The School Run.
If you have children, we’ve all been there haven’t we? Those hellish walks to and from school, where by the skin of your teeth you have gotten your children washed, fed, dressed, and up and out of the door. With you literally grabbing a last-minute piece of toast and pulling your fingers through your hair, to at least look partly presentable. Alternatively at the end of the day you are presented with a child at a stage we all know as ‘near meltdown’, tired and irritable after being an veritable angel at school all day. Sound all too familiar?
Well I thought after 7 long years of (very long) school runs, I would write my definitive guide to the absolutely perfect school run!
5.Preparation
Whether it is lunches, uniform, homework or reply slips. It is so important to be prepared. For the sake of your own sanity, do it all the night before. As an absolute emergency measure, get up with the lark and creep down stairs, without disturbing the smaller sleeping ones to do it all. Good luck with the second option!
So you are eventually out of the door…
4. Pit stop
Plan a pit stop. Sometimes, a diversion can actually get you to your destination quicker, this is especially helpful on the return journey. A game of Simon Says…with a triumphant final round. ”Simon says lets get home as quickly as possible”…I think you get the picture! 😉
3. Snacks
Whether it’s the morning, or the afternoon please bring a snack. Bananas are perfect, as they can be peeled and munched on the move, and eaten quickly. Do not be lulled into thinking sweets are a good option. Believe me, I have tried this, and it is only a very short-term solution. Tired irritable children, together with sugar is a recipe for disaster!
2. A huge sense of humour!
1. A Micro Scooter
If I had to recommend just one of these steps to you, it would be this last and in first place in my eyes, step.
Invest in a Micro Scooter. Whatever your child’s age, there is the perfect type of scooter on the site. They are extremely safe and sturdy to ride on for children. I have thoroughly tested the Maxi Micro out, on my journey to school. I may have brought my dog** and let him pull me on our journey.
**Please note this is not a method advised by Micro Scooter, and may involve people stopping, pointing, laughing and even shouting ”Mush!”.
Both of my girls have used scooters on our school run, and it shaves a full 10 minutes off the journey each way. Believe me, those precious few minutes really can be the difference between school run hell, and the perfect harmonious scooting trip.
It’s also great exercise, and helps tire them out and expel a little energy. As they are moving faster, they can see the progress, that they are making far easier too.
If like me you have children at different ages, and they therefore walk at different paces, this can lead to arguments. Bringing a scooter makes it feel more like a game, as they keep up with one another.
It encourages more independence and with a little coaching, road awareness. This is something I am really hot on as a parent who doesn’t drive. It also means that if you want to nip to the park on the way home or to a friends it is easier to explore and go for an adventure.
So there you have it, my guide to the perfect school run. You’re welcome!
Micro scooter did gift me a new Limited edition Coral Maxi Micro Scooter (£109.95) for use on my school run, and it has saved my sanity. Thank you!
My girls scooter home from school the days my fella is off work….I can’t carry both myself so it’s a real treat for them!
I really wish our school had a secure bike and scooter area, it would make life so much easier. I find it frustrating that schools want to encourage walking to school and don’t provide them.
We’ve been looking at one of these for the Sealion Keeper for her birthday – she needs an adult one because she’s so tall! We don’t live that far from school but the number of friends that scoot past every day goes to show a scooter makes that school run so much easier
My eldest daughter is as tall as me 5ft 9in, the maxi micro, is still suitable in my opinion. So I would perhaps have a look on the site for some advice. I love the look of the adult ones!
I love the thought of Bennett pulling you along on your scooter!
In both places I lived when my children were at school we lived a stone’s throw from each school – so they could just walk while I stayed in my PJs with a cuppa 😉
We love our micro scooters and fab tips.
We have a great scooter/bike park area at school which is well used and secure. My daughter scoots to school and back every day and whilst I miss ambling along and chatting with her, I do love the fact that the journey is stress-free!
There’s times I think I could do with one just for me! I don’t do school runs any more but I this sounds an ideal way to make a journey fun.
I need to buy a micro scooter although my eldest is quite lazy when it comes to it. Maybe one like this will change her mind
They really great fun!
They really are great fun!
Aha, some great ideas. I am yet to reach this stage with my littlies yet but may well invest in a micro-scooter when the time comes!
Lots of great tips. I misread a little bit and thought one read ” a huge scooter” I thought this was for you… It might be an idea!?!? I miss our micro-scooting days, we had them when we lived at home, but we have to drive here… :/
A yes, scooters makes the route to school so much easier!!
I love the image that I have of you on a Microscooter being pulled along by your dog!! That is a gorgeous colour, A loves her Microscooter so much and we will be looking for the next size up soon and I think that colour would be a popular choice.
Hehe, I aim to please!
Now we live in the countryside the kids can’t scoot to school anymore and that is probably one of their biggest gripes!
Michx
i couldn’t cope with the school run without ronnie scooter either! he is just growing out of his one now, time for an upgrade!
Great post Amanda! I totally agree, you can’t beat a Maxi micro for making the school run easier and fun.
Oh I feel bad now… I don’t have a school run anymore. Kyd gets a bus and its a door to door service 😀 When Rocky starts school it’ll be a quick trip next door too… not that it means we’ll be on time!
What on earth did we do before scooters!
Commendably you did these runs on foot or bike/scooter. Most seem to use their car, preparing their kids for a later life of obesity and raising future couch potatoes. (And busing equally adds to teaching children that self-propelled motion is for cavemen.) As for preparation I suggest to get children to take responsibility for their own preparation as early as possible. It helps them later to get organized in college or at work and it alleviates some stress for parents.