Preschool field trip on metro

[Anonymous]

I know there are frequently day care and preschool teachers on here. What is an appropriate adult:child ratio for a field trip via metro rail? The kids are all 3 years old; currently I'm told there will be "extra" hands but they don't know how many (whoever is available that day). There are a few classes going with 12 kids and 4 teachers each; one of the teachers in my DC's class is largely pregnant and she is the fittest one.

Yes I'm a bit paranoid but we all know the safety issues on metro.

[Anonymous]

I’m a parent who often chaperones my 3 yo’s field trips to the various smithsonians and it’s always at most 2 kids per 1 adult. You gotta hold their tiny hands when getting on/off metro, crossing the street etc!

[Anonymous]

I'm a daycare mom and generally pretty chill, but wouldn't be a big fan of that trip. It seems like a LOT to manage and a lot could go wrong.

[Anonymous]

I would see no reason for this trip

[Anonymous]

We always did 1:2 on Metro, or cancelled the trip.

Also, elevators (no escalators).

—former director

[Anonymous]

Actually I’m wondering what are the safety issues on metro. Last I heard, no daycare ever lost a kid on the train and no kid from a daycare field trip was ever hurt. So not really her why Metro raises some special concern.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Actually I’m wondering what are the safety issues on metro. Last I heard, no daycare ever lost a kid on the train and no kid from a daycare field trip was ever hurt. So not really her why Metro raises some special concern.

vast majority of daycares wouldn't do this, is why. too risky. kid falls between tracks / gets left behind in the chaos / falls down escalator etc. just not worth it for kids that young.

[Anonymous]

My kids' preschool did this all the time. In the 3s, they'd have about 4 adults for 12 kids. In the 4s, they didn't always take chaperones, so it could be 2 adults for 20 kids. I have to admit it made me nervous as a parent, but I asked to tag along once and they really did make it work seamlessly. Metro is fine for this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Actually I’m wondering what are the safety issues on metro. Last I heard, no daycare ever lost a kid on the train and no kid from a daycare field trip was ever hurt. So not really her why Metro raises some special concern.

vast majority of daycares wouldn't do this, is why. too risky. kid falls between tracks / gets left behind in the chaos / falls down escalator etc. just not worth it for kids that young.

OMG its fine - both of my kids went on numerous field trips on public transportation (mostly Metrorail but some Metrobus) and no one was ever lost or injured. Kids love riding the train/bus and all the walking is great at wearing them out.

Not sure why a kid would fall between the tracks (whatever that means as they shouldn't be on the tracks) or get left behind (which can happen anywhere) or fall down an escalator (which I've never seen happen to anyone in 30 years of riding public transit).

Its no different than a walk to the neighborhood playground - the kids need to be monitored at all times at that age but that is true no matter what.

[Anonymous]

Here is an old Wash Post article on this:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/is-metro-kid-unfriendly-or-just-its-riders-dc-commuting-customs-debated/2011/10/18/gIQAfzllfM_story.html?utm_term=.246217f25cb0

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Actually I’m wondering what are the safety issues on metro. Last I heard, no daycare ever lost a kid on the train and no kid from a daycare field trip was ever hurt. So not really her why Metro raises some special concern.

+1 I took my kid to preschool daily on the metro without incident. OP sounds cloistered.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Actually I’m wondering what are the safety issues on metro. Last I heard, no daycare ever lost a kid on the train and no kid from a daycare field trip was ever hurt. So not really her why Metro raises some special concern.

+1 I took my kid to preschool daily on the metro without incident. OP sounds cloistered.

OP's kid is far more likely to be injured in a car accident than on Metro.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Actually I’m wondering what are the safety issues on metro. Last I heard, no daycare ever lost a kid on the train and no kid from a daycare field trip was ever hurt. So not really her why Metro raises some special concern.

+1 I took my kid to preschool daily on the metro without incident. OP sounds cloistered.

Depends where you live. In Arlington my kid rides Metro 1-2x a year. It’s loud and dark and he freezes and won’t move quickly when it’s time to get on / off the train. He’s almost 4 and he knows all about how to behave in a parking garage. I would not want to be trying to reason with a scared 3 yr old in a crowded public space and out of 16 kids in his class, if my kid doesn’t freak out at least one of them will. That’s the nature of 3yr olds.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know there are frequently day care and preschool teachers on here. What is an appropriate adult:child ratio for a field trip via metro rail? The kids are all 3 years old; currently I'm told there will be "extra" hands but they don't know how many (whoever is available that day). There are a few classes going with 12 kids and 4 teachers each; one of the teachers in my DC's class is largely pregnant and she is the fittest one.

Yes I'm a bit paranoid but we all know the safety issues on metro.

As a former preschool teacher, my first choice for field trips is 2 kids per adult, plus at least one adult whose hands are free. Having said that, an adult can hold 4 kids hands. You have two kids hold hands and put your hand over their joined hands. I'm comfortable with that for some kids, for a really familiar trip, with kids I know well . . .

My preference at 3 is to have an adult touching every child when getting on and off the train, and when crossing major roads.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Actually I’m wondering what are the safety issues on metro. Last I heard, no daycare ever lost a kid on the train and no kid from a daycare field trip was ever hurt. So not really her why Metro raises some special concern.

+1 I took my kid to preschool daily on the metro without incident. OP sounds cloistered.

That’s a 1:1 ratio. Totally different.

I’m OP ive lived in DC proper for 9 years, take the metro to work every day between 2008-2018 and 2003-2005. Thats how I know the many things that can go wrong in a system that is poorly maintained with very little safety protocols in place for emergencies.