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Post by shawns20 on Aug 22, 2007 13:46:08 GMT -5
Hi,
My name is Shawn and my little guy Ryan who is almost 5 started preschool yesterday. To my surprise the school district is picking up the preschoolers who want a ride and bringing them to the preschool. Ryan is ecstatic at the chance to ride the bus. I am scared out of my wits but he does have an older brother who will ride with him. They did not offer to pick him up at our house, is this something that I can request? Have any of you put your preschoolers on a bus? He just seems so little and Im really nervous about it. Any input would be greatly appreciatted.
Thanks so much,
Shawn
Mom to Keigan 9, Ryan 4 ds, and Maya 1.
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Post by meghans_mom on Aug 22, 2007 14:56:49 GMT -5
Shawn
Everyone I know who has a preschooler who takes the bus -- the child is picked up at the house, not at the regular bus stop. how far away is it from your house?
the only thing is, its only preschoolers on the bus (for a preschool)...when my daughter started kindy last year she was also picked up at our driveway - as was every kindergarten child (even if they lived next door to each other) -- there were only kindy kids on the bus though....
it would make me nervous as heck too....is there an aide on the bus for Ryan? i would definitely look into both....i think a 4/5 year old should be picked up at the door...do you have to walk to the stop & wait with him each day? are you able to?
our kindergarten made us walk the child out andthen wait in the afternoon to get them off the bus as well....
they shouldnt make your 9 year old responsible for the younger one (if that is their excuse)....i would ask what is to happen if your older child can't get on the bus one day, or stays after school? and if you have a decent (far) walk to the bus stop then you have to bring your one year old with you?
and lastly - size wise...is he able to ride a bus w/out a booster seat? do they have a booster seat available for him? who makes sure he buckles himself in...what would happen in case of a (God Forbid) emergency? Who would be responsible for Ryan? If he has problems staying seated/buckled or has poor safety awareness..and what 4/5 year old doesnt (lol!!)....
I don't blame you for not feeling comfortable about it....
good luck & let us know...
laurie
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Post by lorraine on Aug 22, 2007 15:01:04 GMT -5
Hello Shawn,
Sorry I can't help you with your question, just wanted to say........
Welcome to Uno Mas !!!!!
Hope Ryan settles in really well at preschool, and I look forward to hearing more about you and your family soon ;D
Lorraine
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Post by mommygwen on Aug 22, 2007 16:09:16 GMT -5
Both of my children have special needs. One with Down syndrome and the other with cerebral palsy. They both rode the bus when they were on preschool. I had begun driving them at first but they loved the bus.
The bus picked them up at the driveway. There was a bus monitor on the bus in addition to the bus driver.
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Post by momofrussell on Aug 22, 2007 17:03:12 GMT -5
Did you have an IEP meeting to decide this placement? In the IEP meeting, transportation should have been discussed. There is actually a place on the IEP for transportation, it's a related service. Transportation listed on the IEP is usually door to door service. I do know some kids in SPED that DO right the bus with their typical peers but usually that has been a request by the parent because siblings are on the bus already. In that instance, you usually don't get door to door service.
I'd pull out your IEP and if need be, ask the teacher about it.
Good luck... oh.. and WELCOME to Unomas!!! ;D
A.
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Post by Chris too on Aug 22, 2007 19:24:14 GMT -5
My little one is too young for the bus, but I wanted to say: Welcome to Uno!!!  Chris too |
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Post by victoriasdad on Aug 22, 2007 19:58:18 GMT -5
victoria went to preschool for three years.... she rode the regular bus, they picked her up at our house,, i was afraid that she would fall out of her seat(idaho doesnt require booster seats or seat belts for children on buses) or i was afraid she would get up and walk around ect. they school district had to buy a harness system for her , at their cost, it was strapped to the seat and when she entered the bus the driver snapped her into it....... (she was only three when she started preschool) later she dint have to have the harness and she never got up unless she was suppose to. lol now that she is in kindergarten the special ed kindergarten teacher is frantic about victoria not riding the regular bus (remember shes been riding it for three years) that the bus driver cant be responsible for her and the other kids may be a danger to her? the special bus has an aide to help her and take her to class so i dont have a problem with it.. just kinda funny now after three years that they are so alarmed at her riding the regular bus.
