Please tell me about this "car line" thing...

KL777

DS starts Pre-Kindergarten this upcoming school year and he has to enter through this "car line".  I've never done a car line before---it doesn't seem difficult or anything but are you in this line for a long time?  I plan on being the first one in line but I get the feeling that they don't want you to get out of your car---just wait for the school person to come out to the car to get your child.

What has been your experience?  TIA.

KKMMex

I've been doing car line at our preschool for several years now.  Our car line is optional.  I started using it after my second child was born for the convenience factor, especially on bad weather days.  The area where the children exit the cars is covered.

Car line is pretty straightforward.  You get in line and basically wait for your turn, then school staff come to your vehicle, open the door and unbuckle your child, then escort them inside the school.  The wait is minimal at our school but we have less than 100 students total.  Some moms choose to use the car line and others don't.  My older daugher is very independent and didn't want me walking her into the school when she was in pre-k.  My younger daughter is used to car line and doesn't care either way.

jlw2505

I think it varies a bit from school to school so if they don't explain how it works at an orientation, I would ask.  At my DD's school (older DD is in a PreK program which is at the elementary) the parents that are picking up the K-6th graders are assigned one of 2 doors and they line up and the kids come out to the car when they see you.  They have teachers assigned to help the kids and the parents do not get out of the car.  The teachers watch to make sure the kids stay on the sidewalk, get into the right car, etc.  Any of the kids that are not picked up by a certain time are taking to the office by the teacher on duty.  I do before/after care so luckily can avoid this.  School gets out at 4:03 and I have gotten to school at 3:30 and have already seen cars starting to line up.  I know when I get to school right around 4pm, the line is long and going out into the street. 

kmhunt11

DD's school is pretty big- about 150 kids getting out at the same time- and it goes very quickly.  It helps that the drop off window is any time between 8 and 9, and the pick up window is any time between 2:45 and 3, although I often get there at 2:40 and her teacher will bring her out. There are multiple teachers outside morning and afternoon to buckle/unbuckle carseats and help the kids get their backpacks on/off.  There are pretty much no hiccups unless DD decides to ignore her teacher when it's time to put her shoes on and get her stuff ready.  A couple of times her teacher had to bring her out to the car with her slippers still on  

It was a little weird dropping her off without giving her a hug in the morning, but we adjusted just fine.  It was a me issue more than a DD issue.  I think it'll help with kids that have separation issues because there is no opportunity to cling to Mommy.   

Sawyerplus1

That sounds amazing!! I've never heard of that before!  At DSs preschool we have to fight for a parking spot along the street and take the LOs in ourselves, which is fine of course, but having to unload and load DD in and out of her carseat just to take 2 minutes to take DS to class is tiring. In the fall I'll have to do it with DS, DD, and this new LO and it exhausts me just thinking about it! How lovely if the staff would just come get DS from the car

AlabamaMamma224

We love car line!  Both MMO for DS and DD's elementary school uses it for drop offs and pick ups.

I only do the drop off with DD though, she rides the bus home.  Our bus comes so ridiculously early in the morning, I don't see her using it for the ride in for some time.... early as in 6:20 a.m.

cecee36

The car pool line at my daughter's school is everything!  Living in South Louisiana, the weather can change between hot and rainy at any point so if I don't have to sweat in the heat or get my hair wet in the rain, I'm all over it!  At DD's school, you drive through a circular driveway and pull up at the front entrance.  Typically, there are 2-3 teachers standing outside and as you approach the entrance, one of them walks to your car, opens the door,and unbuckles the child from their seat.  They are quickly moved onto the sidewalk and escorted to the front door of the school and then the child walks to their class.  (If your child needs to be escorted to their classroom, they will do that, too.)  There are times that the line moves slowly; some children may cry or some families have more than one little one to drop off. Plus, children are small and fast and accidents can happen quickly so it's best to put your patience into practice to keep the babies (and everyone else) safe.  

schnappycat

Sawyerplus1:

That sounds amazing!! I've never heard of that before!  At DSs preschool we have to fight for a parking spot along the street and take the LOs in ourselves, which is fine of course, but having to unload and load DD in and out of her carseat just to take 2 minutes to take DS to class is tiring. In the fall I'll have to do it with DS, DD, and this new LO and it exhausts me just thinking about it! How lovely if the staff would just come get DS from the car

Wow, I agree! I've never heard of such a thing, especially with a covered area. Not only do I have to park in the parking lot, unload both kids, and walk down a substantial flight of stairs, we also have to wait outside the school until we are let in. It's freezing right now! Plus, when we pick up, they bring the sign-out book outside unless it's very cold and often the kids are late being dismissed so the wait can be more than a few minutes. It's quite exhausting and sucky when the weather is bad.

I would kill to be able to keep DD in the car and not get out. That's the stuff of dreams right there! 

regenab

I love car circle. I am not sitting in line long and I don't have to park and get out of the car. They always have at least 4 people outside to get the kids in and out of the cars. I especially love it on rainy days. It is very hard for me to keep my 3 year old twins right next to me under an umbrella so car circle is my best friend.