Field Trips

Field trips are fun. They teach children about the world. They should not send parents, teachers or providers into orbit. The wonderful world of field trips is easy with some planning and should model the home where children go places and do things weekly or at least monthly.

Creating a field trip program is a snap when providers know they have a cohesive group. Behavioral expectations should be high. If solid, dependable discipline is a part of the childcare program, everyone gets a lot from the special event of field trips.

Field trips should always be earned. Children constantly causing disruptive chaos in childcare should stay home. Because of the nature of being out in the world can be dangerous. It makes sense that field trips belong to the always well behaved.

Field trips are not all equal. Some field trips offer mind awakening and thought provoking adventure: national parks, museums, local events, city parks, zoos, orchards, farms, pet stores, horse races, historic sites, libraries, churches and other places of interest.

Just for fun field trips include: swimming, jungle gym equipped parks, indoor tumbling arenas, movies, outdoor activities like miniature golf.

Field trips are expensive no matter what is arranged. Hiring a bus costs between fifty and four hundred dollars a day depending on the destination. Then there are admission fees, supplies and lunch. How can these expenses be met fairly and with affection?

A field trip fee should be an up front expense. It should declare to parents that this childcare station is a busy exciting place.

By allowing parents to pay off the field trip fee, it becomes user friendly and accommodating to parents who struggle with payments and special events, and it becomes doable.

Lunch should be a part of the field trip fun. Providing a balanced, nutritious lunch on a field trip is a breeze when providers put children first and cater to young tastes.

Sandwiches are fun if they are cut into halves or quarters. Little people like little bites. Nix the paper plates and have children hold small sandwich halves till they are eaten.

Some sandwiches children won’t want to put down are: bologna and cheese, ham and cheese, just cheese, tuna, egg salad, peanut butter, chicken salad, cream cheese and jelly or all of the above. The ability to choose makes lunch a treat.

Cookies, chips, pealed carrots, pickles, and fresh fruit add to lunches and make them fun.

The uniform for field trips should never vary. Smart places will put children in like bright t-shirts or sweatshirts with school or program names. This makes them identifiable at a glance. It allows children more freedom to move around on field trips, and most t-shirts don’t cost as much as regular play clothes.

Tie shoes and socks, shorts or pants only are always in keeping with good sense. Complicated clothes and dresses only hinder the ratio of teachers to children when it’s potty time.

Making field trips available and fun is in the heart of those who love the children.