Do your kids or will they, ride the bus?

DillsMommy wrote: Dylan REALLY wants to ride the school bus this year, but is kindergarten too young? I'm really not sure if I want to let him or not. It would be easier since we'll have a newborn, the school isn't big so the bus wouldn't be packed, and he would only be going about 2.5-3 miles. I don't know though, 5 seems so young. The other day he said "mommy I know you get to decide, but pleeease can I ride the bus" What do you guys think??

moped replied: I am not sure - we live in a HUGE city of over a million people, so I am not 100% convinced it would be great jsut yet. But then againif he isn't travelling to far, then maybe give it a try!

coasterqueen replied: My girls have a lot farther to travel, 20 minutes or so. I am going to let Kylie do it for preschool this fall. She'll be 5. She'll ride a small bus one way and the big bus the other way. I have no choice, though, because I work and the school is in the other direction (far away). I grew up on the school bus, so it's not a big deal to me to let her ride it.

You just have to go with your gut on this one.

luvmykids replied: I'm not sure yet, we live just over a mile from the school they'll be attending but I'm not sure I like the thought of them on a bus with the big kids yet. It's probably more my over protection than anything, they just don't seem big enough, kwim?

lovemy2 replied: I don't really have a choice - I work but I am not against it but still worried all the same....

gr33n3y3z replied: My kids always rode the school bus

but if we lived in a city and they had to ride a city bus heck no not in grade K maybe in 7th grade then LOL

DillsMommy replied:
That's how I feel. It's not that I'm against it, it just worries me. Atleast the kids he would be riding with won't be too old, only up to 5th grade. And everyone tells me, if he wants to, then let him, because most kids don't even want to.

momtoMegan&Alyxandria replied: Megan also begged to ride the bus at age 5. The biggest thing is the size of the city to me. We live in a fairly small town so I did let her and it was fine. I know the city schools she goes to has grades K-2 (maybe 3) sit at the very front of the bus, so there is no way any older kids can pick on them. She was on the bus for about 20 mins (with all the stops). If he really wants to ride the bus maybe you could test the water for a few days. Unfortunately they grow up and we have to give them some freedom. I wish I could keep mine small forever.

C&K*s Mommie replied: My girls were always promised that they can ride the school bus when they turned 5. And they'll tell you at what age they can ride it, too. Little did I realize how soon "5" would get here. Our oldest will be 4 when she enters into kindergarten in August (turns 5 in Nov), and I am still hesitant about starting her off with it. It is a decision that her father and I will be making in the coming month.

How mature of him to recognize that it a decision that you will have to consider, but he is right-- it is.
I say give it a try, talk with him about it every day- talk with the bus driver or teacher or other adult that will be present on the bus. It does not have to be a permanent thing if you are not comfortable with it. But I say go for it.

boyohboyohboy replied: my son wants to also, but I dont feel comfortable with it. I might let him ride it home occasionally if its just the smaller kindergarden bus, but i do not want him riding with older kids....
I rode the bus and it makes me sick to think of the things i learned early on....

BabyOwen427 replied: Well since I am a sahm I plan on taking him to school, I will probably be picking up my bgf's kids too since they are all the same age. But that is several years away so I have time to think about it. I will probably use the bus for days when I am sick or something like that. I rode the bus as a kid and I never really liked it, so I may make it his choice at some time but I would rather take him to school. But again I am lucky that I have that option. Some moms have to work and have to use the bus when they would rather not. to those moms

ihave4kids replied: I have school aged children and no,they don't ride the school bus. We live too close to the schools,lol

DillsMommy replied: I don't work during the day, only 3pm-6pm in the evenings (and longer hours on the weekends) so fortunatley I do have an option. I just figured with Peyton being literally only days old when school starts it would be much easier to wait for the bus with Dill, send him on his way and then get back to "baby duties" (hoping I can get a routine down fairly easily) Thanks for the advice though ladies, I guess it's worth a shot. And it doesn't have to be permanent if it doesn't work out. Gosh it's hard letting them grow up!

Brias3 replied: The kids don't have a bus system at their school, but just as well. I'm not all too comfortable with them riding in the first place, much less in kindergarten.

I guess it's a judgment call on your behalf, based on your comfort level and the maturity of the rider. If you think its gonna work, then give it a chance. Heck, my kids are disappointed we don't have the bus option!

Boo&BugsMom replied: Tanner wont be for a couple reasons....#1, he doesn't have to...#2, we live too close to the school for transportation...#3, it seems the bus drivers in this town are aweful!!! We have a local Bible Institute around here and I was told many of them do bus driving for a job, a couple of them go to our church even, and from what I know many of them are known for their aweful driving...no thanks. Love the people to pieces, but I do not love their lack of driving skills.

We have very small towns around here where there is not a choice other than the bus because the houses are way out in the country. Some are even required and not allowed to walk because there aren't any sidewalks and there isn't enough room for parent drop offs, the bus is the only option. I hope their drivers are better than ours.

lisar replied: I grew up riding the bus. Lexi wont be riding the bus though because I go right by there on my way to work.

Crystalina replied: We live in an very small town. I drive Izabella to school in the morning only because it gives her an extra hour to sleep in. The bus picks her up at 8am so I start getting her up at the same time the bus is actually picking the kids up. It's better for us all if she gets that extra hour of sleep. I let her ride the bus on the way home. We only live about 6 miles from the school but it's just easier for me to let the bus bring her home then to find parking and drag Evan with me just to pick her up. In the morning the teachers and Principal are helping the kids out of the cars while the parents just pull up (sooo easy that way). When Evan gets to school I may pick and drop them off all the time since I will not longer have little ones.

Also, Izabella's bus driver is very nice and has all the kindergarteners and little kids sit right up front where he can see them. THere is no goofing off on the buses at this school.

holley79 replied: If it's only about 2.5-3 miles then I wouldn't be too worried about it. You do have to do what you feel if right though. We grew up riding the "cheese wagon" .

Annika will probably ride the school bus.

mummy2girls replied: Jenna rides the bus to her school and she is 4. Thats tyhe only way ot could be done as i run a dayhome and i cant pack 6 kids in my car! . i was nervous and if anyone remebers how i was when i posted the day she got on teh bus for the first time! Kids love it though!

Calimama replied: It's awhile off but Bella won't be riding the bus.

3xsthefun replied: Kaitlynn rides the bus. We probably could take her to the school if we really wanted to since we don't live that far. But since the bus pick up kids on our route we thought we would let her. There is only 2-3 other kids that ride on the bus also. We live in a pretty small area.

msoulz replied: My son has always ridden the bus and he started K at 4 (October birthday). In our district the K's are in the front seats for the whole year. When he went to what they term Kindergarten roundup in April the year before he started they took all of the prospective K's on a bus ride and he thought that was just the best. I have to say, it was very difficult watching my tiny boy get on that big bus the first days, but he did just fine.