As you are shopping for back-to-school supplies and new clothes for your kiddos, now is the perfect time to set up the back-to-school carpool. If you have never been in a school carpool, what have you been waiting for? School carpools are lifesavers for both parents and their kids. As a parent, a carpool gives you a break. Plus, kids get an opportunity to bond with their friends outside of the classroom.
For those parents who are new to the whole back-to-school carpool situation, we’ve identified some of our best tips for successful carpooling. You can trust us because we are carpool pros!
- Sign Up for GoKid ASAP!
Naturally, the best way to ensure your carpool’s success is to create it using GoKid. GoKid is the premiere leader in kids’ transportation. Our unique app makes it super easy for parents to create carpools with families they know and trust. Plus, the app will optimize the carpool route, send reminders to drivers, and allow carpool members to message one another. Score!
- Set Up Carpools with Families Heading in the Same Direction.
With GoKid, you send out invitations to parents you know and would like to participate in a carpool with for this upcoming school year. The most basic tip here is to set up carpools with families heading in the same direction – like the same school or the same after-school activity. Ideally, carpools work best when the stops are located along a clear route to school, so think about where other families live before you invite them to your carpool.
If you don’t know how to find nearby carpool partners, talk to your school about setting up GoKid Connect – it’s an add-on to our app especially for schools and it allows families to see who else in school lives nearby.
- Know the Rules.
When you create a carpool, you are telling other parents that you trust them to drive your child and vice versa. Therefore, it is critical to know the rules regarding your individual carpool (such as seatbelts must always be worn and knowing who rides in a booster seat), as well as the rules for your city’s HOV (or high occupancy vehicle/carpool) lanes and the school carpool drop-off and pick-up rules.
- Always (Always) Have Snacks and Drinks.
Do you know what’s worse than moody kids at the end of a long school day? Moody, hangry kids. Avoid hangry (hungry + angry) kids by making sure you always have small snacks on hand for the afterschool pickup run. They will have a harder time complaining or fussing when they are stuffing their mouths with food. It’s also a good idea to have bottles of water available.
- Create a Carpool Playlist.
It’s amazing how much of a difference a great playlist makes in a car full of kids. If you don’t have the tools (or time) to create a unique carpool playlist for the kids you drive around, then find a set radio station that you listen to when the kids are in the car. Or allow the kids to make their own playlists to play on the ride.
- Address the Mess.
For some unknown reason, kids make cars messy. If you do not have a plan to tackle the mass amount of stuff kids bring into your vehicle, you are going to have a big mess. Instead, get a small vehicle-sized trashcan or bag for your vehicle and enforce the rule that what kids bring in, they take out. You’ll thank us later.
- Stock Up on Supplies.
With kids, you need to count on messes and boo-boos. (See above) Therefore, it is wise to stock up on supplies that can be helpful in all sorts of emergencies. For example, keep paper towels in your car for spills, diaper wipes for messes, and hand sanitizer for germs. Also, keep a first aid kit stocked with plenty of band-aids in your vehicle. You never know when you’ll need it, but you’ll be glad you have it when the day comes.
- Keep the Tank Half Full.
One of the most important rules of carpool success is being on time. If one person is late, then everyone is late. It is for this very reason that we recommend keeping your gas tank half full. You do not want to run out of gas with a car full of children, and you do not want to make everyone late because you have to stop for gas.
- Take Turns.
A major perk of carpooling is that the adults get to take turns – so make sure you do! A carpool isn’t really a carpool if one parent does all the driving. Instead, use GoKid to create a carpool with a clear driver rotation. You will all appreciate the time off. And, no need to worry about forgetting whose turn it is – GoKid will alert you!
- Stop Talking and Start Listening.
We’ve reached what may be our most important (and fun) carpool tip for success – stop talking and start listening! As the parent driver, you are “just the driver” and kids seem to think an “invisible shield’ goes up between them and you. It is during carpools that parents overhear what is really going on at school as the kids talk to one another.
If you like the sound of GoKid’s free features, then you are going to love our premium features! Check them out today!
