This became a 5-year-old riding unrestrained story. I probably should have done something differently. It keeps bugging me. How to handle in future? She was invited back for more playdates.
I dropped 5 -year-old at a friend's house (first time for a playdate with this girl). It's a few houses down, around the corner and across the little street. Really close, in our little subdivision. Easy to walk. I knew the dad offered to "drop" her home, so I asked if they'd be walking or driving. He said probably walking. I said, OK, because it it's driving she'll need her booster, and I have that. (It was in our trunk). So I didn't hand it to them.
She is a new booster rider and always sits properly and does her belt correctly (even tightens it) in our van. I bought her a high-back for the van and our carpool one too is a highback.
Turns out they drove (it was cold and dark after all) and stuck her in a backless. I guess that's not the end of the world. But then she tells me she didn't even have her belt on because "they wouldn't let her." She said it was too dark to see the belt (unfamiliar belt, sure, I understand, unfamiliar car). And she didn't speak up. It wasn't that anyone prohibited her using her belt. It's a 30 second drive so before she knew it, she was home.
So, I talked with her and told her she MUST tell them to stop and that she needs help in that situation.
How to handle future playdates? (My getting her was an issue since I have 3 little ones and am 7 months pregnant). It really was nice of them to offer to bring her home. I just assumed they would have walked. Or not put someone's child in the car and drive off without checking! Even for a 30 second ride. The parent told me they had a booster and she used that. I had no idea (until my daughter told me) that she simply SAT in the booster.
I dropped 5 -year-old at a friend's house (first time for a playdate with this girl). It's a few houses down, around the corner and across the little street. Really close, in our little subdivision. Easy to walk. I knew the dad offered to "drop" her home, so I asked if they'd be walking or driving. He said probably walking. I said, OK, because it it's driving she'll need her booster, and I have that. (It was in our trunk). So I didn't hand it to them.
She is a new booster rider and always sits properly and does her belt correctly (even tightens it) in our van. I bought her a high-back for the van and our carpool one too is a highback.
Turns out they drove (it was cold and dark after all) and stuck her in a backless. I guess that's not the end of the world. But then she tells me she didn't even have her belt on because "they wouldn't let her." She said it was too dark to see the belt (unfamiliar belt, sure, I understand, unfamiliar car). And she didn't speak up. It wasn't that anyone prohibited her using her belt. It's a 30 second drive so before she knew it, she was home.
So, I talked with her and told her she MUST tell them to stop and that she needs help in that situation.
How to handle future playdates? (My getting her was an issue since I have 3 little ones and am 7 months pregnant). It really was nice of them to offer to bring her home. I just assumed they would have walked. Or not put someone's child in the car and drive off without checking! Even for a 30 second ride. The parent told me they had a booster and she used that. I had no idea (until my daughter told me) that she simply SAT in the booster.
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