1St Grade Field Trip. Am I CRAZY?

OK, wisconsin for a 1st grade field trip? What's wrong with good old brookfield zoo
or Lincoln Park zoo? I could see maybe 3rd or 4th graders going, but not a 1st grader. I have such a hard time believing no other parents thought this was a little crazy.
I don't know what the school was thinking!

S

Hi T.,
I agree with you. I would not feel comfortable about my son traveling that far on a Bus. They have to take the tollway which means they would be traveling at speeds exceeding 55 MPH. I would drive my son and attend the trip. I think it sound like complete chaos with that many kids.

S. T.

T., sounds like you are close to my area and I wanted you to know that my child went to the Milwaukee County zoo in 1st grade. I was a chaperone and had 4 kids in my charge. We all came together as one big group at lunch time. Every one was present and accounted for. The kids loved it! They had an absolute blast! My school opened the field trip to any 1st grade parents and siblings so long as they provided their own transportation and paid their own way. It was the discounted rate that the school got, by the way. It ended up being a great experience! We had a beautiful day and the Milwaukee zoo is very nice and not quite as crazy as the larger Chicago area zoos. I think you are probably not crazy, just a little cautious with your first child. We all are. I would try to go along not as a chaperone, but just to be there for as long a period of time as you can. If this helps you and your daughter to cope, then that is what you should do. If they won't allow you to go as a "non-chaperone," after explaining that you have a 6 month old to take care of, then I would just plan to be there on my own. The zoo is open to the public. When I went, I had a little one at home, as well. I was lucky to find a sitter. It sounds like your daughter wants to go now. Knowing what I know now about how all of my anxieties are ingrained in my first child,(lol) I would encourage her to go. You have to make a decision that is right for you and your daughter, though. Good luck to you. It really could be a fun experience! :)

P.S. Is there a parent going that you know and trust? I would make sure my daughter was in that group.
P.S.S. If you decide not to let her go, I would definately keep her home with you that day. She would probably learn more at home with you than at school as the only 1st grader there, and she would have to watch all of the other kids prepare to leave and then go to the zoo.

I think you were right about not wanting to send your daughter. I would be leary about sending my 4th grader go. Both of my children went to the Brookfield zoo at the end of 1st grade. We were both able to go on one trip but I would have drawn the line at going into Wis. Also if the school (teachers, principal) is making your daughter feel bad then I would be in the office speaking with them. The purpose of school is to teach and build a child's self esteem, especially at the younger grades. It sounds like your school is failing to do that. The staff needs to respect your family's choice not to go and by law they are required to provide alternative assignments for your child. Good Luck!

I don't blame you. I would feel the same way. Why can't they go to Brookfield? The other moms here had some good advice though. I suppose I would try to get over my concerns if I was in your situation, but I sure would mention it to the school and try to find out why they have to go so far away.

Hi T.,

I don't think you are crazy-did you ask why they didn't choose one of Illinois' perfectly good zoos, either Brookfield or Lincoln Park? We really should be keeping our kids (and our dollars) in our own state! Can you confide in any other parents to see if they might have had reservations too? I would let your child go, but if you and a group of others make the point, hopefully next year and the years beyond they will keep activities a little closer to home. Then you won't have to go through this again with your other child.

Good luck!
M.

T.. It sounds like a fun trip. The Milwaukee zoo is about the same distance as Brookfield zoo and a nicer, safer drive. We love it and go every year. I could only wish the school would take a trip there as well. I like the Milwaukee Zoo so much more then the zoos we have here in IL. Just write a list of pros and cons and be relaxed about it. Your daughter is not going to want to go if she sees mom all anxious about it.

I find it hard to believe that you are the only one concerned. I think someone is telling a story. Why are they going to another state. Don't we have two zoo's here in Illinois? I wouldn't like it either. They are in first grade for heavens sake. And 1 adult to five 1st graders is not enough. I have a hard time keeping up with my two girls (5 and 3), let alone five first graders. Are they nuts? I'm with you. The longer they are on the road and the more cars that are around them and the higher speeds that they have to travel all lends to a higher chance of an accident. No way, not me.

I can tell you that I was a parent just like you and was uncomfortable with the idea of field trips. I was lucky to be able to go as a chaperone. Often at that young age their were almost as many parents as children.

The parents in attendance do make an effort to go because they want to make sure all the children are carefully watched over. The children also watch out for each other. You can also request that your child be with the teacher's group.

