https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 07 May 2026 07:42:49 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/field-trips-and-keeping-track-of-kids#post-2741638 Tue, 30 May 2017 09:58:00 +0000 looch 2741638@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sunny: I wanted to come back and update you on the TickTalk tracking watch.</p> <p>We got it the other day and have it all set up, it comes with a SIM card and the phone is actually able to make and receive phone calls. It has a tracker that we can view on our phones via an app and so far, my son seems not to mind it (it's kind of bulky). The interface is very user friendly, using swiping motions to toggle between the clock face, phone etc.</p> <p>It's pricier than I thought, but we're happy. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/field-trips-and-keeping-track-of-kids#post-2736711 Tue, 16 May 2017 15:07:28 +0000 sunny 2736711@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: Thanks. Please let me know how you like it. I hadn't come across this one in my searches.</p> <p>@Mamaof2: Unfortunately I don't have Verizon! But this looks very promising. I googled and it looks like it is exclusive to Verizon and other carriers don't have it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/field-trips-and-keeping-track-of-kids#post-2736700 Tue, 16 May 2017 14:54:08 +0000 looch 2736700@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My husband ordered one called Ticktalk for my son, I apparently didn't look closely, it's $129.<br /> I thought it cost $35, oops. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/field-trips-and-keeping-track-of-kids#post-2736647 Tue, 16 May 2017 13:49:28 +0000 Mamaof2 2736647@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sunny: do you have Verizon? They have a similar smart watch for kids for $5 a month (they have 2 models one is $79 and the other is $149)</p> <p>So similar but the monthly fee is cheaper </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/field-trips-and-keeping-track-of-kids#post-2736638 Tue, 16 May 2017 13:32:30 +0000 sunny 2736638@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@caterw: @PinkElephant: Yes, exactly... part of the big concern is that it is a camp run by the city and NOT my daughter's regular daycare. I'm going to assume that the counselors are all teenagers/young adults (I found the job description online and they allow 17+) since it is seasonal work. There are a few permanent staff who run the whole program and will be onsite, but the majority of the "adults" are not people who are regularly in charge of little kids. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/field-trips-and-keeping-track-of-kids#post-2736630 Tue, 16 May 2017 13:27:14 +0000 sunny 2736630@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I got a call back from the city coordinator who runs the summer camp. She told me that during the weeks my daughter will be there, there are 2 trips to the beach for a couple of hours. I know the beach they are going to and it is fairly well contained so I don't think my LO would get lost, but since they let them play in the wading area, I think I'm going to go supervise since I'm a little nervous about that. </p> <p>I did some research on technological devices and there are 2 that aren't too cost prohibitive: the Tinitell watch and the Yepzon dongle. I haven't decided if we will get one of these yet. Has anyone else heard of them? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/field-trips-and-keeping-track-of-kids#post-2736395 Tue, 16 May 2017 06:06:35 +0000 caterw 2736395@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would think that the daycare provider has thought all this through and can chaperone trips effectively. I see lots of little kids in our city holding a rope and there is a teacher on each end when they go out to make sure no one lets go. I bet you can ask about field trips on the first day at drop off just to ease your mind about your daughter's safety.</p> <p>I would not let my kid go on a beach trip at that age though. I am also a big fan of a 1:1 ratio at the beach with littles (and I preferred to take my husband with us even when we only had one LO). It's way too open for me to feel safe watching two. At least at the pool I can see the whole perimeter and the water is still but at the beach you can get pulled away so easily. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/field-trips-and-keeping-track-of-kids#post-2736385 Tue, 16 May 2017 05:14:28 +0000 lamariniere 2736385@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My LO's daycare does weekly trips within the city and a monthly "bigger" field trip. It is a huge part of the culture here that daycares take their kids out of the daycare setting and explore the city. They go to parks, museums, the library, markets, the zoo, and even the city beach in summer (the spot where they go is only ankle deep -- and yes, I'm perfectly aware that a lot can happen very quickly). But I am comfortable and confident with how they handle field trips. As for getting around, they either use public transit in the city or hire a chartered bus for longer trips and the kids wear bright vests with the school name on them wherever they go. As far as I know, no parents have ever gone as chaperones. It has never occurred to me to use some kind of technological tracking system because I really am confident in our daycare's ability to manage the kids, and I think because the kids are so used to going out and about, they have a general idea of how to behave in public with daycare (like not running away, etc.). Ultimately, each parent has decide what they are comfortable with. