Will/did your kindergartener take the school bus?

[Anonymous]

A few comments:

1) I live 1/2 mile from school, but because of a busy road, DD is bussed

2) the issue is not going to school, it is coming home. First day of 1st grade, DD got on the wrong bus. Apparently, things were not adequately supervised...DW panicked.

3) Why take the bus? Try Nutley St. in Vienna in front of Louise Archer....either at 9-9:15, or at 3:55.

[Anonymous]

Advice:
Put a label on your child's shirt with the teacher's name and the bus number. Be sure your child knows both of these. Practice before school starts. Also, be sure he knows your phone number and address.

[Anonymous]

more advice:
If you have an older neighbor who is riding the bus, ask if he/she could help your child the first day. If it makes you feel better, offer to pay.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We haven't because of food allergies. There seems to be no good way at all for dd to have her epipen with her and a reliable adult to administer if necessary. Even her allergist said that he does not consider the school bus a safe environment for children with food allergies.

Obviously every situation and school can be different, but having worked in an elementary school, I have observed students with epipens dropping them off in the clinic in the morning and picking them up in the afternoon so they had them in their book bag on the bus. Bus drivers can and are trained to administer an epipen. Is it ideal? I don't know. It can be set up through the students health plan, and as I said obviously is depended on the situation, maturity of the student, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Take the bus.

Why would you clog the roads and school parking lot?

+1
I will never understand why people who get buses drive their kids when there are no extenuating circumstances.

I don't like standing there waiting for the bus, it is a waste of time. I rather drop them off to school an be on my way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:First day.

No, don't do this. I work at an elementary school, and consistency from day 1 is key. I've seen kids whose parents drive them on the first day and pick them up. Then on the second day, they're a mess. They are crying at dismissal because there is no parent to pick them up. In the morning, they're wondering why they're not driving and wondering who will help them.

Start the daily routine on the first day. You can drive behind the bus if you like, but make your kid do the routine from day one.

These are the same SAHMs who eat lunch with their kids in high school.

Yes, and we take them to all their sports because we can, we cook amazing healthy meals, go shopping, take any classes we want and work out very hard so we can eat our bonbons and still look hot. Jealous much?

[Anonymous]

Start the daily routine on the first day. You can drive behind the bus if you like, but make your kid do the routine from day one.

What is so wrong with this? I wouldn't do it after the first day, but if the mom is that worried. Mine were walkers. I didn't walk them all year, but I did walk with them the first day. Then, they walked with the neighbors. I usually walked part of the way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I don't like standing there waiting for the bus, it is a waste of time. I rather drop them off to school an be on my way.

I........ I...........

Yes, we know... It's all about me.........

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I don't like standing there waiting for the bus, it is a waste of time. I rather drop them off to school an be on my way.

I........ I...........

Yes, we know... It's all about me.........

Not breaking any rules. Our school was very clear, a parent can bring their kid riding a horse for all they care. The only rule is that they take their assigned mode of transportation to go home in order to facilitate dismissal. So why wouldn't I do what is most convenient for me in the mornings? If you are inconveniencing yourself to make others happy that is your problem, not mine.

[Anonymous]

My kids absolutely love the bus. They haven't had any bad experiences--I mean nothing that is not a minor event which can be turned into a learning experience (like hearing a bad word or getting scolded for standing up, that sort of thing). If you ask them what they like about school, they'll say recess and the bus. They really look up to the patrols and want to be patrols when they are old enough. They have become best friends with kids from our bus stop. And the bus stop has created a little community among parents. I love the bus experience. I never had it as a kid and am so happy my kids do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We drive or walk. I have a K and 2nd grader.

Reason. Bus comes at 8:19am. School is only 0.7 miles away through the neighborhood. School does not start until 9am. My kids routinely sleep until 8am. We depart at 8:45am. Gives us a more relaxed morning to walk or drive. I only go through neighborhood roads that are unclogged/empty.

I pick-up in afternoons because a lot of time they want to hang out on playground with friends if we don't have sports' practices or games after...or they do an enrichment which I have to pick them up anyway.

We've talked about the bus and may use it in the future. For now-this works well for us.

I WAH so it is easy for me to get them.

What school district gives you a bus if you are only 0.7 miles away. I'm the process of appealing with my school district because I WANT a bus and we are right on the distance border (0.8 miles.)

We are in N.Arlington--but there is a semi-busy road kids have to cross. If the made a fix for this older elementary kids could make it no problem.

[Anonymous]

I don't like standing there waiting for the bus, it is a waste of time. I rather drop them off to school an be on my way.

Of course, you could use the time as teachable moments. How are your children ever going to learn patience? Doesn't sound like you have any.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:First day.

No, don't do this. I work at an elementary school, and consistency from day 1 is key. I've seen kids whose parents drive them on the first day and pick them up. Then on the second day, they're a mess. They are crying at dismissal because there is no parent to pick them up. In the morning, they're wondering why they're not driving and wondering who will help them.

Start the daily routine on the first day. You can drive behind the bus if you like, but make your kid do the routine from day one.

These are the same SAHMs who eat lunch with their kids in high school.

Yes, and we take them to all their sports because we can, we cook amazing healthy meals, go shopping, take any classes we want and work out very hard so we can eat our bonbons and still look hot. Jealous much?

The nagging shrew who lives next door...

[Anonymous]

I don't drive, so this is a no brainer.