Our Top 10 Carpooling Tips for Parents (+6 for Kids)

After being part of so many carpools, the GoKid team feels that adopting a few simple rules for yourself—and setting some ground rules for the kids—can make carpooling a much better experience. While a lot of these rules are common sense, it can’t hurt to remind yourself (and the kids!) of the rules once in a while.

Carpooling Tips for Parents

1. When driving, always be on time and know the way. Please remember that everyone else depends on you to get to their destination safely and on time.
2. When sending your child, make sure he/she is ready for when the car arrives. Especially in carpools with multiple stops, being late at one stop can have a domino effect on future stops.
3. Always always always check that every child is wearing his/her seat belt before you begin driving. AND don’t drive more children than there are seat belts. It’s neither legal nor safe to strap two children into one seat belt.
4. Never make unscheduled stops unless you’ve checked with all the parents of children in the carpool.
5. If you are unable to drive at a time for which you are scheduled, you are the person responsible for finding a replacement from among the carpool parents and informing everyone of the change. If at all possible please make any changes well ahead of time and try to find a replacement from within the group. Never find a replacement from outside the carpool group unless you’ve asked all the carpool parents first.
6. Don’t use your phone while driving. If you’re using your phone for GPS, put it in a hands-free holder.
7. Be a good example to the children in the car. Don’t yell at other drivers or use your phone while driving.
8. Always drop off each child at the location specified by their parent. If a child informs you of a last-minute change, check in with his/her parent first.
9. Don’t discipline another person’s child. Let that child’s parent know if there was any unacceptable behavior.
10. If you send your child off in a carpool with snacks, check with the driver that it’s okay for him/her to eat in the car.

Carpooling Tips for Kids

1. Always be ready to go on time. It’s no fun to wait around for anyone else, so don’t make people wait for you.
2. Always ask the driver if it’s okay before eating any snacks in their car.
3. Always wear your seatbelt.
4. Hands, arms, heads (and feet!) inside the car at all times.
5. Indoor voices in the car please.
6. Every driver appreciates a THANK YOU when you’re being dropped off.

GoKid is working hard on streamlining some of trickiest parts of carpooling—changes to driving, tracking of the car, and notifications to all participants—to make carpooling an even better experience.