If ever I stumbled upon something to write about this is it. I generally plan my content/series for each month based on what is going on with and/or around me. This particular blog wasn’t planned, and honestly, it’s not something I thought was needed……until it happened lol!

Recently, my son went on his first school field trip and while I was prepared, he was not. When I found out about the trip I told him it would happen, when it would happen, I explained what the purpose of the trip was, and I asked if he wanted the book that came along with the trip. In my mind, it was over and done with; he knew what to expect, and all would go smoothly because of our preparations. As I later found out this was a grossly miscalculated assumption, in part because I didn’t have more details from his teacher AND I because equated his first field trip to any trip he and I take together. Yet, I wouldn’t be there, and he understood that. The day before his trip my son politely asked me what was going to happen and that’s when I realized I had not prepared him well enough. He asked a LOT of good questions, questions that I am not sure four-year-old me would’ve asked. As I answered each question to the best of my ability I noticed a calm spirit come over him. He now felt prepared enough to enjoy the trip. I decided to write about our experience to keep you from making the same mistake(s) I made. Here is a quick list of things to do:

1)(If possible) Talk through the schedule with your child. My son, like any early elementary-aged -child likes to know what will happen. Sure, I told him it was a walking trip to the library. I told him he’d need to listen to his teachers in order to cross the street safely, I told him they’d more than likely walk in partners. He even previewed the book prior to going to the book read. What I didn’t tell him is what to expect once the trip was over. This is important!!! Let your child know they will line up and return back to school, let them know how they will return. Don’t assume they understand since they walked TO the trip they will also walk BACK. If possible tell them where they’ll eat lunch and an approximate time. My son doesn’t know how to tell time yet so I gave him some events to look prompt him that lunch is coming. Give an idea of how the rest of the day will go. In this case, I was able to inform him they’d go back to school and resume their normal afternoon structure. Be as specific as possible BUT if you don’t know ask and also let them know you don’t know.

2)Pack a Normal Lunch. This is NOT the day to try something new; they will already be filled with excitement about their new experience. Pack something you know they love, and something fairly quick and easy to eat. In doing so you will have a much better chance of them eating their meal and snacks. Pro Tip: Don’t send eating utensils on field trip days, I guarantee they will come up lost lolbs!

3) Speak With the Teacher Beforehand: I spoke with my son’s teacher several times to gain clarity on the logistics of the trip. In this case, the class was attending a book read and signing event where the kids could purchase their own copy of the book. Hmmmm, my son is four so him making a purchase without me is NOT an option. I needed to know whether or not we could pre-order the book, who needed to pick it up, whose name to put down for pick up(the teacher or the aide), if the kids needed to bring a snack, etc. As it stands this was the teacher’s first time taking a class on a field trip since COVID-19 so she too had to “recall how this works” lol. Once she got her bearings she was able to answer my questions. Her answers in turn gave me a set of expectations AND allowed me to correctly communicate certain things to my son.

4)Ask the Teacher How You Can Help: Oftentimes teachers are overworked, and underpaid. What they do is a labor of love. Ask how you can assist them. Do they need chaperones, do they need nametags made, emails drafted and /or sent to the parents with more information, etc. Asking how you can help allows your child’s teacher to view you as an ally. This newfound allyship will get you more information and assistance with your child than you can ever imagine.

5)Teach Your Child What To Do If They Get Lost! No one wants to think about or endure a lost child, but stay ready so you don’t have to get ready because life happens. I’d much rather my child know what to do if he gets lost and never have to use the training than I would my child get lost and have no clue what to do. Teaching them what to do also means making sure they know their address, phone number, your real name, their real name (can’t do an all- call for Mo-Mo), their teacher’s name, their school’s name, etc. Give them the tools to succeed in this case. Once you equip them with the necessary tools you will also need to rehearse it. These kids are young, they won’t remember any of this info if they are trained to use it. If you’re ahead of the game and your child already knows what to do if they get lost, be sure to teach them how to handle getting lost on a field trip. Getting separated from you in a grocery store is a lot different from getting separated from your class at say…the zoo. Unfortunately idiosyncracies matter.

6) Bonus Tip: If you’re sending your little one with a cell phone let the teacher know. There are actually some kid -friendly ways to use technology to keep up with your kids, that don’t involve an actual phone BUT if you plan to send a phone err on the side of caution and make sure the teacher knows your child has a phone in case of emergency.

In closing, give your little one the security and freedom they need to enjoy the trip by preparing as much as possible in advance. These preparations will allow both of you to be as calm as possible for the big day. Communicate with both your child and the teacher as much as possible, when it comes to your child there is no such thing as over communication. What are some tips you’ve used to prepare your child for their first field trip? Leave them below in the comments!