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Post by CC on Aug 22, 2007 20:40:49 GMT -5
Christopher is now 14 but started riding the bus at 3 years old when he started pre-school. It was and still is one of his favorite parts of the day When he was very young the bus company had a car seat for him to sit in for safety. As he got older he just used the seat belt. What type of bus is Ryan taking?? Sounds like he is going on the regular general ed bus, is that right?? As they don't pick kids up at their house. Special Ed bus will pick up and drop off door to door. Does Ryan's older brother ride home with Ryan too?? Looking forward to hearing more bout you and yours. CC ~ from New Jersey  |
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Post by shawns20 on Aug 22, 2007 20:54:58 GMT -5
First of all Thank You all for the warm welcome! Also Thank you all for your responses. They have been very helpful. We live in a very small town around 2500 people in the whole town. The bus Ryan would be riding on is a big general education school district bus. There will be kids from the elementary school and the preschool on that bus. They do not require a booster or car seat, that makes me pretty nervous. We did not discuss transportation on his IEP. I assumed it was up to me to get him to school. To my surprise his teacher said he could also ride the bus. Ryan is absolutely in love with the idea of riding the big yellow bus he has seen his older brother ride for years. We are going to give it a try tommorrow  I of course being the pycho mom that I am will follow in my van behind them. He is so excited. He has been walking around saying "me bus, keigs bus, yes!" It is too cute  Thanks again for all of your responses! I will update everyone tommorrow. Shawn |
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Post by meghans_mom on Aug 23, 2007 9:05:39 GMT -5
Shawn -- good luck!!! I forgot to add...when I drove Meghan to preschool (2 or 3 years) EVERY day we'd have an arguement...."I go bus!!" ...that I'd have to drag her past the 10 busses lined up...
her dream finally came true when she got to ride the bus to kindy and she LOVES it!! Keep open communication w/ the bus driver and the person who handles transportation at the school.
ask that they keep you aprised of any problems and if anything comes up, make sure you call a meeting and address it if it compromises Ryan's safety....
If all else works out, you should definitely think about asking for a bus matron or an aide if there isnt already a second adult on the bus...if there are days big brother won't be on the bus (illness, etc) it might not be a bad idea
and welcome!
laurie
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Post by shawns20 on Aug 23, 2007 11:55:40 GMT -5
Well he did it ;D. He got on the bus without hesitation, handed the bus driver his note and sat down like such a big boy. I raced over to the preschool and hid. I watched him get off the bus and go straight to his classroom. He looked a little nervous when he got off the bus but once he saw his teachers that look went away. I am so boo hooing right now  Thank you for all of words of wisdom and support. Shawn |
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Post by momofrussell on Aug 24, 2007 7:20:28 GMT -5
WOOHOOO!!!! Glad it went well!!! The momma tears come with the territory though! My oldest STILL says "are you going to cry?" LOL ;D She asked if I was going to cry this year when she went into HS.. I said.. "I don't know.. maybe!" But I didn't! LOL
A.
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Post by Jessie on Aug 24, 2007 8:21:20 GMT -5
So . . . for all of you moms that follow the bus and hide in the bushes . . . all I can picture is this hedge row of bushes around a school and a bunch of moms all crouched down trying to see their kid. That vision just cracks me up. It will be a couple more years before I join that club! LOL
Anyway, welcome and glad to hear Ryan had great start to the school year!
Jessie
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Post by momofrussell on Aug 24, 2007 9:14:20 GMT -5
And I am the one pointing at the hedge laughing my rear off! LOL BUT... I am the cryer...while you are all hiding behind the hedges.. I am waving and crying! LOL
a.
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I of course being the pycho mom that I am will follow in my van behind them. He is so excited. He has been walking around saying "me bus, keigs bus, yes!" It is too cute 
Thank you for all of words of wisdom and support.
