Awful pickups from school

[coughing26]

School is situated on a very narrow pavement and there’s only really room for one abreast, or one adult and a child, I have two children. I have the younger one with me when I pick up the older one and things just seem to go either wild, with them both charging ahead, trying to shove past people, or one trying to shoot ahead and the other clinging to me wanting to be carried. If I refuse then they don’t move and the other one goes even further so I end up having to carry child plus book bag, coat, water bottle.

I am really getting fucked off with it (I know people will suggest reins but with those the youngest will refuse to move so it would just be like the ‘carry’ situation.)

Buggy? Scooter? Take a large rucksack to throw all their crap in as soon as they are out of school?

I can imagine them charging off as I’m transferring into the rucksack! A bike or scooter wouldn’t be very practical for the size of the pavement, or a pram for that matter. There are people with babies but they walk on the road mostly.

Yes to the PP who suggested a big bag to put all the crap into so you can be hands free.

Hold back a little to let the crowds go first.

Perhaps you need a sticker chart and a reward for a week of walking alongside Mummy nicely? Set it up on Sunday night and absolutely pile on the praise for doing well the first time. Explain the reasons behind it too.

how old are they?

I’ve told the younger one they’ll have to stay in the car while I get the other. I’ll trial that for a few days and see if there’s any improvement.

How old are they?

6 and 3.

As frustrating as it may be when you want to get home, I’d go for the natural consequences route. It’s too dangerous for them to be doing this when the entire school is emptying in one go. I’d force my children to stay (reins or not) until the paths have cleared. And then you decide how everyone is getting home. If anyone is refusing to move due to reins/not being carried etc then I’d just wait it out. I can’t see them being that willing to waste their evenings presumably cold and hungry stood on the pavement outside school all winter

@Blackandyellow65 it isn’t that, it’s just that the older one would go ahead while the younger one is stood wailing about being carried and so one of them would be alone. We’d also be blocking the pavement.

They also like being on the school playground as there is climbing equipment so worried it would sort of reward them if I stayed.

Also, something I used to do was to take them to a charity shop and let them choose a toy as a reward. Cheap and super exciting aged 6 and 3. You just need a hard reset on this part of the day.

You’re going to leave a 3yo alone in the car?

It’s a lot safer than the current alternative. I will be able to see her and she can see me.

Pushchair with 3yo strapped in, 6yo bits underneath.

Get wrist reins for the big one.

Let them play for 5 mins on the equipment, does it matter that it's a reward? Set it up as part of the new routine.

How close is the car to the school? If it’s close enough that you can see her and leave her there then surely the walk isn’t a problem?

How do you work that out? Not being difficult, just not really following your line of thought there sorry.

It does when the teachers are glaring at you

I'd let them play until things clear, if that's allowed.

If you are close enough to see your 3yo in the car it must be parked very close to the school, so why is the very short walk a problem?