How early do you get to the school to pick up your kid?

[Kion10]

My daughter is in kindergarten. The first day of school I got there at 1:55 (they get out at 2:25) and I was 15 cars deep. The second day I got there at 1:50 and I was 25 cars deep. Today I got there at 1:40 and I was 20 cars deep. I don't understand it! And as soon as I get in line, more cars flood in behind me. By the time school starts to get out, there are at least 100 cars in line. I'm absolutely flabbergasted.

It takes about an hour between getting her and getting out of line.

How is it at your child's school?

 

[woodkins]

No lines at all.....they take the bus
Sorry it is such a pain for you!

 

[2cutekidz]

Can you park and pick her up that way? Our parking lot is ridiculous in the afternoon - last year I would park on a side street and DD6 would walk with a friend to me. It worked out much better and she liked the freedom of walking "by herself".

 

[dizneechic]

at the bus, my boys take one too. My dd on the other hand is in preschool, there are about 300 students there, of which at least 1/2 are dismissed at the same time. They have a drop off pick up system that always takes a really long time the first few weeks while new parents acclimate but after the 1st month it gets a lot quicker.

My guess is it's overly excited parents picking up the kids the first few weeks, figuring out schedules and timing and what not and it will settle down after the 1st few weeks of school for you as well.

 

[Kickapoo Joie Juice]

The last school we were at carpool was poorly handled and the lines were ridiculous, so I would park at the high school and walk over to the elementary school. I had them switched from carpool to walkers, and we just walked to the car when they were dismissed with the other walkers.

The current school they ride the bus because the bus only makes 2 stops, both in our neighborhood, and they're off the bus before I could pick them up at carpool. The current school has no walkers.

 

[StephMK]

You're probably finding bigger lines earlier because everyone else is out there wondering - how early do I have to be there - too. We have the same issues and it runs all the way up through HS.

I chose to be one of the last to pick up to avoid me waiting so long. DD was fine w/waiting because she just talked to her friends & played in the pick up group.

Now both younger ones are on the bus & I had to wait about 30 min today. Turns out one poor K kid couldn't remember his stop! Our neighborhood goes in a huge circle and all the /streets/cul-de-sacs off it look very similar. The kids said he was pretty upset and crying, poor little guy!

Warning to new K kids - make sure your kid knows your street/stop address! While you may walk them to the stop, they need to know where to get off.

 

[momof1princess]

my DD got out of middle school at 2:40pm last year, and we were usually home by 2:50pm-2:52pm. i normally wouldn't get there until about 2:35pm. now, they've built a new middle school nearby and we end up in the same line with the elementary school which stretches back to the beginning of creation, and it takes forever to get to the turn-off for the middle school. we don't get home until about 3:05pm. ugh. i'm seriously considering putting her on the school bus.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

Just like yours, ours is a mess. When I have to pick up the kids after school, I just go 30 minutes before they get out and hope for the best.

 

[Hannathy]

It is crazy how early some parents arrive so I do 2 things. When it is nice he walks about 1 block away to the crossing guard and I am waiting on the street there so no congestion OR in the winter I wait until 5-8 minutes after they get out to show up and then drive right up and pick him up. If the traffic is getting crazy I wait 10 minutes, I can't deal with giving up 1 hour for school pick up.

 

[stephie1012]

wow thats crazy!!!! here the parents park and they get dismissed by class and walk to your car, yea it makes parking crappy but still u get out quicker....dd is only in preschool and its private so theres only about 60 kids in the entire school, pickup is very easy.
Carpool sounds neat tho u dont have to get out of the car right? that would be awesome when DS is asleep in the car lol but not worth the headache of sitting there all day!

 

[prncess674]

My parents live by the elementary school I used to go to. Carpool used to a hodge podge of cars parked every which way and parents out of the car gabbing with each other, total mess.

About 5 years ago they started a new system where carpool was on the back side of the building and cars all had to come from one direction making the passenger side door on the curb. Parents place a number placard on the windshield and there is someone about 5 cars back radioing the numbers so by the time the parent gets to the front of the line the kid is waiting. Teacher/Aide opens the door and the kids are scooped up in no time. An entire elementary school is out the door in about 15 minutes. School busses pick up on the other side.

