HI! I have a concern. My 5 year old rides the bus to school. He is on the bus for a little over 30 minutes. I keep wondering if that's too long for a kindergardener to be on the bus with a bunch of other kids. I love that he says some of the boys are his friends. But the other day he came home and stuck his middle finger up at his sister. He knew it was wrong because he put it down really quick hoping I wouldn't see it. He then told me that 2 of his friends stick their middle fingers up each other all the time. THEY ARE IN KINDERGARDEN! I am sure they do it behind the seats because my son's busdriver is great and catches most things. I didn't get really mad at him because he didn't know what it meant... just something naughty. He is a good kid, but I am just afraid that being 5 and the youngest in his class (most kids are 6 or almost 6). He isn't 6 till August 30, 2011. I know that may play a part in it. His teacher said she can't tell he is the youngest because he does great in school. But I just worry that he may be exposed to things too soon on the bus. Anyone out there have anything similar happen? What did you do? His school is only 5 minutes away... so it's fairly easy to pick him up. I guess I don't want to dissappoint him. I don't want him to feel left out. He is in the same class with these kids and I don't want him to talk more in school because he can't talk to them later on the bus. I am just torn. I don't know what to do.
Oh... I know it happens everywhere and we do have great family time. Believe me... my husband and I are very accepting and forgiving of most things. Just wasn't sure if it was appropriate for his age. Guess I just get to thinking about when I was younger and the worst thing we did was get in trouble for talking too much. Now things are so much worse. We will just keep our family unit at home strong and our faith, the rest should fall in to place.
He is exposed to far worse on the school playground. Just teach him what's right an wrong and that just because someone else does something naughty does not make it ok for him to repeat the behavior at home.
Just so you know, this stuff happens happens in school too. My older boys come home with some not so nice stuff and they don't take a bus anymore (because we live close, not because of anything bad on the bus). Usually you can go to a teacher and tell them about it and they can tell you if it is going around the class or not. My 2nd grader was coming home from school talking about a pistol on a 007 game and the teacher knew where it came from and talked to the kids about it. The teachers will want to know so they can talk to the class about bad behavior before it become a bigger issue.
I have to admit, most of the "naughty" things I learned in my early years was on the bus by older kids!
That said, I loved having the time with the other kids in my neighborhood and it was fun getting to see the route and where everyone lived, etc. It helped me navigate the neighborhood on my bike better as I got older.
I think you did the right thing by monitoring your son's actions and what he is learning on the bus ride home. Continue to be there to redirect and explain what inappropriate behavior is.
If it gets to be more than you can/should have to handle in terms of "talks about right and wrong" I'd pull him from the bus and let him know that it is because you want to see him more (or some other reason not realated to friends - you don't want him telling them he doesn't ride the bus because they are "bad.")
Then if you want to try the bus again in first grade or later, go for it:)
Hang in there momma!
The thing is, he is growing up and at school or on the bus he is going to experience things good and bad. I don't think his age has anything to do with this. Because if he were in first grade, learning this same type of behavior what would it matter. He's still going to be subjected to this behavior no matter how old he is, its more about when.
I think all you can do is teach and guide your children, right from wrong. And let them go from there.
Well, as I posted regarding this topic a minute ago -I started riding the bus 20 miles one way at age 6. I'm sure I learned a few things I may not have been privy to until later on the bus! However, if he's okay with it and there aren't problems, I wouldn't worry too much. The other kids doing what they're doing -they'll do that on the playground or in the bathroom as well.Flicking people off/shooting birds is pretty early and normal school-learned behavior.
Because the school is so close to our house, my kids will most likely never ride the bus. I'm not getting up an hour earlier so they can take a 5 minute ride. If him riding the bus works for you and for him -let him -but if you're uncomfortable and there's no real reason for him to ride -take him. He'll still see and talk to his friends.
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Hi, M.:
Sorry to say: This is reality. Everything is done and said now adays in front of children.
It is not like in the 50's when electronics were a party telephone line and the family sat around one black and white TV watching shows with the parents and they show what we all watched.
The only thing I can suggest is to have family circles at least once a day at the dinner table and discuss what happened at school and how the child how he feels about what he is experiencing.
I regret that our society has collapsed into a free for all society.
I see that you are trying to do your part. Good luck.
D.
I would just talk to him about anything he repeats from the boys on the bus. Just explain that even though those boys are doing this or saying that, it's not nice/appropriate/etc.
My daughter will start Kindergarten this fall. I will have the opportunity to take her to school as well as pick her up & be home with her (I can work my job from home). I don't want her riding a bus for several reasons - to include bullying and also recent school bus accidents in our area (some fatal). Plus, school buses do not have seat belts, and after a fatal accident here a few years ago (which seat belts would have prevented fatalities), they still decided school buses do not need seat belts. My daughter will be in a 5-point harness until she won't fit anymore.... lol
If I remember right this is the age that my son was also doing this. I just told him that it was not very nice and he needs to stop doing that. He is now in first grade and I never have any more problems.
Ummmm..yeah..no matter how well you keep them "bubbled up" O. ride on the bus is all it takes to undo everything you've done thus far.
My son asked me about a word a first grade GIRL told him--yep--the f-bomb. Sigh. Bye bye bubble.
