October in Walk to School month and I am joining in with Kia in trying to encourage you to get walking to school. I am lucky with the fact that the boys school is within walking distance and now that they are eight and nine they walk or scoot to school on their own, so mornings are so much less stressful for me. My biggest tip is to remove all the obstacles from the morning that make life hard.
Tips for making mornings less stressful for all the family
- Delegate – encourage your children top be as independent as possible
- Get out school uniform the night before or better yet get the kids to put their uniform out
- We always get out the breakfast bowls etc out the night before too
- Make sure that school bags are packed and by the door
- We always keep school shoes by the door too, no more last minute rush searching for that missing shoe!
- Encourage your kids to get their breakfast
I am not going to lie to you letting the boys walk to school on their own wasn’t easy for me. It was a big step, but it was a good step forward for us as a family. We live in a small village and the jungle drums beat faster than any phone call from them could!
Steps to feeling confident with your kids walking to school on their own
- Try a walking bus – Kia are sponsoring walking buses throughout the country in October and it is a great way to let go of the reins safely
- Try dropping them off closer to school or walking them halfway
- Safety in numbers. The boys now scoot to school in a group with their friends. So check out if other mums are thinking of letting their kids walk to school and group up with them.
- There is nothing wrong with following them at a discreet distance!
- Remember that you probably walked to school at their age and the world is not more dangerous now, we are just more aware of the dangers.
- My boys scoot to school and are sensible enough now to lock up their scooters when they get their. It is amazing what our kids are capable of when we let them.
My stress points in the morning
Kia sent me a a heart monitor to wear for a for a week to see if there was a stress point in our morning routine. I know that if I had worn it on the days when I used to drive or walk the boys to school it would have been through the roof, but the only times it went high was when I was repeating myself asking the boys to brush their teeth! So we sat down and talked about it and decided to bring a set of toothbrushes and paste to our downstairs loo, so they boys could have breakfast and then brush their teeth downstairs.
Oh I tell a lie, it did get to 102 when Mini told me he had a poonami indedent just as he was leaving for school this morning!
The fact is the mornings are not so stressful now my boys are older and more responsible. Maxi even cooked breakfast for everyone two of the mornings and brought mine up to me in bed! I would really encourage anyone thinking of allowing their kids to walk to school. It really has transformed our mornings.
Disclosure: this post is in collaboration with Kia.
He he I love the idea of stalking my son at a distance when he goes somewhere by himself for the first time! Ours are a little way off that stage yet, but there are some great tips here. I’m all in favour of walking buses.
Great tips! It took me a lot to let my eldest two walk on their own. I they have been for 3 years now and I still worry at times but I know it’s the best for them x
Next year, Tops will walk to School on her own and I’ll keep taking BB for a couple more years.
I was 9 when I walked to School on my own, but with a gang of older kids who lived near me that my Mum asked to watch me to make sure I didn’t get lost!
I may have to do the same for Tops cos as much as I love her she has no sense of direction!
Great tips! I will be the one following at a distance! 🙂 x
Superb tips we’ve a walking bus at my school
I need to do half of this just to get ready for walk for me and the mister x
The walking bus is a great idea definitely. You are right when I was young I walked to school on my own. We are much more protective in this day and age.
We are lucky that school is at the end of our road, we walk together in the morning because Fran is at the nursery but the bigger ones walk themselves home and enjoy the independence it gives them.
It’s always very difficult to decide at what age one should allow the kids to walk to school. Having friends to walk with helps. Looks like you are very organised.
We do the half-scoot, half-drive thing. Saves so much trouble trying to find parking around the school gates. And good to get some fresh air too.
I let my two walk to school on their own now we’ve moved it’s only a Minute away buts it’s amazing how few children do! Even the ones that live 30 seconds away get picked up?! I find mornings less stressful but now I’m always late for work as I used to drive them to their old school and then go on to work!
We walk to school everyday and even walk past peoples’ houses who drive to school. However they have to leave before us in order to get a parking space! Crazy! My son is only three but walks to nursery and back and then again to pick my daughter up.
It won’t be long until my eldest is walking to school on her own, but as I still have to take the younger two, I think I’ll be stalking her from a distance. Good tips.
I totally remember having to get my clothes ready the night before when I was a kid! Great tips and something for me to think about as F get’s older. x
great tips – really important to get kids walking
Walking to school can end up being stressful here too…I’ve realised having a time we need to be out of the house by really helps.
My girls are 7 and 9. Last year, towards the end of the year while Kaycee was still 8 we let her start walking to school on her own, just a couple of mornings a week.
It worked out really well and she now goes to and from school on her own. Well, I say on her own, she calls for friends on the way.
Ella is itching to walk or bike on her own and whilst I was walking to school and back by myself at her age, I just can’t seem to bring myself to let her yet. I think she has to wait until she’s 8! I did live in a small village when I was younger and we now live on the outskirts of a city so there is a difference I think. She has to cross 2 roads whereas I didn’t have any to cross and she’s not as mature as Kaycee. It will be nice next year when I can send them off and not have to go with them 🙂
We walk to school and have some great discussions on the school run. My daughter’s school started a walking school bus and it was a success for a while.
Lots of great tips! I don’t have this problem yet, but will probably find myself looking for ideas when it comes to it 🙂
We’re a few years away from school yet but I’m thinking of getting Wilf a scooter for our nursery days! x
We walk (or scoot) to school every day and I find it really sets us up for the day (apart from this week when I was caught in the most violent rainstorm I have ever witnessed) – soaked through!!
God if only my kids could get themselves off to school!!! (images of not having to get dressed or rush around look almost biblical to me lol) – but alas mine are too young and we live too far anyway!! Love the ideas for speeding up things, common sense really but I don’t do them!! I’m always saying I’ll get everything ready the night before but never do! Your children look lovely and smart in their uniforms ready for school 🙂 x
I remember the first day my sons went to school by himself – I worried all day. I’m going backwards though – now have a 4yr old so I have to drop off & pick up every day!