Rules of kiss-and-ride for pick-up (at elementary school)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If your kids need assistance, kiss and ride isn't for you. If you can't get your child ready for this, you probably have other alternatives that aren't so convenient that you aren't thinking about. For example, parking in the block or so away from your school and walking to pick up your child. Or a kid backpack for your 3 year old if you can't get him to do a stroller or walk to and from school. Or biking with a bike seat for your 3 year old.

And if you're the kind of parent who'd move a child under 40 pounds out of a 5-point harness then I sure don't go to school with you. I've got 3 kids in my car and 2 schools at which to drop them off. If you're behind me in the line, you're just going to have to wait your turn. I will not jeopardize their safety for your convenience.

[Anonymous]

Funny, my kid goes to a pretty large MCPS elementary school and I've never heard of rules for car rider drop-off or pickup. The aides will help with doors and even getting coats/backpacks on, but I've certainly jumped out of the car to help on occasion. It doesn't really prolong the stop since I only help if there's some issue that arises... but perhaps all the impatient moms in giant SUVs are actually giving me the evil eye behind their tinted windows! My tall 6yo is still in a 5 point harness, happily for both of us, but he can usually handle it all himself except for all those times when he gets his coat caught in the door or the belts all tangled up or whatever.

Anyway, OP, it might be worth asking other parents or checking with the school to see if there actually is a policy or an informal expectation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Funny, my kid goes to a pretty large MCPS elementary school and I've never heard of rules for car rider drop-off or pickup. The aides will help with doors and even getting coats/backpacks on, but I've certainly jumped out of the car to help on occasion. It doesn't really prolong the stop since I only help if there's some issue that arises... but perhaps all the impatient moms in giant SUVs are actually giving me the evil eye behind their tinted windows! My tall 6yo is still in a 5 point harness, happily for both of us, but he can usually handle it all himself except for all those times when he gets his coat caught in the door or the belts all tangled up or whatever.

Anyway, OP, it might be worth asking other parents or checking with the school to see if there actually is a policy or an informal expectation.

What's with nasty SUV comment. I drive a Suvurban but I'm just like you. I buckle my kid after I pick him up and have him in a 5 point harness. Lose the judgements of SUV mothers.

[Anonymous]

OP, if you move with alacrity I can't see any reason why it would bother anyone if you hop out of your car door, unbuckle you kids and help him out of the car, or in for that matter. Just move fast. Ignore dirty glances. People just don't want to be held up on the drop off line.

[Anonymous]

OP, you mentioned your child is tall. Is he in a 5-pt harness seat? He is probably big enough to be in a belt-positioning booster seat, and the seatbelt is a lot easier to buckle than a carseat buckle. Maybe it's just a matter of moving him up to a booster seat. My 5-yo has been in one for over a year and he can buckle himself with no trouble.

Not to change the subject, but my 45 pound, 45 inches tall almost 5 year old is in a 5 point harness and will be as long as possible. It is much more secure than the seatbelt with a booster. I plan to keep him in this seat as long as possible.

DS is still in PreK but when we do carpool, the director helps the child into the car seat then we drive up a little way, pull into a parking seat and lock him in. It's a risk, but a small one. As long as the parents are paying attention and don't knock into each other, there is really little chance of an accident in that 20 feet drive. Plus DS can lock the top lock so at least that's something. Not sure if that is an option for you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"I find it a little ridiculous, to be honest."

You won't when you see how long the line gets and how much extra time it takes if a kid isn't independent - especially if you have somewhere you need to be, like work. There is a limited drop off window (15 minutes at our school) and it has to function efficiently.

Whatever. I work out of the home, too. I understand being rushed all the time. These are kids. You need to take a breath and calm down.

[Anonymous]

I still don't understand why kids in elementary school can't do their own buckles. My DD just started kindergarten, and has been buckling herself for over a year. And yes, she is still in a 5 point harness.

[Anonymous]

"Whatever. I work out of the home, too. I understand being rushed all the time. These are kids. You need to take a breath and calm down."

Oh, trust me, it's not me that needs to calm down. I walk my kids to school. I just happen to see the kiss and ride at our schools everyday and I watch as people unsafely try to pass cars where parents are getting out. When people are rushed, which is the reality, and others try to force them to slow down by not obeying the rules of the kiss and ride, like it or not, safety becomes an issue. It may be the child's safety or the parent's safety, but either way, no one wins if someone gets hurt or property gets damaged.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: "I find it a little ridiculous, to be honest."

It may seem ridiculous, but there are rules and norms in every situation. When a couple hundred kids are coming in within 15 minutes and everyone is doing it their own way (without rules or guidance) then there will be chaos. If you don't know the rules then look at what everyone else is doing and do the same thing. Having been in several kiss-n-rides at different schools I've seen all sorts of set-ups. The most efficient schools will have procedures in place (unless most of the kids are on foot or buses).

[Anonymous]

We make sure children are buckled up before the car pulls away. It is the law. If a teacher tells a parent to pull around before that seat belt is buckled she is going to need a big insurance policy to cover the lawsuit when something happens.