Some serious helicopters on this thread. I assume they won't let their kids go away to college either . . .

Just to answer the question you asked, no, field trips simply don't seem that risky to me. Your way of thinking is pretty much the opposite of our family's attitude. I find that my kids are more independent than average, as far as I can tell. DD 12 (6th grade now) has even taken a few international trips without me, starting last year (5th grade, age 11).

I really wanted to go on all the field trips especially for my dd who has food allergies and ADHD, but last year, in third grade, I couldn't go on two of them. For one, my dd was assigned to the teacher group, and her teacher looked out for her. The 2nd time, dd wanted to go with her friend and be in her friend's mom's group. I knew friend's mom and trusted her, so I let her go. All turned out well for both field trips. My younger who was in first last year also had to go to a field trip without me or dh, and she did fine as well. My younger is actually less of a concern because she tends to follow rules and stick with adults. She would never wander alone or lag behind a group. And no food allergies or ADHD.

So anyway, each field trip, you have to figure out how to handle on an individual basis. The field trip in 4th grade where they all go down to Jamestown, I really want to be able to go on that. Hopefully I can.

Your kids are in first and fourth grades. If they are truly not able to follow basic directions like staying with a group or not climbing where they aren't allowed, I don't think field trips are your real problem here...

OP,

If your children have been "unaccounted for" -- first, you know that they did come back unscathed. Second, did they learn anything from that? I hope so. They are no longer preschoolers. That's the big difference. They are first and fourth grade. THEY are capable of staying with the pack/leader. I think you are applying the rules for 3 yr. olds to older kids...... they don't fit.

I let my kids go on all field trips and have told them I will chaperon one trip per year (it's usually not an issue to be picked to chaperon). When I have been on a trip, I don't think I"ve ever been assigned more than 3-4 kids and didn't find it difficult to keep track of them.

However, it sounds like OP has some issues that are specific to her kids/her school so I can see why she'd be apprehensive. I don't see how they can prevent you from going. One of my friends was seriously injured in a school bus accident as a kid so she never allows her kids on school buses. They still go on all the field trips but she drives for ALL of them, which means she also is always with the group as a chaperon, whether needed or not.

OP I am totally sympathetic to your POV. My oldest is only in K but his preschool went on field trips to places like Butlers and museums where I would not have felt comfortable letting him go without my being there. I agree that some parents are space cadets and/or don't care about watching other kids. I've ended up watching other kids whose chaperones went AWOL. Some places are enclosed and I'm not worried (e.g. kids did a field trip to the Germantown splash park that is totally fenced in).

I am also worried about the trips when they won't let parents accompany the kids if they want to. Honestly, I don't see how they can keep you from just showing up if it's a public place.

Anonymous wrote:

I'm a pretty adventurous mom, so my kids get more real-life experience/field trips with me then they ever will at school. We backpack, car camp, and hike a ton (lucky to encounter a lot of wildlife this summer - snakes, deer up in our camp, several bears right off the trail). They've rock scrambled down to waterfalls. They indoor rock climb, kayak, race in triathlons. We do cultural things as well, art museums, tour historical locations, etc. Recently took a long road trip coloring pictures of each state's flag and taking photos with them at the welcome centers, then reading about facts for each state (typical and cool facts that I printed off before the trip). At our destination, we stayed on a working farm, went backpacking/hiking, blah, blah blah....you get the picture.

...

So, I have no concern about them missing out on anything. All about safety and untrustworthy parent chaperones.

No, you're not. Bears, snakes, and cliffs notwithstanding, you're not an adventurous mom if you think they're only safe when they're with you.

Anonymous wrote:Wow. My PK3 kid went on monthly field trips, with one parent for every two kids. They loved them. I'd hate to think of kids missing out on those experiences.

I would assume parents are more likely to keep a very close eye on pk3 vs older kids and 1 to 2 ratio is much different than 1-5 ratio.

Wow. My PK3 kid went on monthly field trips, with one parent for every two kids. They loved them. I'd hate to think of kids missing out on those experiences.

