Would you let your toddler go on a field trip with daycare?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Listen people, the original post was "Would you let your toddler go on a field trip with daycare?" People shared what they would do and why. The OP wanted different opinions and got them. There is no need to attack people for their choices.

I am one of the people who lets their toddler go on a school bus without seatbelts (which, as a PP rightfully point out, is the case on all public transportation). I also, *gasp* used to take my kid on planes as a lap child.

I know that some of you think these practices are unsafe, but those of us who disagree with you are not bad parents. We have considered the options and made decisions we are comfortable with. You can made different decisions, which is fine. I could call you a neurotic, over-protective helicopter parent whose child will grow up with no sense of independence. But I won't, because it's your child and your decision.

I so agree with you. My DC goes on field trips with preschool in MD 5-6 times a year, in a school bus with no seatbelts. I brought this up with the director, she said in MD ALL buses from the school system have no seatbelts. Not sure about VA or DC. She said this is done mostly because normally the only adult on the bus is the driver and in case of an emergency it would be impossible to take 20+ kids out who are strapped in. I don't know if this is the actual reasoning, just what she said. How do people take their kids on metro or buses? there are no seatbelts there either... I would much rather have buses with seatbelts, of course, but they are not available in MD so I let my child go anyway. The kids love the field trips and I think it's a great thing to experience with their peers.

[Anonymous]

Yes, I would and I have. When my son was in preschool he'd take bus or van trips to farms, ride the DC bus and metro to museums and the mall -- he loved it all and I often went with him and the care/oversight he received was great.

I have also taken my DS alone in the car with me on hour long rides to do something out of downtown DC where we live. Two hours wasted? I don't think so -- we've had great experiences. Has he ever fallen asleep in the car? Of course.

I would not put a 2 1/2 year old on a school bus without seatbelts. But once a kid enters school or camp I think one has to expect that will be the norm.

[Anonymous]

In Prince Georges County Public Schools (MD), school aged children ride on school buses with no seatbelts.

Preschool aged children (such as in the Montessori programs and the Head Start Programs) are not allowed to ride school buses and do not go on field trips.

http://www.msde.maryland.gov/NR/rdonlyres/03E7DAA2-F3C2-4A4B-A58D-801AD48B6E8D/23979/Guidelines_for_the_Safe_Transportation_of_PreSchoo.pdf

Recommendations for the transportation of Preschool Children

[Anonymous]

OP, my son is going on a field trip in October. He is 3 yrs old. I signed up to be a chaperone and I will drive my child there in our family car. Best solution!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. The PP is correct that I overestimated the distance...how drastically? She will have to determine that. It's 23 miles away, about 30 minutes according to Mapquest.

Does that change anyone's opinion?

Yes, my DD goes on trips all the time and she absolutely loves them. Like others said, she loves being a big yellow bus and feels like a big girl. She has been there since 2.5 yr old. She is now 3. I've chaperoned few of the trips. They are exhausting for caregivers but the kids just have the best time. It's a nice change from being in one location every day. I actually feel bad for her when trips get cancelled due to weather or other reasons. 1 hour drive time would get tiring for kids...but 30 minutes or less is fun.

I am baffled by people who are soooo against them. It's being so overprotective. If you trust the teachers, then know you kids will have a great time. I actually chose our current day care precisely because of field trips. Other nice ones didn't take the kids out and I didn't like that. current day care take them to local bakery to learn how bread is made, zoo, pumpkin patch, museums etc. She loves the adventure it adds to her life.

[Anonymous]

My son is 4 and went on a Field Trip today. Close to the school. He was very excited.

But last year, I went on the Field trip with him and the 2.5 -3 year olds. It was a 30 minute car ride. The kids had no interest in it. The only reason they were reined it was because so many parents chaperoned it was a 1:1 ratio. The kids were all cold, tired and starving - and finally one of the parents cracked and told the teachers they had to give the kids the snack now or her child was going to start losing it. There was no bathroom and about half the kids were mid-potty-training. It was not a good experience.

2.5 is not a good "long-distance" field trip age. Now, they went to a field trip to the local Giant to get stuff to make lunch. That was a good field trip. Short but exciting for that age group.

[Anonymous]

I pondered exactly that question last fall when my then 3-year old went on a daycare trip to Frederick. Bus ride, no car seats, 45 minutes up 270. Ultimately I decided to let him go, and he had a great time riding the bus, a miserable time at the pumpkin patch in cold, windy weather.
The most interesting thing to me was that I asked other parents in the class about their feelings on the bus ride/no carseats/I-270 thing, and every single one of them looked at me like I was crazy! Not a single one had a moment's hesitation.
Bottom line: I don't think you are wrong whichever decision you make.
-Lynn

[Anonymous]

I'm of the opinion that if a parent doesn't want their child to take part in a field trip, then it's the responsibility of the parents to find alternate care. I've worked in centers before and the suggestion to send the toddler with another teacher for the time of the field trip isn't always a possibility. Depending on the age of the child, sending the child to another classroom could affect the teacher to child ratio. For example, if a child is 2 years old and stays behind and is sent to a class with older children, then the ratio changes to reflect the age of the youngest child. In some cases, the ratio can go from 1:4 to 1:10. That's not a risk that most daycare centers are willing to take. The easiest solution is to either find alternate care for the field trip or go on the field trip with the child in your own vehicle. Since the trips are pre-planned, then finding back up shouldn't be too difficult.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm of the opinion that if a parent doesn't want their child to take part in a field trip, then it's the responsibility of the parents to find alternate care. I've worked in centers before and the suggestion to send the toddler with another teacher for the time of the field trip isn't always a possibility. Depending on the age of the child, sending the child to another classroom could affect the teacher to child ratio. For example, if a child is 2 years old and stays behind and is sent to a class with older children, then the ratio changes to reflect the age of the youngest child. In some cases, the ratio can go from 1:4 to 1:10. That's not a risk that most daycare centers are willing to take. The easiest solution is to either find alternate care for the field trip or go on the field trip with the child in your own vehicle. Since the trips are pre-planned, then finding back up shouldn't be too difficult.

