How old does a child have to be to wait for a school bus alone?

[Anonymous]

I did in kindergarten. It's crazy we don't do this anymore.

[Anonymous]

This thread has gotten really weird.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My son just turned 6 and is currently in kindergarten. Currently I drive him to school every morning at kiss n ride. DS WANTS to take the bus in the morning. Just wondering if it is ok for him to walk half a block to the bus stop. I am not sure if I would even feel comfortable with it but I am wondering if there is some age cut off. We are in Fairfax County.

It isn't an age cut off. Kindergarteners need an adult at the bus stop for pick up and drop off. Next year, it will be fine. Why can't you walk to the bus stop with him?

Because she is lazy

OP here. I drive my kid to school everyday. In those 40 min, I would be showering and getting myself and younger child ready for preschool. If my kid can't go to the bus stop alone, I am going to continue to drive him at 8:40.

I am not a helicopter parent, but no way would I even let my second grader wait alone at the bus stop. So, if it is more important to you to sleep in and shower later instead of showering early, then you need to keep driving him.

Um, yeah, you are.

[Anonymous]

Do all of your kids have their own bus stops? Our closest bus stop is a ton of kids. I have 2 kids who take the bus together but even if they don't they are never "alone" at the bus stop unless they are the first to arrive. There are like 13 kids at the bus stop with them. I don't think anyone's parent goes with them in the morning except maybe on the first day of kindergarten or first grade. Occasionally I will walk to meet the bus with my preschooler but that's just because she likes to see the bus, not for my older kid's safety.

My closest stop is very close- 2 houses away and I can see/hear the bus pull up so that's nice. I wouldn't let a kinder kid walk alone if it's more than a block and if it's against the rules, you just can't do it. 2 mornings a week my kids have to be at school early for a musical lesson and I drive them and on those days I just get up 20 minutes earlier so I am showered and done before we leave at the earlier time. The bus is so much easier for me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I am not a helicopter parent, but no way would I even let my second grader wait alone at the bus stop. So, if it is more important to you to sleep in and shower later instead of showering early, then you need to keep driving him.

If somebody didn't allow their 7-year-old or 8-year-old to walk unaccompanied for half a block on a cul-de-sac to the school bus stop, I would consider that person a helicopter parent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People she doesn't feel like doing what she would need to do to accompany her kid to the bus stop!!! Why is that so hard to understand? It would disrupt her routine, which isn't worth it to her. Whatever. Fair enough.

OP here. Thank you. If my child's school start time changed or something else changed, I would change our routine. Our routine is fine the way it is. We live in a neighborhood with large yards and it would be a pain in the ass to walk past the 4 houses plus yards to get to the end of our cul de sac. The bus stop is just out of my vision from our window. I don't want to wake up my elementary school earlier just so he can hang out with his friends for 15 min on the bus ride to school.

And yet you think it is ok for your kindergartener to do this everyday by himself?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Dear GOD OP. Get up BEFORE your children and shower. That way you can walk you child to the bus stop. It's safer. Why the hell would you risk it. If you simply won't get up earlier, then just keep your routine as is. I honestly would report a family for letting a 6 year old go to the bus stop alone. So many things can happen.

I like waking up around 7:30. I usually have a cup of coffee and am making breakfast before kids wake up. Kids wake up on their own around 7:45. I shower while kids eat. Our routine works well for our family.

If it works well for your family, why did you start this thread??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People she doesn't feel like doing what she would need to do to accompany her kid to the bus stop!!! Why is that so hard to understand? It would disrupt her routine, which isn't worth it to her. Whatever. Fair enough.

OP here. Thank you. If my child's school start time changed or something else changed, I would change our routine. Our routine is fine the way it is. We live in a neighborhood with large yards and it would be a pain in the ass to walk past the 4 houses plus yards to get to the end of our cul de sac. The bus stop is just out of my vision from our window. I don't want to wake up my elementary school earlier just so he can hang out with his friends for 15 min on the bus ride to school.

And yet you think it is ok for your kindergartener to do this everyday by himself?

(not OP) .

Yes. Perfectly okay. It's some yards, not a minefield. It's a pain for an adult who has 2342359303 other things to do in the morning. It is not a pain for the kindergartner who has one job: Get to the bus stop.

[Anonymous]

Why put your child at risk? So you can selfishly get 15 minutes of extra sleep? Get your arse out of bed and shower before your children wake up, princess!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My son just turned 6 and is currently in kindergarten. Currently I drive him to school every morning at kiss n ride. DS WANTS to take the bus in the morning. Just wondering if it is ok for him to walk half a block to the bus stop. I am not sure if I would even feel comfortable with it but I am wondering if there is some age cut off. We are in Fairfax County.

It isn't an age cut off. Kindergarteners need an adult at the bus stop for pick up and drop off. Next year, it will be fine. Why can't you walk to the bus stop with him?

Because she is lazy

Go away. So rude and unnecessary. She has a kindergartener and at least one younger child. You know nothing.

So what? She will cut corners because she has more children?
Crazy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People she doesn't feel like doing what she would need to do to accompany her kid to the bus stop!!! Why is that so hard to understand? It would disrupt her routine, which isn't worth it to her. Whatever. Fair enough.

OP here. Thank you. If my child's school start time changed or something else changed, I would change our routine. Our routine is fine the way it is. We live in a neighborhood with large yards and it would be a pain in the ass to walk past the 4 houses plus yards to get to the end of our cul de sac. The bus stop is just out of my vision from our window. I don't want to wake up my elementary school earlier just so he can hang out with his friends for 15 min on the bus ride to school.

And yet you think it is ok for your kindergartener to do this everyday by himself?

What the heck is Op even asking? If waking your 6 year old up early and seeing that he gets to his bus stop safely is a huge pain for you then just continue to drive him. Yeah, he wants to hang with his friends that's understandable. But you're the adult and his safety comes first. Drive him.

[Anonymous]

I can't believe you don't even know what time the bus comes! That says a lot.

Look, figure that out, mentally walk through your alternatives and decide. It seems crazy to let a 6yo walk alone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People she doesn't feel like doing what she would need to do to accompany her kid to the bus stop!!! Why is that so hard to understand? It would disrupt her routine, which isn't worth it to her. Whatever. Fair enough.

OP here. Thank you. If my child's school start time changed or something else changed, I would change our routine. Our routine is fine the way it is. We live in a neighborhood with large yards and it would be a pain in the ass to walk past the 4 houses plus yards to get to the end of our cul de sac. The bus stop is just out of my vision from our window. I don't want to wake up my elementary school earlier just so he can hang out with his friends for 15 min on the bus ride to school.

And yet you think it is ok for your kindergartener to do this everyday by himself?

What the heck is Op even asking? If waking your 6 year old up early and seeing that he gets to his bus stop safely is a huge pain for you then just continue to drive him. Yeah, he wants to hang with his friends that's understandable. But you're the adult and his safety comes first. Drive him.

Or teach him how to walk the 500 ft to the bus stop safely.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I can't believe you don't even know what time the bus comes! That says a lot.

Look, figure that out, mentally walk through your alternatives and decide. It seems crazy to let a 6yo walk alone.

But why??? It's a half block, not a mile! He wouldn't even have to cross any streets. A 6 year old should be more than capable to do this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can't believe you don't even know what time the bus comes! That says a lot.

Look, figure that out, mentally walk through your alternatives and decide. It seems crazy to let a 6yo walk alone.

But why??? It's a half block, not a mile! He wouldn't even have to cross any streets. A 6 year old should be more than capable to do this.

It's a simple difference of opinion about what's safe.