Abby - don't forget - since this is a special education preschool, there will be an aide on the bus in addition to the driver, so she won't be flying completely solo :) Perhaps a few days before she starts the ride, you could ask if the driver and aide would make some "dry runs" - come to her school so she could walk through the routine with her teachers, and meet and greet the driver and aide before she's actually getting on and going somewhere else. That way, they will be faces she's seen before, not just tossed into the mix.
Usually, special education programs are very good about having the same driver and the same aide on the busses - they understand the children's need for consistency and routine and try to adhere to that as much as possible.
Thanks AnamCara. She is well bonded with the staff of her current preschool so I'm not worried about that part, it's just the bus ride and then getting off at the new school. Seems like a lot to ask of even a NT three year old never mind as ASD three year old. I'll check with the school to see if the same person will be assisting her at the new school. It also seems strange to be letting other people transport my child with out my supervision!!! That is out of my comfort zone but she really needs this and I have to work.
I'm glad your son is enjoying the bus ride.
Thanks!
Abby - my 3-year old son transitioned into a preschool the last two weeks of the school year this past year from homecare. I had the careprovider take him the first week as he transitioned into the school, and they would walk to the bus together so he could see the other children get on and say hello to the driver. The second week, the bus came to the house and the driver and aide said hello, and he was taken by the caregiver to school following the bus, and then he rode the bus home and was greeted by his caregiver. About 1/2way through that week, he was put on the bus to school, and then brought home the same way. His teacher at school greeted him at the bus every time and was the one to put him on the bus at school, and his caregiver was the one to meet the bus and take him off. He was wanting to "go bus" before we thought, and we had no meltdowns...only excitement about the bus
I realize that your daughter is doing this from school to her special program and back again, but perhaps the caregivers could do something similar to help her transition more easily - the same person take her to the bus that picks her up from the bus each day, and the same teacher at the other school pick her up from and take her to the bus each day. She's going to rely on the bonds with the teachers to feel safe - they can use that to make it easier for her if they'll be consistent in who is her escort on either end for a while. It's the consistency and bond that matters...as soon as she can bond with the driver and aide on the bus, it will become easier.
If you are there with her it might make it harder for her...mine would tantrum if I was in same room as her.. I would make go to video store and find some videos of Barney or elmo with a school theme or any video she likes that has a school theme to it..make a big deal on how exciting it will be for her and what a big girl she is..make short social stories..take actual pictures of classroom and teacher if you can..this will help her so much! She may have a hard time at first..so do nt kiddos..I have found that the more the parents hang inside or outside the classroom the worse it is for the child to get used to it...She will be in good hands:) If you do want to stick around..do it outside the room but dont let her know your there!
I did this for a week when we faded out our therapist to let her be on her own..she was just fine but I wasnt!