You are better off starting her off at a young age and getting her accustomed to these sort of field trips.

T., I think you should let your daughter go. It sounds like the parent/student ratio is very reasonable and it will be a fun experience for your daughter to share with all of her friends. Yes, it's a long bus ride, but that's half the fun. My son is now 13 and his principal told me that the school may be eliminating all field trips in the future due to the cost and parents being unable to afford it. How sad is that? I think field trips are an important part of school and offer opportunities for children to go to places they might never see otherwise. If you are really uncomfortable find a sitter for your baby and go along as a chaperone. I understand your fears as it is still very difficult for me when my son goes away to scout camp (especially the week long one!), but it's part of learning to slowly let your child go, and help them to become confident, secure individuals. I promise when your daughter comes home beaming and full of exciting stories from the day you will be glad you let her go.

This is very common for elementary grades to go on field trips and the ratio is very small so your child will be just fine. They have been doing these for years and I haven't heard about any on the news reporting troubles with children going on field trips. I think it would be a disadvantage for your child not to go b/c they incorporate many experiences from the trip into their day and she would be totally left out and in an awkward position. You could always get a sitter for your little one if you are that uncomfortable with it however she would still be taking the bus. I think this will be the first of many she will go on so maybe once she comes back and tells you all about it you will feel more comfortable with you. Speaking as a teacher....

I don't think you are crazy, but for us, from Carpentersville, everything good is about an hour away - Brookfield, childrens museums, morton, rockford discovery center. Unless your child is prone to wandering off on her own, I'm sure she'll be fine. I haven't had to face that yet, but once my kids are in school, I'll surely have to jump over that field trip hurdle.

I don't think you are crazy; however I don't know that you have enough information to make a really good decision.

When you talk about ratios...that's a really good ratio. I think in-home daycare workers are supposed to have a 1:6 ratio and they are all going to be walking as a group.

I grew up in Des Plaines...pretty close to the Chicago zoos. I have (over the years) moved northwest and recently went to the Milwaukee zoo. It is UNBELIEVABLE!! The habitats look real versus the Chicago zoos...they are animals in cages with a little bit of "sprucing up". We had a fantastic time. I went with a mom's group and I drove over an hour to go...it was well worth it!

I think that your worry about the bus ride is valid; however I also have a sister that has driven a school bus for years and has never had an accident. The odds that YOU would be in a car accident with your child are probably much higher than going on the bus.

As for you going with your 6 month old...that is your choice too. You know what you are comfortable with and how "mobile" your child is. I have a very active lifestyle and my daughter went everywhere with us. I expressed milk and she would eat and then sleep in her stroller. The fresh crisp air might do your 6-month old a good thing with regard to sleeping.

Good luck to you. I hope you find peace in this situation. I am of a different mind-set..not good or bad...just different. My daughter is two and I look forward to the days that she comes home with that look of awe and wonder about what she learned that day. Taking a juice or soda, wrapped in tin foil to keep it cold? Remember those days? I have to have faith in those that care for my child; however being cautious at the same time.

GOOD LUCK!!
J.

I understand your anxiety but as a mom of a 3rd grader I've been in your shoes and let my child go. Everything will be fine. It really would be more problematic to not let her go because of what she will be missing in the lessons, peer interactions and peers at this age are very aware of who is there and who is not. Going along is a great idea and luckily 6 mth olds travel pretty easily still.
Milwaukee really is a bit safer drive than traveling into the city and depending on where you live a shorter drive. I think you'll realize once it's over that it's not worth getting so anxious about. We all went on trips as kids and those are great memories we have and we survived them just fine. Have fun with it.

Not sure where you live but for us (in Antioch), the Milwaukee Zoo is much closer than Brookfield or Lincoln Park! It is perfectly normal to have reservations. However (speaking from a teacher's perspective), field trips are a time honored tradition. I am impressed with the 1 to 5 ratio. It is an excellent learning opportunity (if planned correctly). For what it is worth, we've taken our kids at various ages to the zoo and it was minimally disruptive to their overall routine. If you're baby can sleep in the stroller, it could be a possibility for you. (In all fairness, my five month practically falls asleep if he even sees the stroller)

Hi T.,

I don't think anyone is ever crazy to be concerned about their child, but as a mother and former teacher, I do think you should let her go.

