What Is Your Outing/Field Trip Policy?

[SunshineMama]

When you go on outings, do you always tell the parents in advance?

My current contract states that we will only go on outings if the parents are advised of it ahead of time and have given their permission, but I am tired of feeling cooped up in the house, and tired of feeling like I have to ask permission to go to the park, the science center, zoo, etc. I just want to be able to go wherever without having to always plan in advance, get permission, etc. Or there are times where I think it would be awesome to go somewhere but if I change my mind the next day (get a headache, rainy day, etc), I don't want to have already asked permission and gotten the children's hopes up and change my mind (wouldn't do that anyway, but you know what I mean). Or maybe a few kids call out sick and I only have one or two and we can go somewhere, but I have to wait for hours for mom and dad to respond with their ok...

What is your outing policy?

[Cat Herder]

Here it is required that we have signed permission slips for each and every outing.

Time, dates and location.

I even have to get them signed to play in an unfenced area of my own property.

[bice99]

My parents sign one general field trip/outing form each year with their contract. I can take kids where I want, when I want. Usually parents know about big ones (the zoo, etc) ahead of time, but the grocery store is always nice on nasty days when I only have 1 or 2 kids. They love hunting for what we want to make for lunch. And the produce section is full of colors, smells and textures.

[SunshineMama]

Fortunately I am not bound by any licensing restrictions. I do have permission to take them on walks and transport within the neighborhood by stroller. I wonder how they would feel about an all-inclusive permission slip? I like that idea very much.

Your parents are ok with trips to the grocery store? I have never brought it up in interviews only because I have had several parents tell me that they passed up other providers because the provider (gasp) wanted to run errands with their kid. So I was always afraid to even mention it. Personally I think it's fine and a part of the learning experience- the grocery store can be lots of fun!

Thanks for your input ladies!

[daycare]

I plan my calendar monthly and make changes to it as I see fit. I give the parents at least a 24-48 hour notice that we will be leaving by car.

If we can walk to the park or going on a walk, I will text them or tell them that morning.

I also have it that on M_W_F we can go to the park on those days. Sometimes we do, sometimes we don't. it all depends on the kids

I also hate being cooped up, but I do think that it is only fair that parents know where there children are at all times. I would be stressed if I did not know where my kid was at...

[bice99]

Fortunately I am not bound by any licensing restrictions. I do have permission to take them on walks and transport within the neighborhood by stroller. I wonder how they would feel about an all-inclusive permission slip? I like that idea very much.

Your parents are ok with trips to the grocery store? I have never brought it up in interviews only because I have had several parents tell me that they passed up other providers because the provider (gasp) wanted to run errands with their kid. So I was always afraid to even mention it. Personally I think it's fine and a part of the learning experience- the grocery store can be lots of fun!

Thanks for your input ladies!

I don't do my huge shopping trips with kids in tow (no fun for anyone) but I do bring it up during my interviews. I try to drive my girls to school every day and sometimes we'll stop by the store, get gas or hit the bank before heading home. All of my parents LOVE this. I use it as a selling point. Look at all of the language development possible when they are exposed to more than my 4 walls all day long. We live on a pretty steep hill, so walks in the neighborhood with babies/toddlers doesn't work so well. LOL. I have had kids go to the eye dr, dentist, vet, etc with us. I tell parents I am providing a home environment and sometimes (when I cannot schedule them late), their kids either need to be able to go with me or be picked up early. I actually hauled between 3 and 5 kids with my to our local HS every day when my 9 y/o DD was Gretl in The Sound of Music last fall. The parents all picked up from the HS, which was basically on their ways home. And the kids had a million HS girls who wanted to play/sing/dance with them.

[Heidi]

at the moment I can't fit all of mine into my car, but...

I have permission to transport walking/in vehicle as part of my state's enrollment forms. I would not take on a client that checked the 'no" box.
We go for daily walks, and if I am low on kids and I want to drive somewhere, I will text parent's and let them know we are going out. Usually it's a short trip like McD's drive-thru or the library. I haven't braved the grocery store most of these yahoos..

Occasionally, I have just one little guy, and I have even taken him all the way to Madison to visit. That one I planned in advance and asked if it was ok. We even stopped at his mom's work that day (she works 45 minutes away, towards Madison), and she got to show off her little man at work (we also picked up some flowers "from" dcb).

