Advice Needed About 4 Year Old and School Bus

My neighbor's daughter started riding the school bus to head start at a little over 3 years old. She is very shy with people but she absolutely loves it! In fact, she is the one who begged her mom to let her try. Their bus driver (I'm told) is fantastic with the kids. I don't know about where you are, but here the head start bus is different than the regular elementary school bus. This means that the only kids on it are the ones going to the head start program (little ones). Hope this helps a bit.

Talk to the Head Start Director. They have been picking kids up for years...they know what they are doing. I bet she'll tell you they don't move until the belts are fastened. There is usually at least one teacher on the bus plus the driver.

In our state the head start kids ride on a separate bus from the elementary kids... but not all states (heck, not even all counties) are the same.

School is 4 months away... it'll be amazing to you the amount of development that happens in that period of time. The difference between 3 & 4 is huge huge huge. Also every bus driver I've even known (across 5 states myself in elementary) and my son's driver in K... were extremely safe and conscientious and aware of the little ones. Didn't keep me from following behind the first few days. ;) If it'll make you feel better... how 'bout arranging 2 or 3 days off or half days for those first few days?

ALSO...being on the small side is actually an advantage. My 5 year old was 4 feet tall (aka the size of a lot of 3rd and 4th graders)... so while small 1st graders would get extra attention from substitute drivers/teachers who mistook them for younger... my big kindergartner was at best ignored, and at worst gotten into a lot of trouble (apologies of course followed, since different things are expected of the K kids than the upper grades). But being small is an advantage where people equate size with capability.

My daughter was in kindergarten at 4.
I took her to school every morning, but she rode the school bus home. It dropped her off right at the corner and I was fortunately able to be there to meet her at first and then watch from the driveway to make sure she came straight down the street. She was never out of my sight, but she did just fine on the bus. She did great in fact and loved it. My daughter was really tiny, but she sat in her seat, the bus driver didn't take any goofing off from the kids and she knew if she didn't follow the rules, no more bus.
She hated having to ride the bus when she was in high school, but she was a seasoned veteran by then and I didn't really worry about safety.
As moms, we ALWAYS worry, but I would give it a try. Your little one might do just great. If he doesn't, then you know you have to make alternate arrangements, but for now, you're worrying a bit in advance, in my opinion.
Over the summer, I would get on a transit bus with your kids. Find a destination. Even if it's just to go and get ice cream somewhere and walk around for a while until you catch a bus back home. It can be a fun day trip and you can talk to your little one about how to sit down, no getting up, no opening windows, no goofing off.
I used to take my kids on the transit bus in my area all the way to the northern end of the line where my mom would meet us and we'd spend the day with her and ride the bus back home. I could have driven, but it was an adventure and we saw lots of people and places that you don't get to see right on the highway. My son is 14 and he's been riding the bus by himself for 2 years. I always put him on the bus and tell the driver where he is to get off and there is always someone waiting at the other end to pick him up, but all our practice paid off as far as him being responsible.
A transit bus is different than a school bus, but you can still practice with your little guy before it's his time to try the school bus.
I think once you feel sure that he knows the safety rules ahead of time, it might alleviate your fears.

Best wishes.

Is there another family near you that the parent drives the kids? Maybe for a small fee or exchange in watching the kids could work? I have no experience with buses at this time, as my son is only 21 months. But I see your fear. Also talk to the school and see what the rules are, if the driver straps them in or not. They might have a smaller van like bus, with seats for the little ones.

Good luck.

My youngest went to a pre-school program (not Head Start) that started before she had turned 4 (she has a November birthday). It seemed really strange putting this little girl on a big bus (not a short bus even, a regular size bus), but she did just fine. Our daughter is fairly tall for her age. However, there were some kids that were smaller than her that rode it as well. They all did just fine - but your fears are not uncommon. If your older son can sit next to his brother, then he can help him and make sure that he stays in his seat.

i would definatly contact the program. My stepson was in headstart, and they had a seperate bus. The driver knew every kid, and they had to have a parent also ride the bus every day. So the driver knew if the kid was on the bus, so no one was ever forgotten if they didn't get off. Plus the parent was on the bus to help get all the kids into their seats. Where the program was did have their own buses, but the headstart had to have one of their own. Since the kids are so little, the need that extra protection that the seats give them.

Don't the head start kids have a separate bus from the regular elementary kids? We have a preschool (not head start) at my elementary school and even though it comes at the same time as the regular buses, there is a separate, smaller bus for the "babies." :) The preschool teacher and her aides come out and unbuckle the little ones, take them into class and at the end of the day, they take them out to the bus and buckle them in. I would look into it further. I would be very surprised if your little guy rode the same bus as the big kids. I'd also be surprised if he wasn't buckled in until kindergarten. Just check into it so that you're comfortable. :)

If he sits with his brother, he should be fine. Just remind him to hold on. In Ohio, head start has there own busses, so you might check on that. I see them stopping on my route to school, and the kids seem to get on and off the bus just fine! Nothing to worry about!

M.

My son is in a similar program. He started last year and was the same age as your son. The busing system may be different where you live, but I would check with them...they have separate buses for the headstart program (the little buses :) They are required to wear seat belts. The drivers have to do a check on the bus after the last stop to make sure that no kids are left on the bus. My son did fall asleep once and forgot to get off (he rides from the school to his daycare). The daycare called us when he didn't come off the bus and we panicked. But, the driver found him when she did her check. I agree that it is a wonderful program and I think that you should do it. Talk with the bus service if you have concerns.

I work on the school bus and I can guarantee you that little kids love the school bus. I don't know about the state laws where you live but in UT kids have to be in a safety vest until they are 5. I think most headstart programs have an aide on the bus to put the little guy in the vest and make sure his ride is as comfortable as possible. He will be fine!

Often the smaller buses have 5 point harnesses. My daughter is in the Early Childhood Program and rides the bus. She started at age 3 and loved it. It made me feel much better than she has a seatbelt that is suitable to her age and size. An aide entertains them on the ride. Call the bus garage and ask. They should be able to get back to you and answer your questions.

well if you wake him up right before you go and make sure hes up and dressed before you leave let him brush his hair and teeth after you leave so he has somthing to do for the next 30 45 minuets i wouldn't sugest having someone watching him at their house because when i was his age i would go to a babysitters house and one time she gave one of my best friends a black eye because she him so hard and that wasen't known by my mom till i was 10

All of the bus drivers I have known are very conscious of the little ones and pay extra special attention to them (actually our whole school district is like that) so check into it a little more and I think he will be fine. It's always scary for mom though when they go off the first few times!

I'm just going to be blunt, so please don't take this the wrong way. 4 is TOO YOUNG!!! I think 6 is too young too! But for sure 4. If you want him in this new program see if you can drive him there yourself.

Best wishes!

The preschool we had initially picked had field trips all over in school buses. When I found out my 3-year old would have to ride in it with no seat bealts (or car seats.

The director explained the police told them it was OK, as it was easier to take the kids out in case of an emergency. For us, though, it was a deal breaker for us and I pulled him out. He's also on the small side and we too could not imagine him being safe in case of an accident.

After checking with other preschools, we found out this school bus issue was more the exception than a rule. Most other schools would not allow kids this young on school buses because of liability concerns, and field trips were either not done (activities were brought to them) or were to places within walking distance.

Perhaps you can find another, older neighborhood child that would be your son's 'Bus Buddy' - my daughter has one & I never worry about her on the bus.

I dont see a problem with it if the older one goes with his brother and stays with him. Of course you will worry. It's what parents do. Have any kids been hurt on these school buses? Probably not.