Having driven to both Brookfield and the Milwaukee Zoo several times myself, I can tell you that traffic around Brookfield is always worse. It may actually be faster and safer to take the class to Milwaukee (not knowing where you live). Also, for peace of mind, remember that there are way fewer accidents on the expressways every year than there are on the local roads most of us drive every day.

As for the ratio, 1 parent for every 5 students is very good. Most field trip destinations only require about 1 for every 8-10 students. Keep in mind your daughter would be with her friends and the parent of one of them. That parent will watch over your child, just like you would watch over their child if you were the chaperone.

As much as I think she should go, you do ultimately have to do what you are comfortable with as a parent. If you don't let her go, maybe you could take her to a zoo that day so she'd have a similar experience to draw from and be able to more easily participate in the rest of the activities for the week.

Good luck!
B.

I understand your fear in the first big field trip but....if you look at the time frame to drive to Milwaukee Zoo from McHenry vs the time frame to get to Brookfield/Lincoln Park Zoos I think you'll see Milwaukee is closer & faster to get to. For any of the 3 you would be on a expressway.....

The parent to student ratio is good. Like someone else stated if you know a parent who is going ask if your daughter can be in that parents group. This way you have their cell # and they can call you in an emergency or you could call for (ONE) quick update on how the trip is going.

They use these trips in lesson plans for the rest of the week....Math, Science, Social Studies/Health even English.

I know it's hard to trust your childs health/safety/well being to another parent. If you are really uncomfortable then you need to do what is right for you & your family. The one thing I would be careful of is transfering your fears on to your daughter....

When I was a school officer (SRO) I went on many of the field trips (w/2 of the schools) I had many parents tell me they felt better knowing a police officer was there "just in case". In 6 years there was never any major problems (1 bee sting lots of skinned knees) and the teachers are amazing....these events are all very well planned and the teachers have anything and everything with them~just in case.

We did trips up to Camp Timber Lee in WI(3 days 2 nights~NO parents) for 5th graders. There were also trips all over Chicago/burbs for other grades as well.

Good luck, know what ever you do it was the right choice for your family.

You aren't crazy....I just didn't send two of my kids to a field trip for the same reason....really don't feel bad, you have to go with your gut!
K.

It is scary, the first field trip. My daughter is in the 5th grade and they just went to Chicago for a field trip. I was nervous. I really did not like the fact that only 1 parent went but I was unable to go. Granted, she is older but anything could have happened. If my 1st grader goes on a field trip I will be nervous about it and I will try to go.

Find out how many parents are going and the parent-to-child ratio. You didn't mention if you were allowed to bring siblings. You could talk to the teacher about being a chaparone and bringing the baby; it's a zoo, stollers are easy to accomodate or if you use a snugli then you would have your hands free. That is the only way you are going to be ok with it. Offer to follow the bus that way you have what you will need for the baby and then maybe she could ride there and back with you. Or make arrangements for someone to watch the baby. I know it is a lot to ask but you have to do what makes you feel comfortable. If you really don't want her to go then keep her home that day. Good luck.

I am a first grade teacher up in Woodstock. We have gone in the past to Milwaukee Zoo. It is closer than Brookfield and ties in nicely with our curriculum. It wasn't a bad drive at all. The groups are usually very small with only about 4 kids so it is easy for the parents to watch their group. I have never had a student skip a trip. I think you should let your child go and enjoy herself.

That seems like a really big field trip for 1st grade. Aren't you supposed to build up to big ones like that? Where will they go in 5th grade?....Europe?

I think both you and the school are making too big a deal out of it. If you're not comfortable, don't send her. There will be other trips that you feel good about in the years to come.

This isn't important enough to cause you such stress. There's enough in life to worry about, don't let a silly field trip weigh on you.

Let your daughter go. She will have a great time. The ratio of 5:1 is very good.

I'd say, let her go. As I parent, I've chaperoned at field trips. I always get 5 kids and one of those kids is my daughter. I take excellent care of all of them because I would want the same to be done for my child if I wasn't able to attend and someone else was taking care of her. Or, maybe you can see if someone can take care of your baby so you can also attend. The field trips that the kids take are always connected to school and they are always discussed. At least this has been the case with the trips that my daughter has taken so this is something that you need to keep in mind. It's always a learning process, they don't take trips just to take them, they always combine it into one of the units that they cover in school. Ultimately the decision is yours and I know it's a hard one. They are your babies and, as a mom, we're always thinking about their safety. Good luck!