Catching the bus

We have an interview for prep at the school I'd like to send ds to.

It's twenty minutes by bus from our house, and my whole family are ganging up on me saying it's mean to make ds have to travel o the bus to school, it will be too much for him, too young etc.

It's a private bus service run by the school, allocated seats etc.

Unless dh changes jobs so that one of us can do drop off and one can do pickup he will have to get the bus to be able to go there.

So am I the heartless ogre my family think I am and will a twenty minute bus trip be torturous for a five year old?

Well if you are an ogre because of a 20 minute bus trip, then I hate to think what they would call me for subjecting my lot to a 1hr bus trip starting at 7.40am! And that includes going to preschool at 4yo too LOL. No, I don't think you are a heartless ogre for doing it. I think he will love it. He will get that extra time socialising with the other kids and it will give him a sense of independence as well. Because it is a private bus run only for students of the school, I think it would be a better situation than it would if it were a regular bus run kwim? Ours is a dedicated bus run and the kids love it. But I do pick them up at least once a week so it gives them a break from the long trip home.

I am sure he will love it, he will get to talk to other kids on trip and its only kids for that school. We had to catch bus for a while to primary school as we lived out of town and it was great fun!!

You are not an ogre at all.

I'm sure they will have great fun on the bus, so I don't think you're being mean!

Like Trill's kids I used to travel about an hour on the bus to get to high school, granted i didn't really like it because of the feral kids from other schools, but the littler kids enjoyed it and if it's a bus just for that school I'm sure it will be fine! 20 mins really isn't that long.

It's an awesome thing to do. Our whole family were bussers, from a very early age (as the oldest, mum was still at home when I started, but I caught the train from Year 3) My little bro caught a private bus from first year of school onwards. It's a massive social experience, it will fuel his independence and even his self-esteem to be so grown-up. He'll be more comfortable with PT as he gets older, unlike all those PT snobs out there who "couldn't possibly catch a bus" (I could start my own vent thread on them)

You are definitely not a heartless ogre. You're an adventure and confidence inspiring mother.

If anyone wants to disagree, I won't assume you think I'm an ogre too :p that's reserved for family.
And if you have an actual reason apart from there being a closer school (there's a school in walking distance but it's not my preferred option for numerous reasons) I'm all ears

What? Not sure what you mean. I think that if you really want him to go to this school, I don't think you should let a 20 minutes bus ride stop him from going. Especially if you feel the closer school isn't the right one for him.

Lol I just mean I'm open to all opinions.
Thanks for your support :) and everyone else too

LOL, I thought you were cranky at what we'd said. I'm biased though because my kids have no other option but to take the bus, but it has been very positive for us.

I assume someone will be walking him to the bus stop and picking him up from there in the afternoon? I do think he's too young to get himself to the bus stop! But if someone is putting him on the bus and collecting him, I think he will be fine. I would suggest you make friendly with the bus driver and give him your mobile number in case there is a problem (you are running late or the bus is!). One of the mother's from my daughter's class has had her daughter on the bus since prep, she takes the driver a Coke every afternoon when she picks her DD up from the stop! Also, see if one (or a couple!) of the older kids would agree to keeping an eye on him for you - not being responsible for his care, but just making sure he is ok and knows what he's doing.

Honestly, I don't think it's ideal (nor do I think you are an ogre!), but if it is the only way for your DS to attend your preferred school I think you can make it work. Put some back-ups in place, make sure he feels safe and secure and knows exactly what to do and he should be fine. Good luck!

yeah, i think as long as someone is with him till he's on the bus & there to collect him, it's no problem. i wouldn't send a little one on a public bus by themselves, but a private school one will be fine!! my mum doesn't drive so we got the bus together from day one at school. from about grade two, i was getting a private school bus by myself.

Pandora, I have a choice I could send Oscar to a very small school (has only 11 students) and he would have to catch the bus at 8.30am, but given I'm not happy with the teaching at that school or the limited amount of students esepcially boys I am sending him to the bigger town (where I work). On the days I don't work he will be catching the secondary school bus at 8.00am, once at the secondary school he will have to change buses that will then take him to his school, coming home the bus will drop him off at 4.15pm. All in all a pretty long day,. I have been reassured by the school that he will be given a bus buddy that will help him switch buses when he reaches the secondary schoool.

To be honest I am freaking out a bit about the whole thing, especially being on a bus with older kids, and I worry about the travel, but I figure he will know no different and by doing this I am hoping he is going to be getting a far better education.

The bus you are using sounds great to me, and I wouldn't have a problem with it at all. His education is yours and your husbands decision and it is such a big decision and you don't want to let yourself be influenced by others do what is right for you and your family

The school allocate two bus captains per bus and all the seating is allocated too.
It picks him up from the shoppig centr that's two mins drive and dh will wait with him ans see him onthe bus.
The teachers seat the p-2 children on the bus in the afternoon and someone will pick him up (not sure who this will be yet, may be oshc or fdc or relatives ) the other option is he can do oshc or after school sport.

20 minutes is nothing! I know kids who travel from smaller towns with public schools to the private schools in bigger towns & those trips are up to an hour. They start from 5, some even 3 & 4 for pre school & they are all fine. I didn't put DD1 on the bus til she was 6 & I had no choice, & I DD2 catches the bus because DD1 is already on there, but its pretty similar. There is only the one school here, so they are only with the kids from that school. If you feel comfortable with it, then forget anyone else's problems. Bus is the safest way to travel to school after all!