Do you ever take daycare kids on field trips?

[mlc1982]

Does anyone ever take their day care kids out of the house, besides playing outside or going for walks, to the park, etc?? Does anybody ever actually drive the kids anywhere ..ie. The zoo, library, playgroups, play centers?

I just recently opened my day home and while I am still able to, I'd like to take the kids out and about. I think it would be good for them to get out once in awhile and also get my kids out more. Obviously I wouldn't do it if I couldn't handle it or if I had more kids, but just looking for some food for thought.

[Tot-Time]

I take the children on field trips :)

We have been to various field trips from the local animal zoo, the reptile zoo, play groups, children's events through the CCPRN, play centres such as Cosmic Adventures and Play Time 4 Kids. Basically, I try to ensure that I have assistance whether it be 2 caregivers attending together, a parent helper, and or one of my girls.

[Emilys4Guppies]

I don't drive the children, but we go on lots of trips! Daily, we walk to the public school and back. We go on trips to the Early Years Center, the public library, the local zoo, and our choice of 4 parks. These are all within walking distance, so we walk. I have parents sign a permission slip for me to take the children off the premises. My insurance also covers my business for liability even if we are not in my home.

I have a friend who will not compromise on being able to drive the children. They go on frequent trips and she has properly installed child restraints for every one of her dayhome children. If parents aren't comfortable with that then they move on to another provider. That being said, I've driven with her and feel she's an excellent driver with an impeccable record.

[giraffe]

All depending on the children. In the past we have done trips to local zoos, indoor playgrounds, conservation areas, library and early yrears centres... at the moment my kids are to younge.

[Stircrazy]

We do trips. Not as much in the winter due to it being more possible for accidents etc, But a lot more in spring and summer. On march break we always go to a maple syrup event. We do Library days, Indigo, Conservation parks etc

[agesandstagesdaycare]

I'm not planning on it. My subdivision has a splash pad and a number of great playgrounds within walking distance so we'll be going there. I'm going to leave fieldtrips to the parents. If I had only school-age children I would consider it but with mainly 1-2 yrs olds I'm not comfortable with that. :)

[Sarah A]

I'm in a pretty isolated area in Stoney creek. We have a park on our street that we go to often and Fifty Point Conservation area is within walking distance, which has a marina, ponds, lots of walking tails and a beach.

I would LOVE to take the kids to the OEYC's, splash pads, the library and other field trips but am I required to provide car seats for the kids??

[Tot-Time]

I would LOVE to take the kids to the OEYC's, splash pads, the library and other field trips but am I required to provide car seats for the kids??

All the kids / car seats need to meet the car seat laws. I believe if you want to provide the car seats or borrow the parents it would be completely up to you.

I have an 8 seater van with 5 professionally installed (ok so my husband installs them :) ~ but he is a certified to run the car seat clinics) car seats so that I am always mobile. I am home because I want to know that I will be able to always be there for my daughters, which means, if they need to me, I 'lock and load' the daycare kiddies and I am there.

[mamabear]

We go for walks and hit the nearby parks, but my group is mainly 1 and 2 year olds so I don't think they'd benefit much from field trips. And, I don't want the responsibility of having them in my car. AND, I don't have room in my car for 6 carseats!

[Play and Learn]

I don't take kids around in our car (only have one, and hubby takes it to work, 5 min away) as it's extra insurance that I don't want to spend. I wish we were closer to town or walking distance to something! We don't even have a park in our subdivision! It's crazy - don't ask how I keep my sanity!!!!

[ceECE]

I love field trips! I have no problem with up to 6 children on my own, but if I have the full 8 I ask for volunteers. We have a bee farm, apple barn, library, CCRR (childcare resource and referral), and Strong Start special events, all within driving distance. I have a 15 passenger logo'd van equipped with car seats to accompany everyone. The parents sign a permission slip giving daily consent so that I can drive my own 3 children to school. Then seperate slips for each field trip. The age group that I care for is 30 mo to 5 yrs old.

[4Sparkles]

I attend play groups, parks and a museum within the community and walking distance. It's much easier if another caregiver goes along looking out for each other :) Always advise parents beforehand where I am going , time expected back etc. Permission slips are signed when I have to take them on the bus.

[mlc1982]

Do you count running errands as a "field trip?" Would you get parents to sign a form saying its okay to take their child out if you had to run to a store or something? Or is it just something that is within your agreement saying its okay whenever needed?

[Emilys4Guppies]

We walk to the store a few times a week after the school drop off. It's part of our normal routine and my parents know that. I include that in my general permission form...along with visiting the park a few times a week and the zoo in the summer (zoo is 1/4mile from my house, we walk). I'd go nuts in the summer if I had to get a permission slip for every single outting as we are out of the house every day.

[waterloo day mom]

I don't know what other peoples' experiences have been, but my insurance told me that to be able to take 5 daycare children in my car, even on short trips around town, would be impossible. The cost would either be huge or many companies would not even insure me at all. I know that many people drive vans etc with daycare children in them... have they not informed their insurance companies of this or is there a reasonably priced way to transport kids in my car? It would really be a lifesaver to be able to go further and possibly run some errands while the kids are here.

[Tot-Time]

My home and vehicle insurance are through the same company. I find the advantage to that is that the daycare rider follows through for my vehicle. Now, if I take the children on more than occassional field trips then I would need to possibly increase my insurance, for now my insurance company said I am ok. The most I drive with my daycare children in the summer is twice a week and in the winter once or twice a month.

I don't know how accurate this is, but I know of a few caregivers who claim to have taxi insurance to be able to transport the children in their personal vehicle. The cost didn't seem to be so high that a caregiver couldn't afford it ($75/yr). When I checked into it my insurance company didn't even entertain the idea.

I would suggest calling different insurance companies in your area and discussing your needs to discover if travelling with your daycare children is affordable and meets your needs.

[mom-in-alberta]

It really depends on the kids I have and their ages. Right now, my van is not running reliably, so I am using our car and every seat has a car/booster seat! It looks pretty silly, but we do a school drop-off and pick-up daily. So it's necessary.
Once we get a new van, I will absolutely be taking the kids out and about. I will likely always have a second set of hands when I do though. Make it a little easier.

[Sandbox Sally]

I only have one dck at the moment, and I have taken her to the park via subway. Her parents love the idea. When my other two start in August, we won't be doing this, as I will not feel comfortable crating three children under three onto public transportation, and I am also uncomfortable transporting them in my own vehicle. Thankfully, I live downtown in a fabulous city with tonnes of amenities within walking distance. If I were more isolated, I would likely suck it up and drive them places.

[clep]

We love field trips. We go on one every two weeks during the summer to various places around our city. I have parent helpers and the ratio is one adult to every two children. Parents bring their own car seats and install them in the vehicles being used to go. All parents helpers have criminal record checks and drivers abstracts submitted before the outing.

I do paperwork just like is done in a school with the permission forms with possibility of potential injury.

Our kids and parents love it!!!