Anonymous wrote:OP, you are too intense. For goodness sake!

(1) tell your kids that they need to stay with the chaparone. They are not babies. They can be expected to follow rules.

(2) ask the teacher how many times a child has been injured on a trip. Statistically, I bet it is very low or none. If your child comes home in one piece, then it is all good.

(3) if you really must go, you can usually just show up at a public venue like the museum. The "pick" a limited number of chaperones b/c they only have so much space on the bus. Usually they don't care, and in fact they welcome other parents who will provide their own transportation and show up at the site of the tour.

Of course you don't check your parenting certificate at the front of the school door, but for goodness sake --- school field trips are very regulated/controlled. Kids need to learn how to navigate and behave in an environment outside of the classroom. Teachers talk to them about the rules... and that bus will not leave the site without all kids aboard.

This is something you do not need to worry about. Really. Kids go and come back in every grade, in every school, EVERY year.

My children have already EACH been "unaccounted for" one field trips. That's enough to make most parents think statistically there is an issue with accountability. We've been told the venues they are visiting don't allow for more than 2 chaperones per class, so just showing up in not an option.

That's a great rule to not leave without every child, but if they can't find the child than that rule doesn't really matter.

OP, you are too intense. For goodness sake!

(1) tell your kids that they need to stay with the chaparone. They are not babies. They can be expected to follow rules.

(2) ask the teacher how many times a child has been injured on a trip. Statistically, I bet it is very low or none. If your child comes home in one piece, then it is all good.

(3) if you really must go, you can usually just show up at a public venue like the museum. The "pick" a limited number of chaperones b/c they only have so much space on the bus. Usually they don't care, and in fact they welcome other parents who will provide their own transportation and show up at the site of the tour.

Of course you don't check your parenting certificate at the front of the school door, but for goodness sake --- school field trips are very regulated/controlled. Kids need to learn how to navigate and behave in an environment outside of the classroom. Teachers talk to them about the rules... and that bus will not leave the site without all kids aboard.

This is something you do not need to worry about. Really. Kids go and come back in every grade, in every school, EVERY year.

Anonymous wrote:I've been on every field trip my kids had. Never lost a kid. Even out of state. Don't rob your kid of an adventure.

If I or DH were allowed to go on every field trip we would.

I'm don't have any concern about my kid missing out on an adventure. She's already told me that she's only interested in 1 of the field trips they mentioned. The other two sound boring (her words).

I'm a pretty adventurous mom, so my kids get more real-life experience/field trips with me then they ever will at school. We backpack, car camp, and hike a ton (lucky to encounter a lot of wildlife this summer - snakes, deer up in our camp, several bears right off the trail). They've rock scrambled down to waterfalls. They indoor rock climb, kayak, race in triathlons. We do cultural things as well, art museums, tour historical locations, etc. Recently took a long road trip coloring pictures of each state's flag and taking photos with them at the welcome centers, then reading about facts for each state (typical and cool facts that I printed off before the trip). At our destination, we stayed on a working farm, went backpacking/hiking, blah, blah blah....you get the picture.

My kids aren't lacking in adventure. They don't miss out on doing these things with their friends either because we have friends come along on these outings all of the time. They also go by themselves with friends I trust so we're not always around.

So, I have no concern about them missing out on anything. All about safety and untrustworthy parent chaperones.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, just curious - what grade are your children in?

I can understand the concern at the preschool level, but not really beyond that. Do you really not trust that your child's teacher is going to make sure all his or her students are safe and accounted for?

My kids went on daily field trips at their day care and preschool. OP, if your child is a runner, you need to work on that.

He's also a climber...so no trips to the zoo with us or family/friends that we trust. He'd be the kid at the bottom of the gorilla exhibit.

Agree with you. We are working on it. But, in the meantime not taking that chance.

I've been on every field trip my kids had. Never lost a kid. Even out of state. Don't rob your kid of an adventure.