 

[tzolkin]

At our school you park and go inside to sign the child(ren) out.

I've never had a problem finding a parking space and I like that the kids aren't wandering around parked and moving cars and that they can't be taken by anyone other than me. It is a bit crowded in the waiting area, especially in the winter, but that sounds a lot better than waiting for an hour in traffic.

 

[Kion10]

Her school doesn't have walkers so unfortunately that is not an option. I'm not really interested in her riding the bus. I don't mind the wait, I just didn't expect so many people to not mind the wait either. I'm just floored.

 

[kinntj]

Preschool you have to pull up and pick up and Kindergarten you can park and wait outside for your child and leave. There aren't tons of K's getting picked up, so it's not a big deal.

Now once they get into 1st-12 then it sounds a lot like your situation. They require you to do the pull up pick up and get there early. You can't park and go get your kid. Too dangerous to cross the pickup lanes and against school policy.

 

[Becky2005]

Hmm...Luckily our school has the car line thing down to a science....even when it's jammed packed it takes no more than 15 minutes to get all the kids loaded.

I do tend to walk during the nicer weather but once it gets winter, I drive. I usually get there maybe 10 minutes before school gets out if I'm lucky.

My only thing is I want to be IN the parking lot in line vs. the line that is out waiting on the street.

We actually have 2 parking lots & the other one is a secret one basically because hardly anyone uses it. I can't use it this year because I have a Kindergartener and they are always let out at the busy one & they MUST be released to a parent. Maybe later when he gets older. You can get in & out of that parking lot in 5 minutes.

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

Car lines tend to be longer earlier in the year. Parents (especially those new to the school) don't know how early to arrive. You will probably see that change a bit as the school year continues and people realize they can still arrive later and get their kids. No one wants their child to be the last one left in the classroom.

That being said, I arrive just after 2:00 for a 2:25 dismissal. We have to cross a drawbridge to get to school (not a common problem, I know ), and it opens on the hour if boat traffic is waiting. If I don't beat the bridge, I don't get to school until 2:20 and I am WAY back in line behind all the people who live on the beach and don't have to cross. I'd rather wait at the school than wait at the bridge.

I use that time to catch up on magazines, balance the checkbook, talk to the other moms in line, etc. It's quite nice except the first week of school when it is still close to 100 degrees here, since I don't want to leave the car running for 20 minutes.

 

[mom2val]

I have always gotten to school about an hour before they are let out. I park and then I go inside the school and volunteer. I've shelved books in the library, answered phones in the office, ran copies for teachers, laminated and cut out stuff... ect. I would go nuts sitting in the car lane- I'd rather be busy. After school I let my dd run around the school courtyard for about 10 mins till the car lanes thin out a bit and its not so crazy leaving the campus.

 

[littlbugmom]

My DD has always taken the bus. She arrives home 10-15 minutes after the dismissal bell.


I've experienced the pick up lane. Ugh. I think the school's routine is as smooth as it probably can be....but there are so many cars!

I arrive home from work 15 minutes before DD's bus. Originally, the plan was for me to pick her up on my way home but she gets home faster on the bus!

 

[bigbabyblues]

My DS' school lets out at 3:25, and I'm usually there by 3:20, lol. They prefer you park and walk up to get your children, unless it's raining. However, they is plenty of parking, it's a small school.

 

[pilesoflaundry]

My parents live by the elementary school I used to go to. Carpool used to a hodge podge of cars parked every which way and parents out of the car gabbing with each other, total mess.

About 5 years ago they started a new system where carpool was on the back side of the building and cars all had to come from one direction making the passenger side door on the curb. Parents place a number placard on the windshield and there is someone about 5 cars back radioing the numbers so by the time the parent gets to the front of the line the kid is waiting. Teacher/Aide opens the door and the kids are scooped up in no time. An entire elementary school is out the door in about 15 minutes. School busses pick up on the other side.

That is how it is done at our school. You must have your number up and you can't get out of your car. It makes thing safer for the kids and goes much faster.

My kids ride the bus home though.