To think a reception aged child could travel 20 minutes on the bus to school?

[ArtMonkey]

I'm trying to find somewhere less rubbish to live following a break up. Currently live within walking distance of the school but a little house in the nicest area of the city has come up, I'm down to the last four applicants. DS would need to get used to a 20 minute bus ride though. We might be able to switch schools at year 3 but it's not guaranteed and unlikely before then (best school locally and oversubscribed.) He does get travel sick but maybe could get used to it? We basically walk everywhere or get the train now so it's not something he's exposed to often.

Other major downside is that his dad has him overnight one day a week but won't do school drop off. I'm currently in the mindset that he can either step up and do a drop off, visit at the new place (which he travels past on his way home from work) or it's his own fault he misses out.

What do you think - is the move doable?

YABU - stay where you are, it's not fair on DS
YANBU - take the house if it's offered

Me too

How do people manage when there is no choice? Like there isn't a school. Within 20 mins

So he can be travel sick in the car instead?

I think it's fine but i would probably try to move schools somewhere closer if you can. Much easier if you can walk to school and meet local friends etc.

Me too!!! Ahaha

Kids that age love the bus. We did it for a while before I got my license. The only problem as that the bus was very unreliable and often made us late. If you’re in a large urban city though and have a couple of options you’ll be fine. Often, other kids from school ride the bus too so the kids end up chatting.

Bus journeys are always twice as long as car journeys. Also driving allows more flexibility obviously and easier for when he gets invited to friends to play.

In general it’s fine but when you say 20 minutes bus journey is it 20 minutes from the door of the house to the school gate? Have you plan the whole journey - what time is the morning bus and afternoon one and how early he will need to get up , what time out of the house, what about your work? It still should be doable but some buses can be once in a hour which lengthens journey significantly.

See I was a kid who got travel sick in cars ( non driving parents) but was fine on the bus. Not sue what my parents would've done if I wasn't as we weren't within walking distance from school and school bus collected kids from a particular bus stop each morning. The parents used to se us onto the bus there but didn't come o n the bus with us.

Mine cycle 25 minutes every morning and then home again. My pre-schooler does it twice for drop off and pick up.

He’ll be fine on the bus.

Generally it improves with age. Our DS couldn't manage longer than about half an hour still at 4 and would often be nauseous within about 15 minutes, but at 8 he's only been nauseous and needed a walk around break a few times on hour + journeys and not actually thrown up for over a year.

You can move around on the bus easier. Getting the bus places with my son is actually a good way to spend time together too.
And you are less likely to get sick than a car.

I suppose it might depend on the bus reliability and frequency whether it's a good idea. If you miss a bus is there another one coming soon or are you stuck for an hour?

Trying to find a parking spot and walking to school from it can also add a ridiculous amount of time and stress when using the car.

20 minutes isn't too bad. I get car sick but not so much on a bus. If Dad won't take him to school then he obviously can't have him on a school night.

So did I

More than fair on your part. Good luck!

I would go for it! Could you cycle it as an alternative?

Quick update - the better school got back to me and there is a place! Ex couldn't drop off at current school but, as potential new school is closer to his work and has longer wrap around, could on paper collect and drop off. So I can't imagine he would win if he tried to prevent a school move.

We're going to try our very best to get the house - wish us luck!

Good luck OP! The new house sounds like a great improvement 🤞🤞

Very common where I come from.

Try homeopathic travel sickness tabs. Worked brilliantly on my very travel sick 2 year old.

Nooooo. Way too young .with or without you

How on earth do you think children in rural areas get to school? We have kids round here on buses from 4 as they are miles from the nearest primary school.

Doesn’t mean it’s Ok just because it happens….

It was fine until travel sickness. You don’t get used to that. It’s torture and can impact your entire day. Buses are worse than cars.

You genuinely think children shouldn't travel for 20min on a bus? Why not?