Field Trip....Who Pays??

[daycarediva]

What's in your contract/handbook?


I don't do transportation, but if I did, it would cost around $15-20 each. We have a very nice place locally with hayrides, snack/food bar, pumpkins, petting zoo, a few rides and games.

If I ever decide that is something I want to offer, I would include 'parent is responsible for all fees' in my contract under the field trip section, and go over on interview that I will not cover the cost, that I do X amount of trips per year at an average cost of X and there is no backup care if they decide not to attend.

Field trips and extras are tax deductible, but I would be taking a loss on it, since I don't get 100% of the money back. Just one of many reasons why we only go on walking field trips (and there are several places locally we do go to, on occasion but all are free or VERY low cost ($1/2)

[Jack Sprat]

I do a field trip to the Pumpkin Patch too.

I always pay. I figure it's part of the services I offer.

If parents are required to pay, they should also have the option of NOT going/participating and yet still use child care so I would think you would have to have a back up provider available so that anyone NOT wanting to go/pay will still have child care to use....kwim?

Also if you pay for it all, it's tax deductible.

I feel the provider should pay. Although I have an awesome family who gives me money for our field trips. I refuse it and they have always added it on to my weekly pay. They are the only family that does this. I feel that if I am taking them on a trip somewhere then I should pay. Just my opinion.

I don't have a large daycare() so the cost for me isn't too bad.

[melilley]

I said that I think the provider should pay. I don't do field trips, but if I did I would probably just raise my rate so much per week to cover the cost of field trips. I actually kind of based my rate on the fact that I do not do field trips. There are a few fcc's around me who charge about $10 more a week than me, but they do have field trips.

[MCC]

I always pay, however, I am thinking about charging next year. I go on about 1 trip a week, as the weather is getting colder, I am having to pay to do more inside things, and at $10/kid/activity, that's swiping $50 out of my pocket really quickly.

We just went to the pumpkin patch on Tuesday, it was $9 each, I paid, but I only took my older ones, so I paid for me and 3 kids.

[MamaBearCanada]

I feel this is something that should be covered in the interview & handbook. I think it's fine either way but the parent should know beforehand if there are going to be additional costs to tuition. If trips haven't been discussed I don't think it's fair to say to a parent we are going on a trip and either you pay or you take a day off work to keep your child home. Some parents just don't want trips they want basic care with no variation in scheduling.

My current policy states that field trips are included. I budget them into tuition. I only go to places $10 & less a child and I can only have a max of 5. In the past when I charged less they were extra. I prefer including them in tuition because it's less hassle to get money and the parents I have like the extra service.

[SunnyDay]

I also don't do any transportation, therefore no field trips, but if I did I would expect the parents to pay. When my kids have school field trips I pay for them. I would also have it in my policy handbook that this is expected, though, so there would be no surprises.

[Unregistered]

As a parent.....

if my provider decided to take the kids on a field trip and it was something I didn't want to pay for, I'd be okay with that but no way would I be okay with still having to pay the provider for that day. I don't think it's fair if I have to pay both providers.

Requiring payment for field trips from parents and then still requiring them to pay for care that day, if they don't go to the pumpkin patch, makes it seem like field trips aren't really optional but mandatory.

[childcarebytori]

Parents are required to pay for field trips here. We go on 2 - 5 a week, depending on the month, our theme, ect.

12 kids @ $6 for Pumpkin Patch = $72 ---- That's almost the amount of a week's worth of tuition for one of my part-timers This is just one field trip.

Add in another 5 or 6 paying field trips that month and I wouldn't be making anything.

I've yet to have any parent NOT want their child to participate on our outings, and I've yet to encounter any issue with anyone not willing to pay for all trips.

HTH!

[craftymissbeth]

if my provider decided to take the kids on a field trip and it was something I didn't want to pay for, I'd be okay with that but no way would I be okay with still having to pay the provider for that day. I don't think it's fair if I have to pay both providers.

Requiring payment for field trips from parents and then still requiring them to pay for care that day, if they don't go to the pumpkin patch, makes it seem like field trips aren't really optional but mandatory.

I agree. I don't do field trips because I have a very young group, but if I did I would likely pay out of pocket myself. If I needed the parents to pay and they didn't want to then I would just credit the day and they can use their alternate (I don't provide a back-up ever).

[Lianne]

It depends on the cost and how much notice I can give parents. If it's less than $5/kid I usually pay for it but if it's more than that then I have the parents pay. I almost always give two weeks' notice when charging for field trips but sometimes have only managed a week's notice and no one has had an issue. Admittedly, I'm not great at preplanning so my field trips often have just a few days' notice which is why I end up paying. We rarely do a trip that costs more than $5/kid, maybe twice a year and often not that often.

Here's one thing I do. If I have some children that are young enough to get in for free and some that require admission, I add up all the costs of admission, including my own and divide it equally between all families, including myself. This way the older kids' parents pay a bit less and eventually the younger kids' will be old enough to require admission so then their parents get a break too.

[Cradle2crayons]

I put parent pays... But it really depends on where when and how many etc.

[sally]

I do a small home daycare and have had some day trips planned so if the days I plan these on and my dc parents choose to have their kids go they send extra money along for their kids

[Michelle]

I always pay but most of our field trips are free for the kids to get in because I either have an annual group pass or the kids under 3 get in free anyway.

The only time I have asked for money was when I took 12 kids to Disneyland.
They all got in free because I have a parent that works there but I did ask for lunch/dinner money because it is such a hassle coming and going from there that it's just easier to eat there.

All of the other field trips, I bring a picnic lunch or we eat at restaurants.
I like to buy them little inexpensive things from the souvenir shop when I have my dd with me because I don't want them to feel left out.

[jenn]

I don't do field trips anymore. When I did, I would give out a permission slip and include the cost of the trip.

If the parents did not want their child to attend, they were welcome to stay at my house with a sub. (That never happened, but the plan was in place.) A few times we went to plays at a local Children's Theatre and only those 2 and older were welcome.

Most of my families were happy to pay. If a family was willing to let their child go, but was either unwilling or unable to pay, I would cover the cost.

"Next Friday we will be going to the pumpkin patch. All children are welcome to attend. If you would prefer them to stay at my house with our sub, just let me know. The cost is ****per child. If you are able to pay for your child's admission, that would be great. If you are not able to pay at this time, but would still like your child to attend, I will cover their cost."

[craftymissbeth]

I don't do field trips anymore. When I did, I would give out a permission slip and include the cost of the trip.

If the parents did not want their child to attend, they were welcome to stay at my house with a sub. (That never happened, but the plan was in place.) A few times we went to plays at a local Children's Theatre and only those 2 and older were welcome.

Most of my families were happy to pay. If a family was willing to let their child go, but was either unwilling or unable to pay, I would cover the cost.

"Next Friday we will be going to the pumpkin patch. All children are welcome to attend. If you would prefer them to stay at my house with our sub, just let me know. The cost is ****per child. If you are able to pay for your child's admission, that would be great. If you are not able to pay at this time, but would still like your child to attend, I will cover their cost."

Just out of curiosity, do you have very many that take you up on the offer to cover the cost? That's great that you include all children regardless of their parents ability or desire to pay.