For any activity away from a child care home or center, see if your child's caregiver schedules extra adults to help. Plans should be made ahead for transportation, safety policies, and locating eating areas and rest rooms. Caregivers can take advantage of neighborhood walks or backyard nature hunts for safe, interesting outings for children. Penn State Cooperative Extension's Better Kid Care Program has free educational materials for child care providers in Pennsylvania. Safety should be a prime concern in child care programs.
Extra precautions are important when children go on a child care field trip.
See if your child's caregiver goes over safety rules with the children right before leaving on a field trip. If vehicles are used, seat belts and child safety seats must be used properly. Trained providers are eager to find more information about children. Tell your child's caregiver about free materials from Penn State Cooperative Extension's Better Kid Care Program. If your child is scheduled to go on a field trip, it could be canceled at the last minute due to extreme weather, lack of sufficient adult volunteers, or the sudden illness of a child.