When getting out of the car how do you get them all out safely? What if one does a runner?

[sorkycake]

Mine will be 6.5, 5, 2 and newborn (fingers crossed)

Here's my thoughts from this morning:

When I have them all out on my own, who do you get out of the bus car first?

Baby in carry car seat? 2yo last? 5yo who is the most flighty last but who can undo his own seatbelt?

How do you cope outside, or do you lock the doors and never see the light of day again?

I have a 7,3 and 15 month old.
I let the older 2 get out then make my 3 year old stand next to me, then take DD out of the car.
I then usually get DS2 (3) to hold the buggy although he is quite sensible.

Has your 5yo got SN? Because I would have expected my 5yo to stand where he was told. I have a 3yo who can do that. I just get mine out of whichever side of the car is most convenient to me.

Well he'll be 5 at the end of the year, he's 4.3 atm. No he doesn't have SEN, he's just very distracted....all of the time.

He will do as he's told (mostly) but is apt to have the memory of a goldfish and forget what he's agreed to within seconds.

Dd was brilliant at his age, very safety conscious in a car park, held the buggy when asked to. I put it down to him being a boy. I'm wondering a bit now.

you'll be fine, it's just a case of figuring out what works for you

sorkycake, my son is 4.9 and although he's a good boy, you have to constantly tell him what to do, when we get out of the car, if we don't say stay on the pavement then he'll walk on the road with us, or if we're walking down the street, we have to tell him to hold onto the pram or he will run ahead. I guess it's a boy thing, they do seem to have the memory of a goldfish when it comes to things like that, whereas if we say you can go swimming t'moro or you can have a treat after school he will never forget, lol, selective memory I think it's called xx

sorry only have 3 less that 3 years age gap and all under 6 - I make all of mine get out of one side of the car when I am on my own. and when we get in the get in all on one side of the car. the first one in goes all the way over to the far seat the 2nd in the middle etc. No one gets out until I do either. when they are getting in I stand by the door ready to grab if one does a runner. also buggy comes out first and is set up before first child gets out and goes in last when we get back to car.

4 is a bit of a handful, I would have a few prctice runs, where you park somewhere very quite and work out he best way to unload them all. 2 yr old would be my main worry, but 5 yr old will need to be watched closely too.

One thing I would do is make it very clear to the 3 of them exactly what you want them to do, make it clear what is expected, don't wait until one wanders off to bellow stay beside the car. Sorry that sounds a bit patronising but often kids just don't know what is expected and thats when they stray or misbehave. So strict strict strict and set the rules out clearly, once you get it working, stick to the same seating plan and order of exiting the vehicle, all out the one side.

Don't worry you can do it, just go for the school mistress mode .

4,2 and newborn
can't get them out of same side as they can't get past baby car seat and can't reach belt clip from other side so... get out baby go round to other side unbuckle 2yo get him to climb out the hold him tight while 4yo gets out of middle tell her where to stand while locking up.
reverse order for getting back in only I go back and do up 2yo seatbelt after fixing in baby.
Buggy comes out first and goes in last.

Ok, on school days i have my younger 6 plus my nephew freddie who i look after. This is what works for me.

1st out, freddies buggy, and freddie gets put in.
2nd is ds (10) and ds (9) who is closely followed by dt's (3) the older 2 hold the twins hand. last but not least is dt's (7)....who can obviously walk themselves.

Simply if dt's (3) don't hold the older boys hands and walk nicely..they don't get to go to playgroup/park and they get back in the car and we go home and do boring housework.

If there is any craziness then it is because ds (9) is having a bad day (aspergers) and has to lead the gang, some of the boys try challenging this on occasions and thats when it goes pear/pair shaped!....me gets stressed.

ta-da!

I look after 4, 3 and 2 yr olds. I get one out of the front and make them stand by me, shouting at all times: "STAY BY THE CAR, STAY BY THE CAR, DON'T MOVE IT'S DANGEROUS etc etc". Child lock is on both back seat doors, so the one at the far end who can undo seatbelt can't get out until I get 2 yr old out of car seat. Then we all have to link hands together with me still shouting "WATCH FOR THE TRAFFIC KIDS, CARS ARE EVERYWHERE KIDS..." It bloody terrifies me everytime.

My plan, for September, will be: set up buggy. Get baby out. Let ds1, who will be 6, get out and hold the buggy. Finally, ds2, who will be 3.5, will get out and be held in a vice like grip

My assult course smooth transition from all seats to pavement goes like this.

Big ones undo little ones, (my big ones are 10 and 13)

when baby was babe in arms, (as opposed to 11mth wriggler) would swing infant carrier in one arm, the escort littlies down step of car,and they have to stand next to me. One big kid, (usually Amy, she's oldest)holds ds 4 hand, 2yr has to hold my hand.

General rule if it can be implemented is always park so they have to get out onto pavement.

Rpeat this for the next 9 mths, IT can be done, It can be done.

have you treid disipline? it works wonders for getting them to do as theyre told.

if we are busy I tell mine to keep their hands on the car. Telling them to DO something rather than NOT do something workds a lot better. I have 7yo, 5yo with sn and 3 yo twins. One of the twins can get himself out the other can't but is very flighty, so it's him I have to watch.