Field Trip Issues What To Do??

[lvt77]

lotta great feed back thank you so much....as for asking my help to stay back, they are only a volunteer helper and are not able to be left alone with the kids per licensing....

I think I am going to have to rewrite my PHB and state that if a child has behavioral issues that threaten the saftey of anyone including self that the parent will have to pick them up....ugghhh

[momatheart]

Can you hold his hand when you walk with the group? Partner up each child and you walk in front holding that childs hand and your helper walks at the end of the line.

[lvt77]

the problem is just not when we are walking...it's every where..ie at the park when we are playing they take off and run....no matter where we are what we are doing run run run..... I swear the kid does not have an off switch....but yes, I do hold this child's hand always when walking and then pair older kids with little kids....all of the other kids usually do great....however, this child tends to rub off on some of the others and they will join the run off game.....the other children will come back if I tell them freeze...you need to come back with the group where I can see you and they will....all but this one child......

[countrymom]

I'm mean, I go thru some rules when I leave and I tell them what the consequences are if they miss behave. If you go to a park or lib. and all he does is run, well then he gets to walk with you and not play with the other children and not for a few minutes, for the whole duration of your stay. I don't mess around, thats why my group behaves so well, they know what the consequences are.
also I would either do the stroller and buckle him up or buy the leash. also what are the parents going to do---nothing, probably tell you not to go on trips if you can't handle it.

[Blackcat31]

All of last year I had this same issue. But my dck was almost 5. After two field trips and bad behavior dispite many prior discussions of rules and expectations and multiple conversations with parents, this kid lost his field trip priviledges. I hired a helper who remained at my child care with this child while my assistant came with to assist me and the other kids. The helper who came to sit with this dck at my childcare watched him for anywhere from 1 hour to 3 hours depending on what our field trip was. I charged the parents the fee for hiring this helper because it was their child and I felt as though they should be responsible. I refused to allow the other kids to miss out on something because of one child. Especially a child who was old enough to know better. I found out later that when he got to Kindergarten, he went on one field trip and then subsequently lost all priviledges there too! Don't know if he ever behaved well enough to earn back the privedge but was glad to know it wasn't just happening here. My guess is that the parents weren't teaching their child any consequences to his actions or weren't teaching him how to listen...and that isn't my job. It's only my job to reinforce and support those skills...I'm the provider NOT the parent.

[lvt77]

wow...i feel sad for kids that the parents expect us to do all the parenting and do nothing at home with their child...and then wonder why their kid is crazy...

So can I ask what state you are in? I can't leave any DCK alone with another person unless they meet all the requirments that I have as a provider. They dont have to be licensed, but they do have to have all of the same certs...
DOJ clearance
Infant/child cpr first aide
Health/ safety prevention
TB test
Plus I have to trust them enough to stay in my home without me here....
I feel like its like finding a needle in a hay stack..

[Blackcat31]

wow...i feel sad for kids that the parents expect us to do all the parenting and do nothing at home with their child...and then wonder why their kid is crazy...

So can I ask what state you are in? I can't leave any DCK alone with another person unless they meet all the requirments that I have as a provider. They dont have to be licensed, but they do have to have all of the same certs...
DOJ clearance
Infant/child cpr first aide
Health/ safety prevention
TB test
Plus I have to trust them enough to stay in my home without me here....
I feel like its like finding a needle in a hay stack..

I'm in Minnesota. I have three helpers/assistants that I use. One on a regular basis, but the other two are strictly back-up or substitutes. They also have to have all the required bacground checks, CPR and 1st aid trainings etc as I have to have. they have to be listed in my file with licensing as people I use also. I also keep track of how often and for how many hours each month/year I use them since we can only use a substitute for like 30 hours per year (if I remember correctly) and no more than a certain number of days in a row. One is my 22 yr old daughter who is an LPN and has grown up in my childcare so all the families know and love her...she made a fortune babysitting for families on the weekends and evenings when she was a teenager. One of my other subs is a former dcm and my helper is a college girl working towards her degree in Elementary Education. I advertised on the college bulletin boards and she responded. After several lengthy interviews and trial runs she's been a blessing and a welcome addition. Been with me a little over a year and I love her to pieces!!

[lvt77]

sounds like you have a great set-up....my issues is also money..I charge a very low rate and don't know if I could afford to hire someone...with all kids combined, i make only $12.00 an hour............
can I ask what do you do if one of your workers does not show up??

[Blackcat31]

I haven't had that issue come up yet. But if I did, my DH could fill in at a moments notice. He works from home and although I have my daycare in a separate house in town, it is only 5 miles from my home so he could be here in a jiffy. When I first started (over 16 yrs ago) I had all sorts of issues with part timers not showing up or needing care and I would hire a helper to accommodate and then not have the parent show up so I needlessly hired someone etc etc...but after doing this for so long you learn what is acceptable, what is not and what you will absolutely NOT put up with.
Like wine, it gets better with time. You learn to carefully weed out the families that won't fit after you stop looking at the $ side of things and look at the side that says whether a kid/family is a good match. I used to take kids for the $ but learned sometimes there are families/kids not worth the trouble no matter how well they paid. Once you establish yourself and earn a good reputation, everything falls into place. It does take time and support..but isn't that why we are all here?

[lvt77]

im not in it for the money....I love what I do...
Didnt mean to sound like I was complaining..
I have actually been really lucky with my parents...I have slected really good parents...some people we acutally willing to pay more money, but I did not see them as a fit for our group or someone that I could work with...

I just cant afford to hire anyone....I teach a preschoolk program here and right now its costing me an arm and a leg.... I also offer a free parents night out once a month to families to pay on time for the full month...

[QualiTcare]

they have the monkey backpacks at wal mart - i had one for my son when he was younger. i think i paid maybe $10 and it was in the baby section.

i would put that on him and have the assistant walk with him in the back of the group (or the front and you in the back).

[Blackcat31]

I totally did not mean to imply that you were in it for the money...sorry. It is tough. I have a few friends who are providers who have a parent past or present be their helper and then they trade for services. Maybe you could offer to swap services with someone. If a parent needs weekend care, but they are available to help during the day etc. What preschool curriculum are you using? What is the cost for you? Offering preschool activites and curriculum can be done with out spending any money if you network and can be really creative....

[Lilbutterflie]

lvt77, sort of off topic... but you said you take the kids to the library as one of your field trips. I'm just wondering this, how do you keep the kids quiet??? Or is your library okay with the kids using inside voices?

I say this b/c I have taken my own two kids to the local library. They have a cute set up with puzzles, tapes, and all the books they could want. My 2 yo old loves it, but I can't keep him completely quiet. He does use an inside voice, but the librarian still tells us they have to be completely quiet or they must be separated in a private room (with none of the puzzles, kids chairs or tables). I would never dare bring all of my dck's for fear that we will be pushed out for talking.

Just wondering how your experience is at the library with 6 kids??

[lvt77]

well i use the mother goose time program, i teach zoo phonics and dino-senssory.... i spend a lot on printing paper glue paint, cleaning supplies...I think i over clean, but its my house and i dont want to live in germs....which we know kids carry lots...love the little kiddies, just not their germs.....

[Blackcat31]

well i use the mother goose time program, i teach zoo phonics and dino-senssory.... i spend a lot on printing paper glue paint, cleaning supplies...I think i over clean, but its my house and i dont want to live in germs....which we know kids carry lots...love the little kiddies, just not their germs.....

I PM'ed you about curriculum.