Can I drop off my DD at the bus stop 20 minutes earlier before the bus comes?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If it gets as cold as it did last winter, there are going to be some weeks when you will not want your child outside for 20 minutes.

Weeks?

Did you miss the weeks last year when some school systems has multiple delays/closures for cold?

But when school is closed you don't wait for the bus. Weather is only an issue if it is at least nice enough to have school in the first place.

Yes, but there were weeks when it was so bitterly cold that we had delays/closures on some days for cold. It's not like it went from too frigid for school to balmy and comfortable to frigid again on a day-to-day basis. We had entire weeks where it was extremely cold outside, some of those days so severely that school was delayed. On a week like that, I wouldn't want my child hanging out for 20 minutes with no options for shelter/warm-up, even on the regular-schedule days.

[Anonymous]

I don't know if it is allowed in VA, sorry. But we did have an incident in our very nice neighborhood. Parents started noticing a car arriving and a man would just sit there through the time the kids were dropped off by the bus. He would leave after everyone of the kids was gone. Our community sent a letter out to everyone, it seems the guy was noticed for a week. He was reported to the police and we never saw him again. It was very scary.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Yes, but there were weeks when it was so bitterly cold that we had delays/closures on some days for cold. It's not like it went from too frigid for school to balmy and comfortable to frigid again on a day-to-day basis. We had entire weeks where it was extremely cold outside, some of those days so severely that school was delayed. On a week like that, I wouldn't want my child hanging out for 20 minutes with no options for shelter/warm-up, even on the regular-schedule days.

We did not have WEEKS when it was too cold to stand outside and wait for the bus. We had DAYS. And on most of those days, there was no school.

[Anonymous]

I have a similar issue with my 5th grader and preschooler, except we are not on a bus route. It's mom drops off or walk. Here's what we are doing (in spite of possible predator at middle school bus stops in the pm). Thanks MCPS for making it impossible for working parents.

1. Teacher knows child is walking. Teacher agrees that if her butt isn't in her seat at start time we get notice immediately.

2. Child has a Kajeet phone. I pay the $8/month to have the GPS auto-ping at 9am, when her butt is supposed to be in the seat. The phone stays silent and on in her backpack all day so the pings work. She texts me with issues.

3. The neighbors along her route are alerted to her being alone. We have also shown her the houses she can go to for help.

4. Other parents who drive their kids know to look to make sure my kid is en route at the appropriate time. You should try to let the other bus stop parents know this.

5. We added the modern version of a rape whistle to her ensemble. A $15, 125dB, push button, personal alarm she wears around her neck with her key. Goes into her backpack at school.

6. We have a winter plan not yet in use - I will drop DC at a friends house before I head to preschool and she will go to school with them.

Good luck. This only works if you kids is comfortable with it. I am not sure mine would have been in 3rd grade.

Take of this whatever helps you make your schedule work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Yes, but there were weeks when it was so bitterly cold that we had delays/closures on some days for cold. It's not like it went from too frigid for school to balmy and comfortable to frigid again on a day-to-day basis. We had entire weeks where it was extremely cold outside, some of those days so severely that school was delayed. On a week like that, I wouldn't want my child hanging out for 20 minutes with no options for shelter/warm-up, even on the regular-schedule days.

We did not have WEEKS when it was too cold to stand outside and wait for the bus. We had DAYS. And on most of those days, there was no school.

So you think schools should close every time it would be too cold for kids to stand outside for 20 minutes waiting for the bus, instead of school systems assuming parents are smart enough not to make their children do this?

[Anonymous]

Two words for you, OP

Jaycee Dugard

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Two words for you, OP

Jaycee Dugard

Right, so, we shouldn't send our kids to school either because of Sand Hook and Columbine...

we shouldn't let our kids go to the movies because of Aurora...

we shouldn't go on airplanes because of 9/11....

I'm sure there are more...

OP, if the bus stop is in a safe neighborhood, and your DD is ok with it, then she will be fine. It's not ideal, but it's not illegal, and not the end of the world for your DD.

[Anonymous]

Why do you need to drop her off? Can't she walk to the bus when it's time to walk? Do you have a neighbor who could keep an eye out for her once she is at the stop?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Yes, but there were weeks when it was so bitterly cold that we had delays/closures on some days for cold. It's not like it went from too frigid for school to balmy and comfortable to frigid again on a day-to-day basis. We had entire weeks where it was extremely cold outside, some of those days so severely that school was delayed. On a week like that, I wouldn't want my child hanging out for 20 minutes with no options for shelter/warm-up, even on the regular-schedule days.

We did not have WEEKS when it was too cold to stand outside and wait for the bus. We had DAYS. And on most of those days, there was no school.

So you think schools should close every time it would be too cold for kids to stand outside for 20 minutes waiting for the bus, instead of school systems assuming parents are smart enough not to make their children do this?

No, I think that there only a few days when it's super cold, and the OP can worry about those days when they are actually here, either by making other plans or by bundling up OP's child. It does not make sense to not drop off one's child in September because of a possible few cold days in January.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am new to the area, so I do not know about the rules (I searched, but couldn't find the information). Is it OK for the third grader to wait for the morning bus alone at the bus stop for 20 minutes? I have another child who needs to be sent to the preschool and the schedule is conflicting. She will read some books while waiting. I appreciate your advice.

Well if the bus is coming 20 minutes ahead of time, that gives you 40+ minutes before school starts. Why not take both of them, drop of preschooler and then drop ES kid off at school directly.

If not, show up at bus stop and start getting friendly with moms. Offer if you drop your child off in AM, you will watch theirs once a weekend - or afternoons.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Two words for you, OP

Jaycee Dugard

Do you know why we remember Jaycee Dugard? Because a case like hers is very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very rare.

Do you remember that kid who died in a car wreck last week? How about that other kid who died in a car wreck last week? And that other kid who died in a car wreck last week? And that other kid who died in a car wreck last week? No? Why not? Probably because it's a such a common occurrence. And yet, chances are that you put your kid in the car and drive places multiple times a week. That's where the real risk is, and you subject your child to it routinely.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Yes, but there were weeks when it was so bitterly cold that we had delays/closures on some days for cold. It's not like it went from too frigid for school to balmy and comfortable to frigid again on a day-to-day basis. We had entire weeks where it was extremely cold outside, some of those days so severely that school was delayed. On a week like that, I wouldn't want my child hanging out for 20 minutes with no options for shelter/warm-up, even on the regular-schedule days.

We did not have WEEKS when it was too cold to stand outside and wait for the bus. We had DAYS. And on most of those days, there was no school.

So you think schools should close every time it would be too cold for kids to stand outside for 20 minutes waiting for the bus, instead of school systems assuming parents are smart enough not to make their children do this?

No, I think that there only a few days when it's super cold, and the OP can worry about those days when they are actually here, either by making other plans or by bundling up OP's child. It does not make sense to not drop off one's child in September because of a possible few cold days in January.

I don't think anyone said that some cold days in the winter meant that it should never be done, just that if OP was going to do that, what was her plan for bad weather days? You're creating a bit of a strawman here.

[Anonymous]

Can your child just wait at home and then head over at the correct time?

[Anonymous]

Can you ask a family at the bus stop if you can drop DD off at their house and she can just read at their house and walk to the bus stop with them. Our neighbors have done that with us and it worked well.

[Anonymous]

Drop kid off at school, then take preschooler to school. Preschooler can be late.