[MrsB]

I also have an all inclusive permission slip for outings. I tell parents that if they aren't comfortable with field trips or doing on a whim outings, this is not the daycare for them. I also explain why it is so important to get approval if they are going to drop off late because no guarantee we haven't trotted off to the library. I do allow them to come find us and drop off if they choose but only if I happened to bring an extra carseat with me, but no guarantees.

I usually text or email parents of the kids that I have with me if we go somewhere so they know where we are if they decide to pick up early. I have lots of parents decide to come join us at the park on a nice day.

Another favorite outing of the kids is going to the japaneese steak house for lunch. The owner knows us well and the kids absolutley LOVE IT! They usually eat a ton there too, even veggies they dont normally eat. I think it is great to teach kids how to behave out in public. We always do this fieldtrip when we do our "manners" unit.

I do bigger field trips that I do notify the parents of, ie zoo, aquarium, science discovery center. Sometimes they like to take the day off and go too. I always tell them not to tell kids though in case we can't go.

I live outside DC, there are just too many cool museums and places to go in this area to stay home all day everyday.

[SunshineMama]

Oh my goodness how do you get the children to sit through Japanese steakhouse!?! I am not even brave enough to take my own kids

[daycare]

forget how do you get them to sit.....how do you afford the bill for that kind of food....

[wdmmom]

We are not authorized to transport unless we carry commercial insurance and have a commercial license.

This means no traveling by vehicle.

Any trips we do, we must be able to walk. As for trips to the park, daily walks, etc, I have the parent sign a permission slip when the start that authorizes me to take them off premises for walks, park, picnic lunches, etc.

If we go on a walk or to the park, I don't notify parents as it is right up the street and I would never do it over arrivals or departures.

If we went to a story time or a little gymnasium or something like that, I would specify a date and time and send out permission slips for that.

[AfterSchoolMom]

I'm (legally) unlicensed, so I'm not bound by restrictions as far as travel goes. I have a general permission to transport form that parents must sign in order to have their children here. I make it very clear from day one that I will not be trapped in the house day in and day out, and that I will not always be able to let them know ahead of time if we're going out. However, I am always available via cell phone, so they can call at any time even when we're out.

I have car seats and my car insurance covers passengers.

[Sunchimes]

One of the first things I tell them at the interview (right after the cats and dogs) is that I treat my kids like they are my grandkids. I don't run around a huge amount, but if I want to go somewhere, we all go. If they aren't ok with that, we aren't going to work out.

I have a slip that lets me take them in the car. Our personal agreement is that if it is around town, I don't bother letting them know. If it is out of town, I'll let them know at drop off or before. We go to the bank, library, post office, hair dresser, Walmart, etc. If I need to do more than that, we have to go north or south (35 or 55 miles) to one of the bigger towns.

I've taken them to family reunions, the state fair, parades, festivals, shopping trips, etc. The one thing I don't want to do is take them on doctor or dental visits.

The dcm with the new baby is loaning me a car seat base for the new baby. I'm just not sure that I can fit the two car seats for the older girls, plus the one for him in my Envoy. So, I may have to reduce my travelling if I can't take 3 kids. I'm going to be housebound with him for a few weeks any way.

[daycare]

We are not authorized to transport unless we carry commercial insurance and have a commercial license.

This means no traveling by vehicle.

Any trips we do, we must be able to walk. As for trips to the park, daily walks, etc, I have the parent sign a permission slip when the start that authorizes me to take them off premises for walks, park, picnic lunches, etc.

If we go on a walk or to the park, I don't notify parents as it is right up the street and I would never do it over arrivals or departures.

If we went to a story time or a little gymnasium or something like that, I would specify a date and time and send out permission slips for that.

is this your states reg or is it your car insurance comapny rule??

[MrsB]

forget how do you get them to sit.....how do you afford the bill for that kind of food....

Well one we go at lunch time, so there is usually no wait and lunch prices are cheaper. They love the fire so I can usually get them to wait patiently for the fire to come. We practice our restaurant manners here and always talk about it before we go.

I always use the 20% off coupon that comes in the mail. The kids are so little that we all share meals. So it usually costs about $30/40 dollars out the door. Which in the end I usually end up spending close to $30 at McDonalds since they each need their own happy meal and toy. I leave the option open for the parents to pitch in, which most will about $5. So sometimes I am only out $10, sometimes im out the whole $40. But it is sooooo much fun its worth it.

Now for the restaurant, some people might get upset, but like I said the owner loves us and usually gives us our own table. He said clean up all the rice on the floor is well worth it. The kids always make his day!