Could new app take the stress out of the school run?
From traffic chaos to oversleeping children, there are many reasons why parents up and down the country will be dreading the return of the school run this week.
But the solution to their term-time troubles could soon be in the palm of their hand, thanks to a new app that promises to help take the stress out of getting the kids to and from school.
OneLane allows mums and dads to hire qualified healthcare professionals known as guardians to handle the school run duties, as well as to take kids to any extra-curricular activities.
It’s also been designed to make it easy for parents to share the burden of getting children to school on time with a carpool feature that means families can get together to give each other lifts.
At the moment, the price is £9 for parents looking to hire a guardian through the app to pick up their child and then drop them off somewhere.
For extra peace of mind, mums and dads are also able to trace the journey their children take remotely using their smartphone or tablet.
The app has had its launch in London, with the developers set to launch a crowdfunding campaign to raise money to expand the app.
It’s the brainchild of an American techie called Camron Moradi, who was inspired to start work on the app when he began helping out with his sisters’ school runs after moving to London.
He told the London Evening Standard: “I have six sisters who have kids and I’m the designated driver when I’m around, so I see the challenges parents face when you need to be in two places at the same time.”
He added that he hopes the app will also help to cut down on congestion and pollution, which are both at worryingly high levels in the capital.
OneLane is sure to be welcomed by stressed-out parents who are feeling just as anxious about the start of the school year as their parents.
But for those unable to take advantage of the app right away, here are few tips to help the school run go as smoothly as possible.
- Preparation is everything: Put out clothes and pack school bags the night before and make sure kids are well drilled on their morning routine.
- Car supplies: Keep rain coats in the car just in case the weather turns, and make sure you’ve got a stash of breakfast bars and juice cartons for kids to take with them as a mid-morning snack.
- Use a rewards system: Kids who behave well in the mornings can get extra playtime. Use a sticker chart to keep track of behaviour.
