How do non driving teens get to sports practice and tryouts?

[Anonymous]

I have a 14yo who wants to do some summer sports camps, skills training and tryouts. Then sports practice starts before school starts. I can get my son to some of these, but not all. Some skills camps end at 2:30 at DH and I can’t get him.

We live in an area where people live far apart and many kids attend different private schools so carpooling not possible. I know some families have FT nannies still to drive, cook, etc.

I will be away some of these times and can’t drive him.

Would you hire a nanny? Use uber teen?

[Anonymous]

Uber

[Anonymous]

We were lucky because most of his practices occurred within 7 miles of our house, so he was able to bike there/back. Don't be afraid of sending him on a bike. Get him a good sports backpack and a good helmet. Have him practice the route several times beforehand.

If the camp/practice was too far away or involved freeway driving, then my husband or I either:
- took time off of work
- begged a ride (meet the other parents on the first day and exchange numbers!)
- got him an Uber

We have had several friends who had great luck with hiring older teen drivers in their neighborhood (usually kids home from college).

[Anonymous]

Parents, friends, bus, uber.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We were lucky because most of his practices occurred within 7 miles of our house, so he was able to bike there/back. Don't be afraid of sending him on a bike. Get him a good sports backpack and a good helmet. Have him practice the route several times beforehand.

If the camp/practice was too far away or involved freeway driving, then my husband or I either:
- took time off of work
- begged a ride (meet the other parents on the first day and exchange numbers!)
- got him an Uber

We have had several friends who had great luck with hiring older teen drivers in their neighborhood (usually kids home from college).

In years past, we did carpool to camps. We signed up for camps with friends.

Now he is on an AAU team and some kids are going to same camps but they live 30 min away. I can’t ask them for a ride. For tournaments, we have asked for rides but we drive our kid to their house or we take turns on weekends. This won’t work during the middle of a work day.

[Anonymous]

We live off a very busy street. He can’t bike on it to school or camp. He would have to cross a highway overpass to get to the high school. It isn’t possible.

[Anonymous]

Pay a sitter to drive.
I’m paying a 19yo
To drive my 13yo to soccer practice tonight. It is what it is. When you work it’s what you have to do if you don’t have family or a carpool.

[Anonymous]

We uber teen or pay an older teenager $50/ride. It’s still cheaper than a nanny

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We live off a very busy street. He can’t bike on it to school or camp. He would have to cross a highway overpass to get to the high school. It isn’t possible.

My kid rides on busy streets when necessary. They take back routes or the long way when they can to avoid traffic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We live off a very busy street. He can’t bike on it to school or camp. He would have to cross a highway overpass to get to the high school. It isn’t possible.

My kid rides on busy streets when necessary. They take back routes or the long way when they can to avoid traffic.

The high school is far. It is not a bikable path.

[Anonymous]

We don’t let our HSers use Uber. We managed it by remote working, taking vacation and carpooling. Best thing ever was the driver’s license.

[Anonymous]

My parents drive him everywhere. They literally spend 4 hours a day driving him.

[Anonymous]

We only chose the skill camps that had an after care at least until 4 or something more reasonable than 2:30. I think better camps are planning it out this way? There was a fee of course.

[Anonymous]

Some camps offer a pick up point, do ride share.

[Anonymous]

There are a million responsible college students home for the summer posting on my local listserv that they’re available for babysitting, pet sitting, house sitting, etc. I’ve hired a few lately to walk my dogs, but I’m positive they’d enthusiastically pick up my teen from a summer sports practice. Easy money and something to do.