Help with My 6 Year Old

Did you ever try to make friends with another student that would be in his class b4 school started ??? I was having trouble with my little boy and that seemed to help... Cause then he didnt have the fear that he would be all alone there...

I agree with Karen B. Find out if there is an underlying problem at school.

If not, is there someone you could start a carpool with? If your son is driving to school with another buddy in class, that could be fun for him. They can walk into school together.

Make the car ride fun on the way with kid’s music or games.

Best of luck to you and your DS!

When you drive him to school is he reluctant to go into the building? Is it the bus or school that he is fighting?

If it's just the bus, I would drive him for a while so that his progress and feelings towards school in general are not effected by whatever is going on with the bus. Perhaps he'll make some friends in class that ride his bus and then will be more willing to give it another try later in the year. Also, would the school allow you to ride the bus with him for a couple of days? You'd have to arrange for transportation home once you got to school, but it might help.

If these feelings are actually directed towards school and he behaves this way regardless of the mode of transportation to get him there, then you need to have a talk with his teacher to see if there is anything problematic happening in school. My son went through a phase of saying his throat hurt every morning to avoid going to school. We discussed it with the teachers we asked him how things were everyday for weeks and couldn't figure out why he was doing this (obviously we also ruled out any true medical problem). In the end it passed on it's own and he's been fine going to school ever since, but you want to make sure you don't just dismiss this as him acting up. There could be a real problem that you and his teachers can easily solve for him to make going to school more enjoyable.

Good luck,
K.

Aw, poor thing. I hated the school bus as a kid. It is anarchy on the bus (or can be). I used to get horrible headaches! Is there any way you can just drive him? My heart really breaks for him. I wouldn't let anyone manhandle my child like that. Can you keep him home this year and you teach him? He's so young. It sounds like something traumatic is happening to him, even if it is just in his mind. I can just imagine him flourishing under your loving care at home. He could do school in just a couple of hours with you one-on-one, then he could be out playing and exploring and blossoming into a big boy. Please consider alternative solutions. You don't want his heart to be hardened against you from this. It can be knit closer together. Wouldn't that be wonderful? He is begging you. Who else can he trust to protect and nurture him?

Can't you drive him to school? He may have legimate fears about buses.

Why doesn't want to get on the bus? Is something happening on the bus? An option is to drive/walk him. OR try to incent him for getting on the bus - so many days of getting on the bus and he gets a special prize.... I'd first figure out why is is reluctant and address that issue. Good luck!

Give him a reward after school if he gets on the bus. This should take only a couple weeks. Or like a drill sergeant would do, make it apear worse than if he didn't get on the bus he would pay for not getting on. If he is having problems with older kids or kids his age on the bus teach him "verbal judo", it does not involve swearing, just thinking. Learning to box in the sixth grade is a real confidence booster but we are not to that stage yet.

is there a problem with a class mate on the bus?

Poor you and him!! Even if he is academically ready for 1st grade (I'm assuming that's where he may be for his age), maybe he's not socially ready which is so very important also. Is there any chance that he might be able to stay in or redo a 5K program and start fresh and new next year.

When things are calm, ask him why he doesn't get on the bus. Do not lecture, listen. Find out what his reasons are. If you know the problem, it will be easier to find a solution.

Another option is to drive him to school, if you can. We don't even have a bus service :)

I agree with the posters who said to find out why he refuses. Is it the bus, someone on the bus, someone at school once he gets off? I think it's important to find out. You are his best ally and he needs to be able to come to you for help. Show him it's "safe" and you are on his side and here to help. That's what parents are for.

Maybe there's a bully that is scaring the bejeezus out of him and he'd rather take whatever wrath you dish out than what the bully is threatening him with. This would not be a fun place to be. Instead, show how people can help each other and figure out how to change things.

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Why are you forcing him on the bus? Maybe that's the problem. Is someone on the bus trying to pick a fight with him? Talk to him in a nice manner, maybe he will tell you why. Is there any reason you can't drive him to school? What's wrong with the teachers, principals, etc; can't they talk to him. Forcing is not the way to do it. He's your child, find the problem.

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Why are you forcing him on the bus? Maybe that's the problem. Is someone on the bus trying to pick a fight with him? Talk to him in a nice manner, maybe he will tell you why. Is there any reason you can't drive him to school? What's wrong with the teachers, principals, etc; can't they talk to him. Forcing is not the way to do it. He's your child, find the problem.

I work on a school bus and I know that you can usually ride with the boy for a while. This may help. I think there may be some problem at school though.