How to be Mum on Race Day

So you've decided you'd like to step into the drivers seat, but what to do with the kids while you're trying to focus on a good race. Race days are long and tiring enough for adults, but kids can get bored pretty quickly, and there's plenty of danger they can get themselves into. So what can you do apart from hiring a nanny for the day?

Well, I'm hardly the expert, so I put the call out for to mums who do race, and they've come back with some great ideas for all ages.

• Pack loads of colouring in, activity books and toys. You'll probably end up with more kids entertainment packed in the race truck than you have spare parts.
• A portable dvd player, tablet with some movies loaded or just an old laptop. Setup the kids with some of those blowup couches and some headphones.
• Video Games.... yeh, cringe all you like, but if it keeps them happy for the day, then why not?
• Some of the tracks have playgrounds, work a roster with your team (or group up with some of the other parents) to have someone keep an eye on the kids in the playground.
• Take some time out to introduce the kids to other racers, collect posters and cards. They not only feel more involved, but the other racers then know they're your kid. They'll tend to keep half an eye open if they come by unsupervised then.
• Give them a really important job to do. It doesn't matter if you do the job again, or it's not even something that's required, but it makes them feel very important.
  eg: Go the the tower and collect my time card
        Make sure my headlights are clean before I go out
        Keep the posters bin full, and roll new ones up if needed.
        Make sure mummy has a bottle of water ready in the tow car
  ... you get the idea. There's jobs you can create for any age of child.
• For the very little ones, you can get the flyscreen walls for most marquees. Zip them in with all their toys and let them go for it.
• Get them into racing too. Most forms of racing have a junior version for that very reason.
• Give them a camera (or an old phone with a working camera) and send them off with instructions to "spy on the competitors"

Whatever you decide works for you and your kids, the most important factors are ..

1. Make sure everyone at the track knows your kids
2. Make sure when you are otherwise occupied, one of your team knows they are "mum"
3. Make sure you let yourself relax and have fun.