To ride the bus or not?...

[Xero]

I can't believe it, but my oldest son is actually starting Kindergarten this fall. He has gotten so big so fast, I just don't know how to feel about it. I am happy and sad all at once, my baby is growing up. He is so ready though, and so smart. He has improved a ton, although he still has issues with talking to his friends too much in class and not always paying attention as much as the other kids, I haven't heard one complaint from his teachers about it in the last couple of months. Which is great, considering I used to get concerned reports about this and that at least once a week. He just finished preschool, and they had nothing but great things to say about him!! It was nice to see the words "he is very ready for Kindergarten" "can count well past 100" and "can read and write *MANY* 'high-frequency' Kindergarten words!!". In comparison to 6 months ago when the director of the preschool was talking about holding him back from Kindergarten if only he were young enough (which he's not, he will turn 6 September 1st), because of how far from ready he was maturity wise etc, I was almost in tears to see such good things. This was how I felt a month or two ago when his teacher stopped me to tell me that they were testing all the kids on their "sight words", and that my son was the only one who knew all of them!

So I had to brag for a minute lol, mostly for those of you that know of my past troubles with him and the things I have posted before. He is doing so much better, it makes me so happy to see it. Moving on to my actual question. Just looking for some input and opinions. We live "0.9 miles" from his elementary school. A bus does come to pick up the kids on our street (because there are no sidewalks, or at least not enough of them, to make it safe enough to mandate walking), but it picks them up at the end of the street only, rather than stopping at each of our houses. We live at the <I>other</I> end of the street, if that makes sense, it's definitely not right outside my door and I can't see it from my window at all. So I would likely take the few minute walk with him every morning and wait with him there until he is picked up, and then walk back down to get him in the afternoon. This is if the weather is nice enough. When it is cold, raining, snowing, etc outside then I will have to drive him down there and wait in the car and then pick him back up in the car.

My question is, is it really worth it to even bother with the bus? When I'm going to technically be driving him halfway to and from school (to get to the end of the street lol) half of the time anyway when weather isn't permitting (I live in northwestern PA, we get plenty of rain, snow, cold, and yuck). Part of me just thinks, why wouldn't I just skip the hassle of the bus and just drive him the other half a mile to school and pick him up from school every day? But then, of course, he is all excited about riding the big yellow bus with all the other kids. Riding the bus is an experience all it's own, too. It can be fun for him, and part of the social experience of going to school. I know he REALLY likes the idea. At the same time, there are cons to riding the bus as well, such as Kindergarteners being mixed in with kids of all ages up to 6th grade, and bullies, and trouble makers, and all those other fun bus-related incidents we've all heard of.

This seems like it shouldn't be a big deal, but I just can't make up my mind!! What do you all think?

Thanks.

 

[AmynKayla]

Wow! Congrats to you and him on the positive report. That's so wonderful!!

I can only comment from the position of a bus rider really. Kayla takes the bus most days, but she is a few years older than your little guy. I think convenience plays into it. I think if the weather is bad and you have to drive him to the bus stop and pick him up, it might be better on those days just to take him to school and pick him up at school, but having the option of the bus is nice too. I went to a school that was K-12, so we had kindergarteners riding the bus with us. It was a small town and honestly most of the issues were the older kids, not the younger ones. I'd think about maybe playing it by ear and letting him ride the bus some days, but when its more convenient for you to take him that extra bit or you're having to drive to get him anyhow, so may as well just pick him up at school (and chat with teachers, etc).

I bet he's so excited! Kindergarten is a big deal and it sounds like he couldn't be more ready. Amy

 

[akmom]

Congrats on his kindergarten-readiness! I can't believe they expect so much of kindergartners (and preschoolers) nowadays. When I was in kindergarten, everyone was just learning their alphabet.

Normally I would say, if you have the benefit of a bus route, use it! But living that close, I don't know. I definitely wouldn't want to drive a child to the bus stop in bad weather, just to have them escorted less than a mile by bus. I think I'd just drive them all the way to school on those days. But on nice days, if it's the difference between driving to school or having a nice morning walk followed by a brief bus ride, I think the latter is healthier and more engaging. And if there are other bus riders down your street, you could even have him walk without you, when he is a little older.

Do you have to commit to one option year-round?

When I was a kid, everyone walked to the bus stop, no matter the weather. It was unheard of to drive your child to the bus stop. Some parents would walk with the young ones, but no one drove. Ever. And now... there's a parked car at every bus stop! Someone told me they won't even allow K-1 kids off the bus if there is not a parent waiting for them. Part of me wants to say, "Give me a break!" but then I remember all the terrible things that happened when I used to walk to/from the bus, and I can understand. I was harrassed by dogs many, many times; left out in the freezing rain several times; forced to wait in subzero temperatures when the bus was late; dropped off only to walk home to a locked and empty house. I guess it's just as well that kids don't walk home alone any more.

 

[mom2many]

Let him ride at least the first few days and then go from there. It's not set in stone so if it really doesn't work out for your family you can always change it up.

 

[Xero]

Thank you, Amy! I'm very proud of him, and I think he is also proud of himself. He asks every couple of days "How long before I go to Kindergarten?" lol. So cute how at this age, they still don't really have a very good concept of time.

Congrats on his kindergarten-readiness! I can't believe they expect so much of kindergartners (and preschoolers) nowadays. When I was in kindergarten, everyone was just learning their alphabet.

