Does Anyone Else NEVER Go Offsite?

[Cradle2crayons]

I live very very rural in the woods, heck our driveway is 200 yards and not visible from the road. My husband marked us off an awesome nature trail or two or three so there is always something fun to do. That being said, when the very rare carnival comes up town, we go. We go to the zoo sometimes and the children museum if my husband is home, he works out of state. We don't do those things weekly though. When weather permits, we hook up our camper and off to the local state park we go!!! I arrive at my house in the mornings to pick up the kids and bring the afternoon pickups home and check my cats and chickens. Our dogs come with us to the campground. They have their own little pen. There we take a lot of walks and nature hikes, go fishing, etc. we usually stay a week at a time. This summer we'll be setting up one of our spare tents outside and having pretend camp outs in our woods too . I'd go nuts week after week in the house because I watch kids 7 days a week. When I coach softball, my afternoon kids come with me

[williams2008]

That does sound scary, glad to hear that noone was hurt!

When I did daycare at my home we would go around the corner to a city park, but the kids were in a 6 seat fat tire buggy that one of the headstarts donated to me. Since we have moved to a different location we stay onsite and play in the backyard.

[KnoxMom]

For the first time in 3 years I was actually terrified by a large dog in my neighborhood two weeks ago. I was out for a Saturday morning run and about a mile from my house I was stalked by a dog I'd never seen around before. Most of my neighbors have fences and our houses are so far apart that the ones that don't have natural barriers. At first the dog appeared to be tied up some type of way but came all the way down the 1/4 mile driveway and barked non stop at the edge. I slowed from a run to a job and eventually walked very slowly and pretended not to even notice the dog. I didn't switch sides of the road and just started singing along with the music. The hairs on the back of my neck stood up straight and I was so glad the dog did not pursue me. A brief reminder of why I NEVER take the kids outside of my yard unless it is for a field trip to the zoo, safari, etc. I hate it because my yard is full of hills and I actually had to spend so much to have it leveled for the playground alone. It is large enough to create a nature path, but I need to clear out some of the brush and put down something solid to make a nice long walkway. (My next big project after the outdoor classroom!) I can't wait to start posting pictures! Anyway, outside of my rant: No, I don't go walking around my neighborhood specifically because there are so many external factors outside of my control. Don't feel guilty for taking steps to minimize safety risk for you and the children. In lieu of walks to the park, perhaps you can invest more into your backyard to make it feel like a getaway with playscarves, hideaways, etc. I'm sure the parents will be understanding.

[LK5kids]

We go for short walks...there is park a block away and in the summer a school playground a block the other way.

I elected not to get licensed with vehicle transportation included in my license. The police station is 2 blocks away, the library four, fire station about six blocks and the post office is about four blocks. So as my dock get older we will do walking trips.

I have NEVER been a fan of field trips....nerve wreaking, tiring and stressful!

We will also go on a walking field trip to an area greenhouse next spring. It's about 8 blocks away. But I will hopefully have my six kid stroller by then! My kiddos are 2, 2, 18 mo, 15 mo., and 4 mo right now. I am not going on any field trips until next fall....all walking or stroller...no vehicle.

I am glad it all turned out okay with the dog encounter. I would not feel bad about staying close to home. There was a time a didn't take kids anywhere for about 4/5 yrs!

[AmyKidsCo]

I never go off-site either. If we were to take a walk up the street I'd have to bring all the kids' medical records with me and with their signed "permission to treat" forms. I'd also need a wagon or stroller for each child under 3, in case they get tired on the way. I hate to say it, but it's just not worth the hassle...

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

I walk off site. Just today I had a cat trying to approach the children (NO animals are permitted to come into contact with them unless the state has them in my file as fully vaccinated) that I had to shove with my foot because, "SHOO SHOO!" wasn't working.

I've seen unleashed dogs and have been quite rude to fellow community members because of them ...

I fully understand feeling like staying at home base would be better, but for my crew it wouldn't be a great option. Our yards are not big here at all. They're like a postage stamp.

[countrymom]

I totally understand, I understand so much so that last week I had to call the pound to get the dog. this dog is a menace and I'm fed up with it. We do go for walks or I take them places and we have a blast.

[Jewels]

I do a few off site walks a year, we will head to the park a few times, but its a good walk, and I can only do it on a day my numbers are lower, as I will have 12 kids most every day in the summer, and its just me, so theres no way to watch everyone, but there will always be a day I may only have 6, and we will go to the library and the park, at least 2x over the summer, I will make 1 trip to the ice cream shop which is still a ways away, but I have to have someone else to come with me, and every year we do a movie at the theatre, but again I have to have someone come with me. but on average NO, we are safest in my big fenced in back yard, even when we do go out, I am so stressed the whole time, doing a constant head count, and feel so relieved when we get back home.

[e.j.]

I used to go on field trips now and then but don't anymore. Several of my dc parents prefer that the kids don't go off site and given the some of the kids' schedules and ages, it would be difficult for me. (I have some kids who are picked up after lunch and an infant who needs a morning nap). I'd love to be able to take walks with the kids but there are no sidewalks and the road is curvy and fairly busy, especially in the warmer months.

I don't blame you for thinking about ending your walks under the circumstances. That incident with the dog sounded very scary. I'm not sure what I would have done but I don't blame you for kicking him. Hopefully, the parents will understand and agree no matter what decsion you make.

[jenn]

We stay on my property at all times. I used to have a girl that was my daughter's age and we would take her to a childrens theater play with us every month, but that was after hours and just something we worked out with that family. I still had them sign a permission slip though, just in case.