Field Trips

[tennisgal]

W is going on his first field trip today with his Kindy class to a nature center. He was super excited to go and also to ride a school bus for the first time

My coworkers asked if I was nervous about him going and I am not at all. The one who has older children said she always worried about field trips and tried to chaperone whenever she could. The other whose kids are younger said that he probably wouldn't let his kids go on a field trip without he or his wife chaperoning.

Are you breezy about field trips or worried about them? 

[puppylove64]

We went on one field trip and pretty much vowed to always try to go on field trips. We live outside Atlanta so trips are usually there. We went to aquarium and botanical gardens and both times there were Sooo soooo many kids. We have never had any issues of loosing any kids on trips, but there is just so much craziness that I would prefer to be there and help. I know not all parents can go on all trips, so you shouldn’t panic. But if you are able, you should try to go on trips. There are a lot of kids and craziness associated with field trips

[redmonkeystomper]

I'm going on Ruby's tomorrow because I'm still on maternity leave and it's the only one I'll probably get to go on this year. I would be fine with her going without me. I trust her teacher and I trust Ruby to follow the rules and stay with the group. Now if her teacher was scattered brained or if Ruby was a kid who wonders off then I might be sure to always go.

[hocus2]

I don't go on trips very often. For the most part the trips are less crazy because they go to places that aren't backed with other kids. They've done stuff like a music work shop for just our school or a trip to the botanical garden which limits the number of classes per day.

I've never worried about the trip and my kids never report back anything concerning occurring on them. My kids went on trips in pre-k too and while those were crowded with other groups it was still fine (I went on one and DH went on the other).

[Deleted]

If I wanted to go on a field trip, I would, but I wouldn’t go out of fear of her safety. Unless it was a trip that involved swimming, then I would go, but I can’t imagine anyone would do that at this age.

[muppetinma]

I went on two last year, but only because they were both to places I’ve worked in the past, so it was “fun” for me. This year, I will likely go on none. It’s organized chaos at its best, but I never felt like it was unsafe. Your coworkers sound like jerks for even making you question it.

Also, I assume you’d have to take time off from work to go? Yeah, I wouldn’t think twice about skipping.

[CrazyLucky]

I've chaperones one each year. Mostly because I like spending time with my kid. I'm not at all concerned about them going without me, and it's unrealistic for me to use six vacation days (they each have three trips) per school year. One of the ones I went to, there was one parent for every two kids. We know a lot of SAHMs here, who go on every trip. Hopefully, they'll look out for them!

[mumegs]

Whaaaa it has never occurred to me to worry about a field trip...I did try to go last year if I could just to have the time spent together but no I would not worry about it at all. Here they go to like the pumpkin patch and the butterfly gardens or children's museum, nothing too crazy.

[sandj82110]

Daniel’s class is going to the pumpkin patch next Wednesday, I’m planning to go simply because I am able to, if something comes up and I can't go it never even occurred to me not to let him go, I’m going because he asked me to and because I want to.

[sunflowers7]

I went last year to a kids museum.

This year they have three. This month they are going to legoland which I'm chaperoning. January they go to a play and spring they go to a farm. They take a bus usually with seat belts. I won't go on the others unless they are desperate for a chaperone. All have to be finger printed up to date on shots and take an online thing through the diocese

[Deleted]

B's class is going to the pumpkin patch in a couple weeks. H and I were actually just talking about it. Our school uses the public school buses everyday, but usually for field trips parents drive. We were just trying to figure out who would go with him because he's still in a car seat and I wouldn't want to mess around with installing a seat in another parent's car. So, in this case, yes I want someone to go with him. If they were taking a bus though, I wouldn't think twice about letting him go without one of us.

[dbe100408]

I always try to go. We have a large vehicle, and the school relies on parent transportation, so they usually want H or I, so we can haul classmates. I DO like the fact that I am usually driving my own child, instead of them riding with someone else.

[katfco]

I can never chaperone because of work, but I’m okay with that.

[laurack]

It's unlikely I'll be chaperoning any field trips because of work, but I suppose I could do one at some point and take a day off for it.

No they don't concern me. So far there has only been one though. They went apple picking a week or so ago.

I wouldn't be ok with them taking a field trip to the beach or anything at this age but once she can swim well I'll probably try to get past that anxiety too. I did let her sign up for the after school swim thing- every Tuesday for 8 weeks the Y after school takes them to the pool for a lesson. It makes me a little anxious, but they are all lifeguards/trained and such of course so I know it's silly to worry.

[The Foozzler]

Well, I take my 20 students on multiple field trips every year with zero worries so I have no worries about my kid going on trips. I would take a day off some day to chaperone a trip just because I want to.

I've done trips where it is just our students in a private place and I've done very public places like an aquarium or a local beach. I just make sure I have rules and supervision well covered.

[The Foozzler]

Oct 6, 2017 7:32:37 GMT -5 laurack said:

It's unlikely I'll be chaperoning any field trips because of work, but I suppose I could do one at some point and take a day off for it.

No they don't concern me. So far there has only been one though. They went apple picking a week or so ago.

I wouldn't be ok with them taking a field trip to the beach or anything at this age but once she can swim well I'll probably try to get past that anxiety too. I did let her sign up for the after school swim thing- every Tuesday for 8 weeks the Y after school takes them to the pool for a lesson. It makes me a little anxious, but they are all lifeguards/trained and such of course so I know it's silly to worry.

We take 100 third graders to the beach but they are well supervised and we don't do in the water past ankles.

I read that Tyler's school walks to the beach at the end of the year. I'd assume it wouldn't be for swimming.

[teamhayes]

Whomp whomp
Working mom guilt here

[racheliz]

They only allow 3 parent chaperones per class for the field trips this year, so I probably won't be able to attend any. I'll probably email the teacher and volunteer DH for one of them (he likes going). They have 3 field trips plus an Easter egg hunt any parent can attend. Chaperones have to be safe environment certified at her school.

I will probably slightly worry about safety bc DH won't be at all the field trips, but that is just because I'm paranoid sometimes.

[eav2c]

C has a field trip to the zoo in a few weeks. I hope/plan to chaperone but not sure how that will play out yet. I'll admit that neither my husband nor I are breezy about field trips. I don't think we will be like that forever but we don't feel totally comfortable about sending him without us. We will but I'll probably be extremely anxious all day.

[fusion]

I'm so glad our school isn't doing any this year. I'd be fine from a parent perspective but from being the teacher perspective it sounds like a nightmare.

[breezy8407]

They went on 4-5? field trips in preschool. I was nervous the first time, but we got photos sent to us and it was fun to see them having a great time. They were so excited to ride the bus. I am fine with it.

I think there are only 2 field trips for K. Its unlikely I will be able to help because of work.

[vthokie]

I’m not worried about field trips. But A’s class is going to the pumpkin patch next week and I took the day off to go. Mostly because I can’t eat lunch with her or be room mom ever because I teach. I thought she would enjoy it. I’m excited

[imimahoney]

When he was in pre-k and had never gone on a field trip before I was nervous. Now I am much more comfortable with the idea. And unleas I take a personal day, which I could, I likely won't ever chaperone.

[Deleted]

A’s first one is today! They are walking right past our house to a park to observe fall foliage. I want to go but it’s in the middle of H’s nap so I’m just going to be a creeper and watch them walk by lol. Their school walks to a lot of places, and they always go by our house. It’s cute.