the bus, and there was only one or two kids that are older than 5th grade (it is K-8). We put him on the bus the first day and followed the bus. That way, he could get into the routine AND we could see who got on the bus. It has been fine.

[Anonymous]

I am struggling with this as well. My daughter will be going to speciality school so her bus ride will be really long.

[Anonymous]

I WISH we had the bus option. Hate those drop offs every day. I would have sent on first day of school.

[Anonymous]

Follow the bus? Please, kiss your snowflake goodbye at the bus stop and go home. The teachers and administrators don't need you getting in the way. The first day of school is hectic enough.

[Anonymous]

The County usually (or at least used to) encourage parents to accompany their children to school on the first day as a show of support and involvement. Plus, students are bringing lot of supplies and could use help with them. We followed my son's bus his first day of K and saw his classroom, desk, teacher, etc. Most of the children had their parents with them. I did this throughout elementary, but just to help drop off supplies and say hello to the teachers. I never received the impression that the parents were in the way.