Dallas Day Care Field Trip Safety

Field trips are a great way for children to experience concepts outside of Dallas day care and child care institutions.  In order for your child to take advantage of these types of opportunities safely, it is important for you to discuss the following issues with your current or potential child care provider.

Group Size

Find out what size group will be sent out during field trips.  Dependant on the ages of the children and the destination, a licensing standard of up to one caregiver per 12 children are required.

Additionally, each group of children on the field trip should have an adult who is solely responsible for the children’s care.  Each adult should have a list of children in their group, emergency contact information for each child, and a first-aid kit.

Transportation Information

Find out how the children will be transported on field trips.  According to Texas state law, all children under 17 years of age need to wear a safety belt, and children under the age of four and/or less than 36 inches tall need to ride in an approved safety seat.

Program Standards on the Field Trip

Certain policies can be instrumental in field trip safety.  Children should use a buddy system, be aware of a meeting place in the event of separation, and should wear name tags which include the program’s name and phone number.  A cell phone should be on hand in the case of an emergency.

Roll call should be taken continuously.  Before leaving the classroom, roll should be taken and repeated after loading the vehicle.  Once the children have arrived at their destination, a head count should be taken.  When they return to the vehicle, prior to departure, the presence of all children should be confirmed.  

Once the children return to the center, a final head count should be taken as the children exit the vehicle and upon their return to the classroom.  A caregiver should be appointed to check the vehicle to ensure all children have exited the vehicle and all personal items have been collected.

Volunteering on Field Trips

Ask your childcare providers whether parents may volunteer on field trips.  If you are available and it is permissible, consider being a volunteer on field trips.  You will be able to spend quality time with your child and get to know others at the facility.  Additionally, you will provide an additional set of eyes, ears, and hands to assist the caregivers.

To see if there have been any valid complaints or information regarding a program, or if you would like more information regarding legal field trip procedures, call the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS), visit their website at www.dfps.state.tx.us, call 1-800-862-5252, or contact your local licensing office.

GetChildCareNow is a web site service offered by ChildCareGroup.org, a non-profit 501C3 business. Please visit http://getchildcarenow.com/ for more information regarding quality daycare services in the Dallas area.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/babies-articles/dallas-day-care-field-trip-safety-1629327.html

Tagged with: 17 Years • Caregiver • Cell Phone • Child Care Institutions • Child Care Provider • Day Care • Emergency Contact • Field Trip • Field Trips • First Aid Kit • Group Size • Meeting Place • Name Tags • Provider Group • Roll Call • Safety Belt • Safety Children • Safety Field • Safety Seat • Size Group

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