The children on the bus go chat,chat,chat…….not anymore it seems.

Well it should please posters who complain about kids shouting on public transport.

This is not a service bus, just a school bus.

I've just seen a young woman on the bus texting constantly on TWO phones. She had two children with her who were asking her questions and talking to her. At no time did she reply or even look up from her phones. Poor children.

It is not sad

Times change, no big deal

School buses used to be places where children got up to all sorts of things they shouldn't. I can't decide if playing on your phone is worse or better.

Well I think it IS sad and it is a big deal.

We were perfect little ladies on our school bus, just as well it was only 25 minutes though, that was as long as we could behave, we would get a clip round the ear from the Conductor if we had misbehaved.

Children are not children long. I cherished every moment. Yes, even the times when I would lose patience and say ' will you lot just for once'shut up'?

Its the way it is these days. X

Can't play out anymore due to fear of being snatched off the street, people with knives, weapons. Enticed into drugs.

Glued to an electronic device thus not engaging in conversation.

The list is endless, but, this is how it is unfortunately and yes, its very sad but what can we do !

If parents prevent their children from owning electronic devices, the children are left feeling they are missed out as literally everyone at school has them, so what do you do ?

Like I say, this is the way it is and all of us on here are engaging in use of electronic devices so !

Well there is still hope in the Highlands where my DGC are at school. There's a great driver and friendly children. The older ones keep an eye out for the little ones in the playground and sometimes they go to eachother's houses. She's been going since she was 5 and is now 7. Her wee sister is desperate to start getting the bus.

Going on the school bus was ansolute hell on earth and looking back much much worse for the conductor than it was for me. I would have loved to shut it all out and listen to music

It is not sad. Times change, no big deal

I agree Oops it is sad. If their parents don't chat to them, who will? How will they learn the art of conversation? Listening to what's said to them? Increase their verbal skills and vocabulary? Learn when it's their turn to speak and to respond? These are important social skills so yes, I think that it is important to chat your child. As for times change; it's no big deal; that, I think, would depend on whether you place any importance on helping your child to develop the necessary social skills in life. Being able to communicate effectively seems like a pretty big deal to me.

I can only speak for my two local grandkids They ve both left school now (recently) but they had an hours ride each way and I can tell you the few times I had to ring them ( forgotten something or they were ringing to say bus was late etc) you could not hear yourself think the noise and raucous laughter was ear blasting
So maybe it’s the type of school or the area but it’s not like that here

Chewbacca

^It is not sad. Times change, no big deal^

I agree Oops it is sad. If their parents don't chat to them, who will? How will they learn the art of conversation? Listening to what's said to them? Increase their verbal skills and vocabulary? Learn when it's their turn to speak and to respond? These are important social skills so yes, I think that it is important to chat your child. As for times change; it's no big deal; that, I think, would depend on whether you place any importance on helping your child to develop the necessary social skills in life. Being able to communicate effectively seems like a pretty big deal to me.

My thoughts too.

BUT chewbacca, the parents are not with the children on a school bus. Just the children, parents put them off, and probably meet them off.

Can never remember children on school buses ever chatting away amicably. Usually, a lot of shouting, screaming, pulling of hair, grabbing of bags, etc. etc. Some may have tried speedily to catch up on homework. So a short half an hour trip on the bus, with the majority of them sitting quietly in their seats, playing (often playing in groups), on their 'phones, sounds quite a good outcome.

I think it’s very sad that the mother with small children doesn’t chat to them. She only has a small window to do so properly.

The older children in our area seem to do a bit of both , chatting and phones, sometimes sharing the same thing on their phones and laughing together. You can’t generalise

I remember my school bus in the 60’s being a place of bullying

Apologies Franbern I should have referenced that I was referring to Kate1949 post @ 13.42 and Hithere's response to it immediately after @ 13.50.

The children are having conversations via text or are playing games with each other on their phones, times change.

You have frightened me with your tales of raucous behaviour
At present my DGC are at primary and there are only about 10 children on the rural minibus. When they go to high school it may be different. It's a half-hour journey.

Hithere

It is not sad

Times change, no big deal

It is sad, children talking to their Mother who ignores them because she is on her phone.
I love my phone and I am on it alot, but not to to the exclusion of taking to my adult children and Grand children.

My twelve year old grandson has only just been given his first phone, so I’m a little bit surprised that a majority of children on a bus carrying junior school aged children have phones already.

It's only one child's opinion so maybe that's what she prefers. Other children will probably chat, shout etc. 13 was the age my DC got phones and I doubt many 8 year olds will have them. Once she starts maybe her Mum can arrange a play date with someone her own age who travels on the bus?

The bus to and from school was where we had the most fun. I agree sago, it is sad.

TwiceAsNice

I remember my school bus in the 60’s being a place of bullying

Mine was as well. There was a distinct pecking order where you could sit. At first boys upstairs girls down but after the boys unscrewed all the seats and threw them out of the window,it was reversed. There were fights and you kept to your own groups and your seat. All this was supervised by a prefect who only made you behave when you took your berry off.
Sitting quietly on the phone sounds like bliss.
Though mothers who do not talk to their children are making a rod for their own back.