I use daycare because I work, not because I have the luxury of taking time off because the daycare decides to transporta room of 2 year olds 30 miles away.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My son's daycare is doing the exact same thing, it sounds like. Day care is in arlington, field trip is to a petting zoo in Frederick, MD. That is at least one hour each way. They are relying on parent drivers to get the kids there and I cannot figure out how the carseat logistics will work. I am not letting my son go without me taking him. Luckily I am on maternity leave right now so not a huge issue. I dont know many of the other parents and though I am sure they are very nice people, NO WAY would I let my son ride in a car for an hour w someone I have never met.

The ride is AT LEAST one hour, if not longer. My family lives in Frederick and I've been making the drive up there for over 10 years. The drive is a complete nightmare and very stressful, particularly when the highway becomes just two lanes. Many cars and very large trucks are going way above the speed limit. I can't tell you how many accidents I've either seen or been part of over the years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I pondered exactly that question last fall when my then 3-year old went on a daycare trip to Frederick. Bus ride, no car seats, 45 minutes up 270. Ultimately I decided to let him go, and he had a great time riding the bus, a miserable time at the pumpkin patch in cold, windy weather.
The most interesting thing to me was that I asked other parents in the class about their feelings on the bus ride/no carseats/I-270 thing, and every single one of them looked at me like I was crazy! Not a single one had a moment's hesitation.
Bottom line: I don't think you are wrong whichever decision you make.
-Lynn

School aged children are fine on school buses and it is safer for them than cars.

Preschool aged children should be in car seats.

http://www.msde.maryland.gov/NR/rdonlyres/03E7DAA2-F3C2-4A4B-A58D-801AD48B6E8D/23979/Guidelines_for_the_Safe_Transportation_of_PreSchoo.pdf

[Anonymous]

No.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm of the opinion that if a parent doesn't want their child to take part in a field trip, then it's the responsibility of the parents to find alternate care. I've worked in centers before and the suggestion to send the toddler with another teacher for the time of the field trip isn't always a possibility. Depending on the age of the child, sending the child to another classroom could affect the teacher to child ratio. For example, if a child is 2 years old and stays behind and is sent to a class with older children, then the ratio changes to reflect the age of the youngest child. In some cases, the ratio can go from 1:4 to 1:10. That's not a risk that most daycare centers are willing to take. The easiest solution is to either find alternate care for the field trip or go on the field trip with the child in your own vehicle. Since the trips are pre-planned, then finding back up shouldn't be too difficult.

I use daycare because I work, not because I have the luxury of taking time off because the daycare decides to transporta room of 2 year olds 30 miles away.

Wow. Take the day off. Show some interest in your kid's life.

Or just get a babysitter for the day. Hopefully your child won't pick up on the fact that his/her mom doesn't care.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Wow. Take the day off. Show some interest in your kid's life.

Or just get a babysitter for the day. Hopefully your child won't pick up on the fact that his/her mom doesn't care.

Wow. SAHM here, I stayed home with both kids until they entered K, just for the record. I think you are way out of line. Taking a day off of work to go to some event with your toddler child and his daycare far from the only way to show you "care". The question isn't one of caring, it's whether such trips are approprriate or necessary for children, given that their parents certainly could take them on such trips on the weekends.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm of the opinion that if a parent doesn't want their child to take part in a field trip, then it's the responsibility of the parents to find alternate care. I've worked in centers before and the suggestion to send the toddler with another teacher for the time of the field trip isn't always a possibility. Depending on the age of the child, sending the child to another classroom could affect the teacher to child ratio. For example, if a child is 2 years old and stays behind and is sent to a class with older children, then the ratio changes to reflect the age of the youngest child. In some cases, the ratio can go from 1:4 to 1:10. That's not a risk that most daycare centers are willing to take. The easiest solution is to either find alternate care for the field trip or go on the field trip with the child in your own vehicle. Since the trips are pre-planned, then finding back up shouldn't be too difficult.

I use daycare because I work, not because I have the luxury of taking time off because the daycare decides to transporta room of 2 year olds 30 miles away.

Wow. Take the day off. Show some interest in your kid's life.

Or just get a babysitter for the day. Hopefully your child won't pick up on the fact that his/her mom doesn't care.

Have you ever heard of people NEEDING to work so they can feed their family and put a roof over their head? It's not a question of "show[ing] some interest in your kid's life". That is about the most self-righteous thing ive heard on this thread. I get paid by the hour. If i dont work, I dont get paid for that day and then I cant afford a lot fo things that my family needs. So get over yourself. (and by the way, I am all for this kid going on the trip).