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Would you let your toddler go on a field trip with daycare?
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Anonymous
| I thought I was the only one who was afraid to let my toddler go on field trips. i recently visited a home day care center which I really liked and seriously considered putting DC there. However, the main provider and her assistant take the kids (approximately 8 children from infants to 3 years) on weekly field trips and that really scarred me. DC is so active, i was scarred she'd get lost. |
Anonymous
They sit the little ones two to a seat with an adult sitting at the end of the bench. Seems to work our fine. In 5+ years there has never been a problem. |
Anonymous
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Our kids go to a center downtown, so most of the field trips are either within walking distace or with parents/strollers on the metro. They always get back by naptime, although some kids are drifting off by the time we walk back in the door.
The older classes 2.5+ rented a bus over the summer and went to a park that was about 30 mins away. My DC was out that day but the kids really loved it. |
Anonymous
If there's an accident, an adult sitting at the end of the row is not going to stop the kids from being ejected or smashed. This is horrible. |
Anonymous
I just chaperoned my 16 month old daughter on her first daycare field trip. Out of 17 kids on the trip, she was one of just two toddler to attend. I agree that it's unnecessary for kids at this age to go on a field trip, but it sounded fun and to be honest I wanted to go, so we went. My daughter had a great time, I got to spend a weekday with her, and I got to chat with some different parents and teachers. At this age, I don't think I'd let her go without chaperoning her (or having my husband do it). We rode the bus together, and it was pretty easy to get her carseat buckled in securely. I was shocked to see that a few kids' seats were buckled in very loosely - parents were supposed to stay to do this but a few just dropped off their seats, and I don't think the teachers knew how to work all of them. We did get all the seats buckled properly, but not before a few of the kids slid around when the bus first started moving. That seems odd that the center isn't offering care for children who can't or aren't participating - about half the kids at our center went on the trip, and half stayed behind. They were condensed into two classrooms for the day, but that seems wrong to require parents to send their kids on the trip or make other arrangements. |
Anonymous
So if I haven't had an accident in 5+ years I should let my kid go without a carseat?!? |
Anonymous
| I went on a walking trip with my DS class when he was 2 and in a "toddler" room. It was one of the most badly run and miserable experience that I can remember. The daycare workers were so preoccupied with their enjoyment of the museum that they did not pay attention to the children. They did not interact with the children at all and it was a disaster. We are no longer at that day care. |
Anonymous
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OP, I live in Maryland and hour up I270 is very,very far out there. Where are they going? Cacoctin Zoo?
What type of judgement does your daycare have if they think a 1-2 hour road trip on a major highway highway for 2 year olds is a good idea? This is too far or long for preschoolers let alone 2 year olds. There must be some cost issue (they got a deal going to this place) or just a completely disorganized director to feel this was their only option. In comparison, Butler's Orchard which is up in Germantown is only 30 minutes on I270 from as far south as North Bethesda. If you are in Rockville, Homestead farms is out between Dranestown/Poolesville along route 28/river rd direction about 20 minutes. |
Anonymous
This post made me laugh and laugh. Yes, 2.5 yr old is a spring chicken, particularly when being transported in a vehicle by someone other than the parents. I would, and have, allowed my toddler to go on a field trip. I would not allow a toddler to go on the field trip you have described. |
Anonymous
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My child's daycare does field trips on buses w/o carseats, as well. I let him participate, but I drive him in our car. I don't care if the bus is exciting. No way.
FWIW, he's 3 now, but his center requires parents of the 2yo class to go with the kids if they participate. I have a pretty flexible work schedule, so I usually go with, even though he's 3 now. He's a "wanderer," and I just feel more comfortable going. |
Anonymous
| if it's up 270, i am going to bet it's apple picking. seems to be the trip of the season. |
Anonymous
| I know that I am going to get a number of hits, but the reason why I have my child in day care is because I am a working mother and single. I take my child to the zoo, museums, or whatever else we want to do, so why on earth would I find value in a 3 hour trip, 2 of which would be spent on the bus! Also I pay the day care to look after my child and keep him safe. I think it is a little crazy to plan all these trips that call for parent participation. |
Anonymous
| I had the same misgivings about letting my child go on field trips. I was really worried about the bus trip. I did A LOT of research on the bus safety issues. What I discovered was that statistically your child is safer on a tour bus with no seat belts than riding in a car in a carseat. |
Anonymous
| Will the PP please cite this research? I am curious. It's not a "tour bus" but a small school bus. To the PP who was curious, the locale is Frederick (coming from Rockville). Is that about an hour? |
Anonymous
| I did not let my child go without a parent/grandparent until age 6. |