Riding the School Bus @3Yrs Old

My son just started taking the bus on Monday to developmental preschool. It is a little bus, not a big bus, just so you know. I was so worried about it, but he loves it! The first day I met him at the school at the beginning and end, but today I didn't and he did great. His twin brother will be joining him in a couple of days (as a peer model) so it will be even more fun for him.

To prepare him, I talked it up a lot and sang many, many rounds of "Wheels on the Bus" LOL!

When my grandson was bussed to preschool, the mini bus had seat belts and we walked him to his seat and buckled him in. Then stood outside and waved to him as the bus pulled away. I don't think you need to follow the bus. The bus driver is specially trained for this age child. My grandson loved the driver.

If you follow the bus, tell the driver so that (s)he won't be concerned.

My daughter is considered special ed for physical reasons, though not handicapped, she started taking the bus last Fall at 3 years old too. The teachers actually advised not following in our cars and going in with her, didn't say we couldn't, but advised against it. They have learned from previous experience over the years the kids will have separation anxiety and those are the ones that take long to adjust.
My daughter loved riding last year and still does riding her school bus this year.

Just a personal opinion; I just couldn't send a 3 year old on a bus ever for any reason.

I wouldnt bother following the bus to school...let the driver and the para...who will be on the bus with the children have a chance to develop a relationship with your son. Do they offer a chance to ride the bus ahead of the start of school? I know they did that with our children before they started kindergarten, but I have never been involved with a head start program so I am not sure what their procedure is. Does your son have a favorite stuffed animal or other comfort toy that you could send along in his back pack, for the para to pull out if he gets scared or lonely?
I think the best thing you can is just what you are already doing...talk postiviely about the experience...maybe you can even find him a toy school bus to play with at home. Don't EXPECT trouble...expect him to go to school and have a GREAT time and he will pick up on those nonverbal signals that you are sending out!!

Unless the bus has harness car seats for the children he should not be on it. Compartmentalization (the tall seats, how buses are safe for kids) does not work for children under 50lbs, or around age 6.

Hi A.,
I had the same dilemma as you. Should I put my 3 yr. old son on a bus or not, contrary to lot of negative comments (too young, etc.). I decided to do it. Still waiting to get a bus schedule so I've been driving him his first week, I also wanted him to get used to the school first. On the bus there will be his classmates so at least he'll know them. I bought him a toy school bus that he plays with all the time and he's so excited when he sees a real one. I spoke to the moms that send their kids on the bus and they are satisfied with that decision, also the teachers said it would be a good idea but to do it right away before he gets used to me driving him. Good luck.

It sounds like he will be taken care of (since you mention he will always be supervised by an adult), but I too wonder about seat belts. From your description I would only let him go if the school bus is equipped with 5-point harnesses!!

My daughter goes to a daycare/preschool where they go on field trips. They have 2 small buses that they use for the children (holds about 24 I think). Each seat holds 3 kids and has a 5-point harness for each kid.

I did Head Start with my oldest, it was wonderful! The buses are specifically designed for transporting toddlers, they aren't regular school buses, there are seat belts and smaller seats, there are more adults per child, etc...
Try to volunteer in your child's classroom at least once or twice. I also joined the Policy Council and became very involved that way, even got to go to a few out of town conferences including the once yearly national one!
I hope you enjoy being involved in this program as much as I did!

I couldn't do it. My daughter is a very vibrant, active, social, verbal little 3 year old but even with all of this, I just couldn't do it.

I think he'll be fine. If it were a public school bus and he was a kindergartener who was going to be on the same bus with 8th graders, I'd be worried.
One of my friends' oldest daughter started school at a K-8 school last year. My friend didn't want her on the bus with the "big kids" so she drove her to school and picked her up. On the second day of school, the little girl begged to ride the bus. She said all her friends rode the bus and that it was "cool."
I think your little guy will get excited about riding the bus and you won't have any problems.

My son went to school at 3 for the same reasons. He did well. They did end up putting a car seat onthe bus for him, because he wouldn't stay still. That was fine, it's safer. We never had a problem with the bus. The driver and attendant were great. I couldn't take him, because my girls caught the bus to a different school at almost the same time. The 2 schools started at the same time, in different directions, so I couldn't drive.

Most special education bus drivers are really good. Just meet her on the first day, and you'll probably feel much better. It is hard to send them off at that age, but harder for you, then him.

My daughter rode the bus for head start here where we live and I never had any problems. She was on a full size bus too and it had another adult on the bus besides the driver and the bus was equipped with seat belts (harness like too) and they kids had to use them.

I'd follow the bus for a day or so too cause that's just what us mom's do :)

Good luck!
S.

A.,
My son took the little bus with seat belts and everything door to door for preschool. I called the transportation office in town and we went to visit the "bus barn" and check out the bus before the first day. This way we were able to explore it together and there was less of a woried unknown when they came to pick it up. As an aside, my schedule would have allowed me to transport my son, but the school staff advised against it because it actually makes the parting process more difficult. I was told that the bus transportation is hardest for the moms & the kids love it.
Good luck,
C.

I agree 3 years old is WAY to young for that. I can remember the first day of Kindergarten for me, after school I got on the bus and she had no idea where I live. I had a school bus laminated that hung around my neck telling her where I lived but she had no idea and dropped me off in the middle of an intersection 1/2 mile from my house. Luckily for me one of the apartment attendants saw me and knew who I was and took me home. My mom was livid.
3 years old is a bad idea, they get easily distracted and are easy targets for someone to kidnap. (I don't mean to scare you but with the things are the way they are now in days you can't be to careful) I would hate to see something happen to him. If I were you I would take him and pick him up if you can, or have a friend or neighbor you trust get him or bring him. Good luck.

State law should be that they must be in a child restraint. Is this so? Most kids are excited about the bus ride! I wouldn't stress or follow the school bus. For goodness sake, don't tell the child you're going to follow behind the bus, lol. He's 3 and will be just fine. Talk about it being great but don't over do it.

K. B
mom to 5 including triplets

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