Hello everyone. I have been an at home mom for the past 1 1/2 yrs. Now I am ready to get back in the work force and send my daughter off to school. She is enrolled in a intergrated class with kids that have speech problems. She will be getting theropy twice a week and the good thing about it is that 1/2 of the kids have speech problems and the other 1/2 doesn't. I am fine with everything but now I am worried about busing. she has to get on the bus to get to school. I can not take her myself but its in the opposite direction of my job and I have to be to work very very early in the morning (7 am to be exact). Does anyone have any suggestion on how to get my child to go with complete stranger to a school that she has only been to once.
Thanks to everyone for your advice. I wasn't able to get the bus company to come out but I did ride the public bus with her so she could understand what she was about to do. I talked to her over the next three days letting her know she was about to go to school and ride the bus all by herself. The first day was a little cry but nothing major. Now it has been two weeks and she has been doing fine. She actually waives bye and tries to close the bus door herself. Thanks to all for the help.
go with her the first time, like any transition she will get used to it and not even notice you're not there after 1-2 times.
these things are generally harder on us than they are on them most of the time
good luck
K.
My son David aged out of the speech program at home and need to transition into reagular school and he had to take the bus cause his program was only offered in one school and it was across town and I was so nervious about sending him off by himself, he is my sensitive child and I was so afraid that he would start to cry and then be sooo upset once he got to school. But I contacted the transportation department for the board of ed and asked them if they could send the bus to my house so that my son could meet the driver and aid and to see the bus and to my surprise they did so it was nice for him to meet them and explore the bus before he had to actually go on it. You may try that. For your benefit become very friendly with the driver and aide exchange cell phone #'s that way you feel you can contact them if you need or vice versca. David had a great first day he waved by and got on the bus the second day he cried but the aide said he stoppped once he got to the corner and was fine. Hope this helps you!
My advice is that you take some time off during her first few days of school and take her to school yourself. Don't send her on the bus for the first day or two. Or, ask if you can ride the bus with her one day. It's not like putting a 5 or 6 y.o. on the bus. She is still a toddler and this will be a big separation for her. Separating from you to go on the bus will be one big transition. Going into the school will be another. Two at once seem like it could be potentially overwhelming for your daughter without your (or another trusted adult's) support.
Hi Nanthle,
I feel your dilemma with the bus for any child. I have two boys and my oldest just started kindergarten this year. He was so excited the first day because he was going to go to 'big boy school' now. The second day however, he had anxiety and kept telling me he didn't want to go on the bus. After a week or so of dragging him to the bus stop I finally realized he was just adjusting to a new routine, new kids in his face etc... after that first week he adjusted very well and has no trouble since.
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i think you have to make arrangements at work and get with her on the bus for a few days
and if the school says no, insist on it
1.5 is very young to go at it herself right away
My son started an integrated preschool this past fall and they bus him both ways. I was concerned because he was just 3 1/2, but he loves it!!! Even the first day, he hopped on the bus and didn't look back. As I stood there with tears streaming down my face that my baby was leaving with a "stranger", my son with an ear to ear grin waved as the bus pulled away. He's so excited to see the bus roll up to the house, but he's even more excited to see me standing at the end of the driveway when he gets home. It's hard to trust that other people will be as "safe" with our children as we are.... Good Luck!
T.
Best bet is to invite the person who will be standing out there at the bus stop with her, over for coffee, and lunch
THis way she gets familiar with her,
If you haven't made a PLAN, then now is the time,
you really need a person in your area, for snowdays, early dismissals, and WHATEVER,
One of the SAHM's is the perfect place for her,
Bring her to make friends, this is what will work
M
If she loves the movie "Monsters" you will likely be able to explain that while sometimes others are scary at first they have your best interests in mind. Especially if you introduce them. So see if you can find an older buddy and introduce them
So that your daughter will have someone to go to.
Visit the school with her and find an adult buddy there too.
She'll have her own team taking care of her just like in the movie.
Hi, I know that it can be a scary thing to let your child go on a bus. Your daughter should be taught stranger danger but be told that the driver is someone you know. You should take her to the bus stop several times and help her with the transition. Do not ride the bus with her you will start a bas habit and she will not learn and wonder why you aren't with her all of the time. By the way you should feel comfortable asking her driver any questions that you may have. Sometimes the school experience is harder for the parent than the child. Children are very adaptable even at a young age. To make your daughter and you feel better, find time to go to the school and observe the class at your convienence. I watched my child once and he didn't know I was there. It was such a relief to see how he interacted and thrived in his enviroment. Hope this helps! And remember your child understands more than you think so communication is key.
Practice. Practice. Thats ridiculous to think that your plans would be successful if you don't introduce her to the person watching her and getting her on the bus. Your plan is half done. you need to keep going.
My guess is that she will love the bus. I hear that most kids do. My son takes a school bus home from his program no problem. You would be surprised.
I don't know your daughters temperment but most children take on their parents fear...if you think it's going to be scary they will too....just talk about it and make it sound fun...give her something to do on the bus, like counting how many steps to get up and tell her you want to know all about her exciting ride when she gets home....make a big deal about how big she is getting to ride the bus...let her take something small of yours in her pocket so if she does get scared she can pull it out and feel better...best of luck!