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/field-trips-and-keeping-track-of-kids#post-2736381 Mon, 15 May 2017 23:48:15 +0000 ALV91711 2736381@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our daycare does field trips throughout the summer. Last year DS was three. Parent volunteers were aloud but I don't know how many went. All the daycare kids get the same shirt to wear and they stay in groups by there daycare class. </p> <p>I hope they get back to you and answer your questions b </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/field-trips-and-keeping-track-of-kids#post-2736360 Mon, 15 May 2017 21:29:32 +0000 littlejoy 2736360@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@tlynne: Hahaha. This made my night!! :) Glad you were there to catch your little runaway. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/field-trips-and-keeping-track-of-kids#post-2736345 Mon, 15 May 2017 20:27:36 +0000 tlynne 2736345@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@littlejoy: that's it exactly...it nearly happened for real...with me there! </p> [attach=4740/17/oq0usb.600x450.2013-02-09-14.36.00.jpg] https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/field-trips-and-keeping-track-of-kids#post-2736257 Mon, 15 May 2017 17:01:10 +0000 Foodnerd81 2736257@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I couldn't do it with the beach- there was an awful heartbreaking event in my neighborhood last summer where a little boy drowned. I won't get that out of my head for a long time. </p> <p>If you are taking time off work to keep him home instead of doing the field trip, maybe you could volunteer and chaperone that day instead. Maybe going would give you a better sense of how they keep track of everyone? @sunny: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/field-trips-and-keeping-track-of-kids#post-2736254 Mon, 15 May 2017 16:51:30 +0000 PinkElephant 2736254@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm with @Truth Bombs: a giant NO NO NO to the beach. I don't even like going to the beach alone with my 3 and 5 year old if the baby stays home. Too much can go wrong near the water, especially with excited kids.</p> <p>I'm ok with trips like the zoo when it is my daughter's school - they do this a lot and are well organized, the kids listen, etc. I'd be reluctant to do it through a camp with part time staff who are mostly high school/college students. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/field-trips-and-keeping-track-of-kids#post-2736243 Mon, 15 May 2017 16:29:27 +0000 2littlepumpkins 2736243@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I went to a summer camp at 4 or 5 with field trips to the beach, on hikes, etc. I don't really know how they did it but we were in our groups and they got it done.😳</p> <p>As for my daughters preschool usually most of the parents go! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/field-trips-and-keeping-track-of-kids#post-2736226 Mon, 15 May 2017 15:57:37 +0000 youboots 2736226@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@littlejoy: haaaaaaaa more like ended up on stage at Beatles Love in Vegas. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/field-trips-and-keeping-track-of-kids#post-2736223 Mon, 15 May 2017 15:51:26 +0000 Andrea 2736223@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>At 4, I wouldn't let my LOs go on this type of field trip without me. If I couldn't chaperon, I would keep them home that day. Our camp doesn't do field trips like that until the kids are around 10? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/field-trips-and-keeping-track-of-kids#post-2736218 Mon, 15 May 2017 15:40:33 +0000 littlejoy 2736218@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@tlynne: Yes to this! My LO is very much the "local toddler managed to sneak inside the turkey vulture enclosure at the zoo today" headline on the evening news. :grin: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/field-trips-and-keeping-track-of-kids#post-2736173 Mon, 15 May 2017 14:25:54 +0000 tlynne 2736173@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our daycare does field trips for 3s and 4s during the summer. I chaperoned on the ones that DS1 did as a 3 year old, and opted out of most (but not all) of the ones when he was 4. In Kindergarten, I asked a family member to help chaperone a field trip - but if DS1 had a more watchful teacher, I wouldn't have felt that this was necessary. </p> <p>On the other hand, I could definitely see letting DS2 attend field trips as a 4 year old and in Kindergarten. I don't think I would be as okay with it if he were 3, though.</p> <p>In other words, it depends on the kid and the situation. DS1 has limits, and would be the kid mostly likely to wander away from a field trip group. DS2 is much calmer and more aware. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/field-trips-and-keeping-track-of-kids#post-2736146 Mon, 15 May 2017 13:35:16 +0000 Anagram 2736146@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sunny: my 3 year old's school has done a couple of field trips this year, on hired busses. One was to the zoo and one was to an arts center in another town. I was actually fine with it, maybe because I really trust her teacher and the TA--they take really good care of our daughter, The arts center field trip did not allow parent volunteers (limited seating). The zoo trip did allow parent volunteers, so there were 4 parents in addition to the 2 teachers for a class of 14 students. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/field-trips-and-keeping-track-of-kids#post-2736137 Mon, 15 May 2017 13:21:34 +0000 Miss Ariel 2736137@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Back in college I used to be a camp counselor and we did field trips with 4-year-olds. Out of 15-20ish kids I remember there being 4 adults.