Do parents take off work for field trips?

[Anonymous]

My child is in Pre-k. I got a note that a field trip to a pumpkin patch is scheduled in October. An adult is expected to transport the child there and back to school, and be in attendance during the field trip (0900-1200). I asked the teacher if a parent was unable to attend, would the child stay at the school (which is a daycare that does before/after care for Pre-k). She said she has never had a child unable to attend, and that a grandparent or other adult could bring the child instead of the parent, or that I could just take off work the few hours during the trip (so I wouldn't be at work from 0830-1300).

Is this normal? Do parents use PTO for things other than sick days? I really don't imagine many parents willing to take a day off for a pumpkin patch trip, or that it would be normal to just go to work at 1300. I would love to go, and I don't want my child to miss the trip. I just think it's unreasonable to expect parents to take a day off work for something other than an illness or a vacation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My child is in Pre-k. I got a note that a field trip to a pumpkin patch is scheduled in October. An adult is expected to transport the child there and back to school, and be in attendance during the field trip (0900-1200). I asked the teacher if a parent was unable to attend, would the child stay at the school (which is a daycare that does before/after care for Pre-k). She said she has never had a child unable to attend, and that a grandparent or other adult could bring the child instead of the parent, or that I could just take off work the few hours during the trip (so I wouldn't be at work from 0830-1300).

Is this normal? Do parents use PTO for things other than sick days? I really don't imagine many parents willing to take a day off for a pumpkin patch trip, or that it would be normal to just go to work at 1300. I would love to go, and I don't want my child to miss the trip. I just think it's unreasonable to expect parents to take a day off work for something other than an illness or a vacation.

Yes, I did when I got to a point that I was able to so. When in pre-school, my kids went on a field trip monthly during the "school year", and weekly during the summer. I made many of those trips. I will say it is awful if your child can't go - do you have a friend at the school that would consent to be responsible for your child?

I switched roles at my company to be more flexible - when I started my new role, I had less than 2 days of PTO, so no, I wasn't going on field trips.

[Anonymous]

Sure, I take time off for field trips - they only come up like 2 times a year, and I only have 1 kid though.

[Anonymous]

We do take time off in order to do field trips, sure. Yes, you take leave or perhaps work a flex schedule to make up the leave time. This is pretty common at the schools we've attended.

But it's not normal to make attendance conditional on whether or not a parent can come. Usually they request a certain number of chaperones and have a bus. Can another family transport your child?

[Anonymous]

I take time for field trips. One per year per child. I have the time available. However, I would not feel bad if I couldn't do it. I mean, I might feel badly for my child missing out, but I wouldn't feel guilty. You do what you can do.

[Anonymous]

Our preschool didn't do a 1/1 parent-student ratio for trips, but I do take off to chaperone school trips and parties that they have (maybe 4 parents for each trip). Luckily my job is fairly flexible so I don't have to keep good track of time that I'm out, I just have to make it up later.

[Anonymous]

I'd take time off if it was a big annual trip like the pumpkin patch. But monthly field trips would be way too much, with all the other leave I have to take for sickness and dr appts. It would be pretty ridiculous to expect a parent to take 6 days of vacation leave to do 12 half day field trips every year -- that would be over half of the vacation time many of us get!

[Anonymous]

It's no big deal to miss the pumpkin patch in PK4, but you will be expected to attend parent conferences, assemblies and performances during the school year once your child hits kindergarten, plus there are a lot of holidays and PD days. Print out a copy of your school's calendar now so that you can start thinking about how you are going to cover those events and days off. We do a mix of leave, day camps, trading off with other families, and camp Grandma.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My child is in Pre-k. I got a note that a field trip to a pumpkin patch is scheduled in October. An adult is expected to transport the child there and back to school, and be in attendance during the field trip (0900-1200). I asked the teacher if a parent was unable to attend, would the child stay at the school (which is a daycare that does before/after care for Pre-k). She said she has never had a child unable to attend, and that a grandparent or other adult could bring the child instead of the parent, or that I could just take off work the few hours during the trip (so I wouldn't be at work from 0830-1300).

Is this normal? Do parents use PTO for things other than sick days? I really don't imagine many parents willing to take a day off for a pumpkin patch trip, or that it would be normal to just go to work at 1300. I would love to go, and I don't want my child to miss the trip. I just think it's unreasonable to expect parents to take a day off work for something other than an illness or a vacation.

You barely see your kid as it is. You can't take one day off to spend with them at the pumpkin patch and then an afternoon of mom/kid time? Are you really asking that. Wow

[Anonymous]

Yes, I take off/adjust schedule to do field trips, if possible.

OP, why do you think it's odd to go in at 1pm? Does your company only allow full-day PTO?

[Anonymous]

DH and I took turns taking half day off for field trips. I'd go to work at 1. I'm a SAHM so I do most of the field trips. DH will probably still take a day off to go to the zoo field trip.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

You barely see your kid as it is. You can't take one day off to spend with them at the pumpkin patch and then an afternoon of mom/kid time? Are you really asking that. Wow

Oh stop it. I take my kid to the pumpkin patch (and other fun things) on the weekend or a day off. I just didn't realize people were taking so much time off for things like this. I have only ever called in to work when my kid is sick. Luckily I have a few weeks notice for this trip. As a kid, I only remember going on field trips with a few adult chaperones.

[Anonymous]

You can probably ask a friend to take your child. Your child will feel bad that you are not there though.

I no longer work now but my 4yo made me feel so damn guilty for missing his Valentine's Party when he was in preschool. He kept telling me how I was the only mommy who didn't come.

[Anonymous]

Kids have been in daycare (everyone works who has kids there) since infancy. They start field trips at age 2. A parent of each kid is always there. It's just not that big a deal to take a few hours off a few times a year.

[Anonymous]

Two of our preschools handled it differently. At one, parents would take a few kids and staff who did not drive. (I was not a fan of this so I only took staff except for one child whom I was friends with the parent) and at another they rented buses and had parents volunteer. It is a bit strange for them to have all the parents transport their child. I don't really consider that a field trip but organized school trip. Its fine to decline if you need to work. The point of your child being in child care is so you can work. At our last one, there were several of us (some grandparents) who consistently were able to go (only a few of us were SAH) and otherwise some parents went on some, some went on others, some not at all. A few times, 1-2 kids commented they'd like their parent there but it was easily handled but redirecting them and saying lets text time a picture (I was friends with the parents). It made parent and child happy. Problem solved.