The K5 - elementary education for parents

You pile your kid in the car. You drop them at the bus stop. You jump on the train.

If you live within 2 miles of your child’s school, instead of taking a train, car or bus, how about taking the 10 to 25 minutes to spend time with your kid during the commute having fun and getting yourself some exercise to burn off last night’s dinner? Here are some ideas:

Walk: it’s a great way to chat with your kid, get some exercise and to start the morning.

Bicycle: If your kid doesn’t know how to ride a bike yet, teach em’. One of my favorite memories as a kid was riding my bike with my Dad. Ride to work, lock it up, and pick them up and ride home. Make sure you get a good lock for that bike and a helmet! And don’t worry about your hair when you get to work- just get a brush.

Skateboard: One of my favorites! They are fun to ride, easy to store in a closet at school, can be carried and it turns the morning commute into an adventure. If you don’t skate, get a scooter, and ride next to your kid. AGAIN Make sure to get a helmet.  And we are biased- The K5 contributor Jason Salfi runs the world’s only “green” skateboard company, Comet Skateboards.

Scooter: These have been the craze the last few years. They fold up and your kid can easily store them at school, and they can be carried if needed. And you know what’s next: Make sure to get a helmet.

Roller Skates: Yep, it’s pretty retro, but if you live in an area without a lot of cars, bring back the 1960’s and 70’s (or 1950’s) and roll to school in style. My wife still has her white roller skates and takes them out every once in a while to run an errand.

All of these methods are “green”. You’re not relying on fossil fuels. But most importantly, they create an activity with your child that’s fun, even if you’re simply walking. And kids who do a little physical activity in the morning are much calmer when they get to class, making it easier for them to get to work.

And did I miss any other methods of commuting? If so, post a comment.

So don’t drop them at the bus stop for a ten-minute ride – walk, skate or pedal to school with your kid. It will start your morning off right as well.