I have 4 kids 4, 5, 7, and 12. I want to bring the 4 and 5 year old to daycare before school because i dont think they are old enough to get on the bus even with the two older ones. But i cant decide if i should bring the 7 year old. I feel the the 12 year old boy should be responsible enough for him and his sister to get on the bus. But its still a little scary. I work at 730am. And plan to take a half day the first week of school to make sure they know the routine. Do u think 7 is still to young for this?
Are you leaving the 12 year old in charge of all of the kids before school? Or are you hiring someone to watch the kids before school?
If you are leaving the 12 year old in charge, I would think he would be able to handle a 7 year old. If you are hiring someone, that person should have no trouble getting all 4 kids on the bus.
I would skip daycare altogether and hire someone to come to your house each morning to get the kids off to school. If it were just the 12 year old i doubt I would be concerned. But should anything go wrong or someone get sick, that's asking too much of a 12 year old.
Can you clarify in your question - what time does the bus come?
Is it just a matter of getting on the bus? Or do they need to be fed breakfast, get dressed, teeth brushed, backpacks and jackets on, etc all by themselves?
A 12 year old can get the 7 year old onto the bus. But I don't think the 12 year old can get younger siblings through the entire morning routine.
I don't think the question is "is 7 too young" but rather do YOU actually think this will work? Is your 7 yr old generally a fairly responsible person in the morning? Do the 7 yr old and the 12 yr old get along? Is the 7 yr old a good listener and the 12 yr old a good manager of time? I have 6 kids and some of them totally could have pulled this off - others, not a chance in he**. Only you can decide if it will work.
I would actually sign the 7 yr old up for 3 days a week and try letting the 12 yr old handle it two days a week. If it works, increase in a few months to 3, then 4 and by the end of the year, see if you can do 5 days a week. Also, if you have a neighbor that can pop in and check on things, that might be helpful.
Good luck!
I think it depends on your kids and how responsible they are. Do you have a backup plan in place in case they don't get ready on time? What is the 12 year old going to do if they're not ready on time and they miss the bus?
So you mean the 12 year old would be responsible for getting the 7 year old on the bus in the morning?
It would depend on your kids. At 12, my kids babysat their younger siblings and took them to the park (one was 7). That went fine. They would make them lunch, etc.
Personally, I think it would be fine to do - you could always have everything ready so it's just a matter of getting coat on, grab backpack and out door.
What's your main concern? I get it - until you try it, it's hard to know. We've never had an issue. Is there some way you can have the 12 year be responsible for his sister and see how it goes? Will she listen to him, etc.
I think a 12 yr old is fine for being responsible for himself - I don't think he should be in charge of his siblings.
What my mom did till me and my sister were in middle school (what was 7th grade where we grew up) was to have a baby sitter at our home when we left for school and when we got home from school.
Our mom taught school in the next town over and had to leave before we left and got home after we got home.
Around where we live now - kindergartners ride the bus - but their parents wait for them till they get on and parents are there when they get off the bus coming home.
Are you going to be gone before the 7 and 12 year old are dressed/ready for school? I still need to help motivate my kids to get out the door, but they haven't been in the situation to have to me more responsible.
Could you change your mind about the daycare if the 7 year old is causing the 12 year old to be the boss and not work out?
If they're on the same bus, it's probably fine. Set a timer so they know when to leave, and make sure they are clear about closing up the house. In our neighborhood, the bus stop is on a corner of a side street, and there are a bunch of other kids with some parents out there. Th bus driver is very responsible and insists on the children standing in a line and not only waiting for the bus to stop and the safety bar to extend across the front, but also to wait for the "thumbs up" signal from him (meaning he has checked his mirrors to be sure no cars are trying to pull around him.
It might be a great opportunity to move the 7 year old into other areas of responsibility and maturity. And if there's maybe 1 more year before the 12 year old is on another bus, this is the year you build resilience in the 7 year old. That sets the stage for her to be able to help next year or even the year afterwards with the one who's now 5.
Everyone should have backpacks, shoes and lunch boxes by the door so the 12 year old isn't responsible for anything except saying, "Time to go. Grab your stuff."
Try going out to the bus with them the first day, then hanging back the 2nd day, then not going at all the 3rd day. If there's a problem, then you can always use day care.
I think kids should not be "in charge" of their siblings. I am the youngest of 3 siblings and my mom never put my older sibs in charge. One reason is I was very strong willed and she did not want to risk our relationship. She had care of her siblings growing up and although they love her and say she was more of a mother than their own mom, she did not want that for us.
Same with me. Daughter is over 4 years older than son. When they were old enough to stay at home together, one was never in charge. They were a team. I think when an older sibling is left in charge, there is room for resentment. I've seen a lot of my friends do it for convenience and it is rarely a good situation.
I second hiring someone to come into your home. There are several college age girls who do this where we live. Maybe you could find someone like that.
if it were my 7 yr old i would say nope. he gets distracted easily, often forgets things and needs an adult to push him in the right direction to get ready in the mornings.. if your kid is like mine i would caution you.. but if you think the 12 yr old can handle the responsibility of getting your 7 yr old ready and to the bus on time then certainly go for it
Aren't there other 1st graders who ride the bus? What ages are on that bus? Surely not kinder through high school?
Find that out before you decide.
Are you asking if it is appropriate for the 4 and 5 year old to ride a bus to school? or if it is appropriate for you to leave the 12 year old in charge of getting everyone up, dressed and ready for school and onto the bus? those are 2 very different questions. My youngest son started riding a bus to school at 3. he was in a preschool program the bus picked him up and dropped him off and he was fine. but thats different than your 12 year old herding a bunch of younger siblings out the door and watching them on a bus stop.
