Kid-Friendly Carpool Ideas

As a mom of four, I spend quite a bit of time in the car. Between school drop off and pick up, errands, and extra curricular activities, there is a lot of running around to be done. If you’re lucky, then hopefully you are able to take turns carpooling with other moms. I am not usually so lucky because not many other moms have room for my 3 school-aged children. However, I have decided that the time in the car should mean something since we are there so often. I have come up with several kid-friendly carpool ideas to help you and your kids make the most of that part of the day.

Great conversation in the car can be very beneficial to connecting with your child(ren). If you spend a lot of time running around then the few moments in the car may be some of the only moments you actually get to share with your kids, so get in some quick discussions. Here are some conversation starters or topics for the car:

Discussion

Morning:

• Have the kids tell you 3 things they are looking forward to that day.
• Go over spelling words with the kids, or have them quiz each other.
• Pass out flashcards for the kids to quiz each other with.

After School/Evening:

• Have the kids tell you 1 bad thing about their day, and end with 2 positive things about their day.
• Have the kids tell you 3 things they learned that day.
• For added fun, keep a microphone (or fake one) in the car and let the kids interview each other about their school day. It might be a fun way to get more info out of the kids.

These days I have found myself switching the radio station more and more often, due to the inappropriate lyrics. Take matters into your own hands by providing your own music for the car. Here are some of my music suggestions for carpooling little ones.

Music

• Kidz Bop (any of the albums)
• Fresh Beat Band
• Disney Station
• The Muppets Soundtrack or any other Disney Movie Soundtrack
• Sharon, Lois & Bram
• Sandra Boynton Soundtracks (my favorite is the Rhinoceros Tap – it makes my kids laugh)
• Audio Books

No matter what you plan for the kids during carpool, or what you listen to, make sure you always have a plan – especially when driving other people’s children. It’s important to have an emergency contact list, and a schedule. Keep in mind that after school the kids have had a long day of studying, being quiet, and being still (with the exception of recess). Let them tell you about their day and try to be excited to see them, and to reconnect with them after being separated for 6+ hours.

Leave a comment with any additional carpool ideas you have!

This advice is brought to you by the 2013 Chevrolet Traverse, with seating for up to eight and a five-star safety rating. Our crossover was #TraverseTested for everything from last minute road trips to daily carpooling, so you know it¹s the perfect ride to get you and your family back to school in style.

“Disclosure: Compensation was provided by Chevrolet via Glam Media. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Chevrolet.”