Thank you! And yes, I agree. They are saying that these days, Kindergarten is more comparable to what 1st Grade was when we were kids. I just read an article the other day that said "Preschool is the new Kindergarten". I have no idea how preschool is still optional, honestly, I know I'm probably biased, but I feel like any kids who are starting K this year along with my son without any previous education are going to be at an extreme disadvantage compared to the kids that were educated somewhat beforehand (when I say this, I am also including people that take the time to work with and educate their kids on their own at home too, it doesn't have to be actually going to school, but unfortunately a lot of people don't do that either).

I was honestly made to feel that my son (along with all of the other kids), absolutely NEEDED to know things like - all ABCs, high counting and number recognition, writing his first name the "Kindergarten" way (first letter capitalized, the rest lower case), all colors, shapes, basic addition and subtraction, Kindergarten sight words, phone numbers, address, using scissors properly, and much more!! He does know all of these things perfectly, plus much more on top of that, but it does amaze me compared to the past, I know kids didn't need to know this before Kindergarten, they LEARNED it in Kindergarten. :/

Although I will say that ages have also changed for starting school, at least in my area and a lot of others that I am aware of. When I was a kid, they started Kindergarten at more around 4 or 5, whereas nowadays (like I said, at least in my area) they start them at around 5 or 6 and never 4. My son wasn't held back last year, his birthday was just too late. They have to turn 5 on or before the May 31st BEFORE the school year starts. So he will turn 6 just a couple weeks after the school year begins. My youngest has a birthday on June 15th, so when he goes to Kindergarten he will be one of the oldest in the class, considering he will turn 6 a good two and a half months before the school year even starts.

It's crazy!

Do you have to commit to one option year-round?

I have no idea! lol I guess I will find out soon. This is all so new to me, being the parent of an elementary student. I suppose I have a lot to learn!

When I was a kid, everyone walked to the bus stop, no matter the weather.

Same here! lol We all walked no matter what the weather or age. If it was cold, we ought to wear a hat and boots. If it rained, we'd better bring an umbrella. Simple as that. I guess in a sense our society is more scared these days, not sure if things have actually gotten worse, or if the media just reports more bad things more easily. Either way. My kids are a bit spoiled too I suppose. ha.

M2M, you know I think I will probably do that. Just start him off by riding the bus, and go from there.

 

[akmom]

I didn't learn any of that stuff until first grade. Kindergarten was about learning to spend half a day without Mommy and not cry!

Before kindergarten I taught my daughter how to write all her letters and numbers, know what sounds they made, and write her name in caps. I was so proud for getting her that far, until she started kindergarten and EVERYONE was that far... then I was just glad we did! She came home crying one day because she couldn't cut straight. Who knew a kindergartner would need to cut straight? I thought it was good parenting to keep scissors out of reach of preschoolers!

 

[Xero]

Oh my gosh, I totally hear you on that one! One of his school's continued complaints with him was that he couldn't use the scissors appropriately, and that we needed to work on that lol. He has it down now of course, but for a while it was like this big issue.

 

[cybele]

I sometimes wonder if the scissors would be easier to use for them if they weren't those silly plastic ones with no blade.

I mean, sure, the plastic ones are much, much safer, but I still can't cut straight with those things.

 

[Xero]

Ha, seriously those things are worthless! It was funny though, they would have the kids do projects where they cut out a shape (flower/butterfly/Christmas tree whatever) and then hang them all up in the hallway. Most of them looked decent enough, some of them were very good, and then there was my son's. lol Where the rest were sort-of-Christmas trees, his was like... a mutated shuriken or something. haha I was like oh yeah. Way better than a Christmas tree. That's my boy. xD

 

[IADad]

Ha that's the one developmental need for my consumer going into first...those damn scissors are his nemesis.

I can so associate with so much you wrote. Having that loves to read is a mixedblessing, he now reads EVERYTHING , including the lovely billboards that read"Lions Den Adult Super Store Next Exit." That's to them. We wouldn't want some corner of the world safe for innocent thought and exploration.

Add for the bus. It can be a huge source if pride for him to be able to do stuff"on his own"so, like m2m said, try it out, see how it goes. If he gets off on the self sufficiency and it's a social good thing for him then it may be worth the silly drive to the buys (besides you escape crazy school morning traffic that way.) Drop him at the bus and go for coffee.....

 

[Xero]

Hey, scissors, at least that's something he'll actually use often enough once he leaves school. You never know when you might need to wrap a present or cut a string off your shirt. haha

And yes, he knows too much about words now lol. It drives me crazy that DH and I can't spell around him anymore (some stuff we can, but nothing simple). That's funny about the Lion's Den billboard. Reminds me of two things. 1. My mom always tells this story of how I knew how to read when I was 4, and my grandma who lived states away came to visit very rarely, and the one time she was over I looked at the newspaper and asked her "what does rape mean??" lol. Awkward! and 2. When my oldest was like 3, she bought him a very cute shirt with a nice design on it but it seriously said "Lion's Den" on it???? What the hell prompted this company to make any toddler sized shirt with the words Lion's Den on it??? 0__o Never did wear it on him. And my mom is clueless.

I do like coffee.... lol

 

[IADad]

Hahaha, just where had mom been shopping? Was there a free t shirt with every $100 purchase? Lol. I'm guessing/hoping it's an entirely different company.

 

[Xero]

Lol!! If I remember correctly, she got it at Kohl's. That's where she always shops for them anyway haha. I'm pretty sure it was just random, had a lion on it and stuff so.... yeah.