</p> <p>I know parents always had the option to attend (with their own transportation) but as a college student it was annoying when it happened. Although now as a parent I totally get it.</p> <p>I definitely remember going to water parks or amusement parks and never thought twice about it, but the logistics of it all freak me out a little now. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/field-trips-and-keeping-track-of-kids#post-2736114 Mon, 15 May 2017 12:48:42 +0000 Adira 2736114@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sunny: I wasn't trying to advocate that you should be a volunteer - just that that was how our daycare did it and maybe that's how the camp will do it too? Try to get enough volunteers so the ratio is pretty low so that it will be safer? I would ask. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/field-trips-and-keeping-track-of-kids#post-2736112 Mon, 15 May 2017 12:44:15 +0000 sunny 2736112@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@kiddosc: @KT326: I just called the city parks &amp; rec department. Hopefully I'll get a call back from someone who works there, but I think it won't be the people who are actually on site at the camp, since it is a summer only program which hasn't started. </p> <p>@Truth Bombs: Good idea. I'll ask, but I'm guessing the answer might be no. Perhaps I'll keep her home and work from home or use backup care if there's a beach trip. </p> <p>@littlejoy: @Adira: Unfortunately I won't be able to volunteer. I work full time and that is the whole reason she has to go to camp in the summer!</p> <p>@looch: That's what I was thinking. A tracking watch of some sort to wear. I was thinking a solution that goes in her backpack wouldn't be good enough since she may just hang up a backpack in a cubby or they may leave it behind if there's a field trip. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/field-trips-and-keeping-track-of-kids#post-2736071 Mon, 15 May 2017 11:57:47 +0000 looch 2736071@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My son is going to be in a camp this summer that does a weekly field trip, he's 6 and going into first grade. I was really nervous about the one trip to the state park (which is on the water) but then I remembered that there is a pond on the grounds of the camp (nature center) and he's attended there since he was 3 with no incident, so I relaxed a little and remembered that they know what they're doing.</p> <p>As for a technological solution, I was thinking about getting a tracking watch or possibly sticking a tracker on the belt loop of his shorts...still not decided on that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/field-trips-and-keeping-track-of-kids#post-2736065 Mon, 15 May 2017 11:50:40 +0000 Adira 2736065@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@KT326: This is how our daycare does it too, though they also rarely have field trips.</p> <p>I volunteered to chaperone a field trip for my daycare. It was just the Preschool and Pre-K classes (so 3 and 4 year olds). They had enough parents and teachers for a 2:1 ratio. As a chaperone, I had my kid and was assigned another kid to watch. The teachers did constant head-counts to ensure everyone was accounted for. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/field-trips-and-keeping-track-of-kids#post-2736060 Mon, 15 May 2017 11:46:03 +0000 KT326 2736060@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our daycare does field trips and ask for parent volunteers. Usually there are enough parents and teachers to have a 2:1 ratio. </p> <p>They don't have anyone you can contact through phone or email? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/field-trips-and-keeping-track-of-kids#post-2736058 Mon, 15 May 2017 11:44:20 +0000 littlejoy 2736058@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm too paranoid - I couldn't do it. I just realized I'm going to be the mom that goes on every field trip as a chaperone. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/field-trips-and-keeping-track-of-kids#post-2736056 Mon, 15 May 2017 11:41:44 +0000 Truth Bombs 2736056@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Can you opt out of the field trips? Honestly the beach would be an absolute no go for me. I only go to the beach with a one to one adult to child ratio. There's so much that can go wrong so quickly. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/field-trips-and-keeping-track-of-kids#post-2736054 Mon, 15 May 2017 11:40:17 +0000 kiddosc 2736054@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>When it's warm enough, our daycare does field trips once a month. They always have parents volunteer to chaperone, so along with the staff, each adult only has 4-5 kids. There has to be someone to call or email, how did you register? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/field-trips-and-keeping-track-of-kids#post-2736053 Mon, 15 May 2017 11:38:27 +0000 sunny 2736053@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Are your little ones enrolled in any camps that do field trips? I enrolled my 4 year old in a daycamp with the city and they do a few field trips. One trip is to the zoo (which is enormous) and they'll do a weekly field trip to a park or beach. </p> <p>At first this sounded really fun, but now I'm really concerned about the ratio of campers to adults and how they'll keep track of everyone. There's not really a way to talk to the camp organizers beforehand to get any peace of mind. </p> <p>Has anyone used any technological solutions to keep track of their little ones? </p>