Have you ever chaperoned a traveling sports team? Or driven a group of tweens to a dance competition? Did it drive you crazy or were you prepared for the chaos a group of children in your car can present?
Everyone’s number one goal when traveling for a kids’ sports team or
a competing dance, band or other type of group is not surprisingly to have fun!
But every parent’s main objective when transporting friends on the team should be all the kids’ safety and well-being getting there and back home again.
VolunteerSpot has teamed up with TravelingMom.com‘s travel experts to share their best tips for carpool safety.
TWITTER PARTY!
Join the Twitter Conversation using #TMOM and #VolunteerSpot Monday night @9PM EST to share YOUR best Travel Tips when transporting other people’s kids and you could win a gift card for your kid’s teacher.
Click here for details and to RSVP.
23 TravelingMom Tips For Carpool Safety
1. Plan the
Food
Pack healthy snacks, plan in advance to find a restaurant with the least
greasy options.
“I try to keep a cooler of drinks
and fruit handy - staves off requests for cokes and junk food from vending
machines and concession stands.”—Teronya Holmes
2. Check for Allergies
“I always ask if they have any food allergies or sensitivities. Unless it's a
child I know very well, I always ask each time s/he is with me because things
might have changed since I last had them join us w/o their parent.”— Megy Karydes
3. Pack last minute often-forgotten items in a Carpool Kit
The kit might include a pair of scissors, band aids, extra pairs of game socks, hair ribbons for girls, a sewing kit, water bottles, sunscreen and bug spray.
4. Plan Out the Details
Meet with parents beforehand, spell out arrival time, rules and use a site like VolunteerSpot to schedule jobs, tasks, item needed, and even collect fees!
5. Have a Back-up Driver Plan
In case your child becomes ill or for some reason you need to cancel
your trip.
6. Bring Water
Bring refillable water bottles and a gallon of water in the car. Keeping
hydrated will always be important.
7. Make
Reservations
Make reservations in advance if traveling with a large group of team kids. That
goes for fast food restaurants too. If you know where you are stopping, alert
them ahead of time.
8. Use
Online Sign Up Sheets to Organize Snacks on Site
Ask parent volunteers to organize team meals
or snacks at game sites or gymnasiums when necessary. Use VolunteerSpot's free online signups to coordinate other parents (who can sign up from their computer or on their smartphone or tablet); plus automated Reminders helps everyone keep their commitments!
9. Eat Healthy in the Hotel
If staying overnight,
give kids fresh fruit, yogurt, granola bars, and juice boxes to eat in their
hotel rooms. Avoid late night junk food runs.
10. Don’t Wait Too Long Between Meals
Kids will eat pretty much
anything if they wait too long between meals or snacks, help them avoid eating
unhealthy food by keeping meals on time.
11. Communicate
Communicate with all the parents, coaches and even the kids throughout the
whole journey! Create a list of cell phone numbers in case one of the cars on
the caravan gets lost, or there is a change in a game or practice schedule.
12. Protect Yourself with
Permission Slips
“I have parents fill out permission slips for me to take their kids’ out of
state and permission to get them medical treatment. I have had seven kids in
the car with me twice, and five several other times, and we bring a friend or
two with us for most roadtrips.”—Julie Cohn
13. Pack a First Aid Kit
Create a safety kit determined by the sport or activity du jour. Band-Aids and antimicrobial creams, moleskin for blisters, ibuprofen (W/ permission from parents to use), bug bite and sun burn relief creams. If kids take prescriptions, get instructions and permissions from parent.
14. Hold Back Some Cash
Avoid problems with the kids’ spending money by holding back $10 from each kid,
then later when they have spent everything and need a little to buy dinner you
can save them!
15. Save On Breakfast Costs
Choose to stay in a hotel with free breakfast buffet each day.
16. Save On Local Restaurants
Ask the hotel staff for tips about savings rates on restaurants nearby, maybe
kids eat free on Tuesday nights with a paying adult?
17. Save On Gas
Download a few mobile apps like 'Gas Buddy,' that tell you where the cheapest gas stations are
located.
18. Schedule Work Vacation Days
Schedule work vacation days for the group travel dates. You want to be prepared in case your team or
band ends up going to an extended tournament.
19. Use Social Media
Create a hashtag for your team and the kids can get in on the fun when sharing
to social sites (most need to be 13 year old + to participate). Always be
mindful of internet safety etc.
20. Pack Ear Plugs
“Tween girls and boys are
LOUD!” –Deb Jamtot
21. Seatbelt Safety Reminders
“Make seatbelts mandatory even if you are carting teens. Don't assume your
kids' friends will automatically buckle up. They "forget." For us, it
requires an announcement.”—Kim Orlando
22. Pack an extra booster Seat
Keep an extra booster seat or ‘Travel Vest’ in your car in case a younger kid
is riding with you or is too short for seatbelt guidelines. –Karen Heffren
23. Eavesdrop
“Turn the radio up in the back and down in the front. The kids have
to talk louder and you can hear everything they say. Great way to get insight
into what you may be missing in your kiddo's lives.”—Barb Likos
* * *
We would love to hear all your travel stories and best organizing tips on Monday night, August 26th @ 9PM EST. Click HERE for details
Follow #TMOM on Twitter.com or go to TravelingMom.com for details and to RSVP. If you don’t have a Twitter account it’s easy to create one! Follow @TravelingMoms and @VolunteerSpot for more tips.
About the author:
Carissa Rogers publishes her good and crazy stories on her personal blog GoodNCrazy.com. She also writes for TravelingMom.com and she is the TravelingMom
Facebook Engagement Expert as well.
When she isn’t traveling with her family you can find her volunteering in her
new community in the Charlotte area! Connect with her on Twitter and Facebook.
