Put safety first when enjoying activities away from a child care facility.
Field trips offer children and providers an opportunity to experience new places and activities, and can be educational, entertaining and rewarding. When planning a field trip, choose a site that offers activities that will engage children at their level. When children are interested and participating in an age-appropriate activity, safety is easier to manage.
Planning
Field trip safety begins long before the trip takes place. Ask parents to sign permission slips that include the date of the trip, the site and the expected times of departure, arrival and return. Let parents know that additional chaperones are welcome. Well-informed parents can help you avoid the stress of delayed departures on field trip day. Some of the parents, with advance notice, might be able to offer help the day of the trip. Once you know how many children and adults plan to attend, evaluate the ratio of adults to children and enlist additional adults, if needed. Plan for an adult-child ratio of 1 to 2 for toddlers,1 to 3 for 3-year-olds and 1 to 4 for 4-year-olds. A 1 to 8 ratio is appropriate for school-age children.
Checklist
Prepare a list of all the children and adults in attendance on the day of the trip. Even if you have a small group, check off each person before leaving, upon arrival and upon departure from the site. Assign roll-call duties to an adult and have the adult sign the checklist at each checkpoint. In addition, count heads frequently while you are on site.
Transportation
Plan for adequate transportation ahead of time. Make sure you have car seats for each child legally requiring one and ensure that there are enough seat belts for everyone. Verify the date of the trip, as well as departure and arrival times, with each driver. Request a copy of the driver's license and proof of insurance from each driver to keep in your records.
Considerations
Take your first aid kit with you, making sure that you include any current medications that children will require during the trip. The National Network for Child Care recommends that you carry a cellular phone and bring permission slips with you, along with emergency contact information and medical authorizations.
Precautions
Enforce basic hygiene guidelines just as you would at your child care facility. Have children wash hands before eating and after toileting. Make sure that the children exit and enter vehicles in a safe area. Try to avoid crossing traffic areas or parking lots, and have adults flank children when moving from one area to another.
Food
Decide ahead of time how you will handle meals or snacks during the trip. If you choose to bring food from home, make sure that it can be stored at a safe temperature to prevent the growth and spread of bacteria. If you intend to eat at the field trip venue or at a restaurant, make sure parents are aware of the menu in advance. If any of the children have food allergies, verify that appropriate foods will be available. If not or if in doubt, bring food from home.
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