Tuesday's Teacher

Field trips are fun. We've arranged a field trip for Ash Wednesday to St. Meinrad. It's a wonderful place the children will love. It's almost magical and well worth the hours trip on the bus. While shopping this afternoon, I met a fourth grade teacher who could not believe that we would take children as young as three on a field trip anywhere. She just shook her head and wandered away.

I wanted to remind her that field trips teach children about the world, but some people are best "wandered off." Field trips 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 frequently leave to 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 - parents, teachers and students. 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 romps in the woods.

Field trips are expensive no matter what is arranged. Hiring a bus costs between one hundred and a thousand 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. It should not be so expensive that children can't go. 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 fresh and cut into pieces children can handle. Little people like little bites.

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.

Children should be versed in maintaining lines and being able to be quiet for certain periods of time so that learning occurs. Good manners always prevail and should be encouraged by teachers and parents. A hearty thank you makes a lot of difference when the trip is being completed.

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