https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 25 Apr 2026 03:59:51 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-driven-for-a-field-trip#post-2904557 Wed, 04 Dec 2019 22:57:28 +0000 lindseykaye 2904557@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Both DH and I have driven for field trips and my LO has been driven for a field trip that neither of us could chaperone/drive for. She attends a small private K-2 school with a total of 15 kids. Bus options aren't really feasible for them.</p> <p>In our case, we install whatever booster/seat the parent provides. A lot of us are friendly and have driven each other's children to/from our houses for playdates or school pickup already. Maybe that made us more comfortable with it all. But that said, we've had at most 1 more kid in the car with LO since that's what our cars can handle. We always set the rules before we go, we don't listen to music to reduce noise distractions, and we kind of caravan along the road with other parents as we all leave from school.</p> <p>I feel like it's totally doable but I also get why it would be super foreign to a lot of people too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-driven-for-a-field-trip#post-2904367 Wed, 04 Dec 2019 00:02:01 +0000 Corduroy 2904367@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@KNS: That sounds like a nice field trip. What a beautiful area. Kudos to you for doing that drive. Mine will only be about 15 minutes and is almost my exact route to work in the morning. Hopefully I don't drive the kids to my office on autopilot. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-driven-for-a-field-trip#post-2904365 Tue, 03 Dec 2019 23:53:58 +0000 KNS 2904365@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Corduroy: we went up to Muir Woods, so a fairly long drive </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-driven-for-a-field-trip#post-2904340 Tue, 03 Dec 2019 20:40:53 +0000 Corduroy 2904340@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@KNS: Glad to hear it's doable! Where did you go on the field trip? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-driven-for-a-field-trip#post-2904323 Tue, 03 Dec 2019 19:48:54 +0000 KNS 2904323@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@SproutBee: @Corduroy: I am in San Francisco and just drove for my daughter's field trip last week. The teacher was in my car and said that a bus for a field trip costs hundreds of dollars so they don't do them. Driving was fine, the kids were very well behaved and everyone was in boosters so no real install issues. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-driven-for-a-field-trip#post-2904321 Tue, 03 Dec 2019 19:35:19 +0000 Purpledaisy 2904321@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Corduroy: this is so weird to me! I’m in CA and schools use busses for all field trips. I would no way drive other kids in my car, too much liability. Plus, I’m super strict on car seats and wouldn’t want to drive kids that aren’t in the car seat I think they should be in. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-driven-for-a-field-trip#post-2904305 Tue, 03 Dec 2019 16:50:12 +0000 SproutBee 2904305@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@KT326: must be district dependent then? 🤷🏻‍♀️ </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-driven-for-a-field-trip#post-2904299 Tue, 03 Dec 2019 16:38:03 +0000 KT326 2904299@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Corduroy: @SproutBee: I’m in Silicon Valley as well and our school district uses buses for field trips. We’ve never had parent drivers. I grew up in Northern CA and always had a bus for any field trips. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-driven-for-a-field-trip#post-2904287 Tue, 03 Dec 2019 14:59:28 +0000 merriment 2904287@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <br /><p><i>This comment has been deleted by the original poster.</i></p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-driven-for-a-field-trip#post-2904276 Tue, 03 Dec 2019 14:13:50 +0000 Mrs. Toad 2904276@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Foodnerd81: We are in a private preschool attached to a private school and have field trips. DS is one of the oldest and is still in a harnessed seat at 5. We drop off his seat for the field trip. I also wouldn't be able to install the night before as we only have 1 seat. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-driven-for-a-field-trip#post-2904272 Tue, 03 Dec 2019 14:01:54 +0000 MrsSRS 2904272@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I also left my seats in and asked a friend if their child could ride in one of my seats and then checked with the teacher so I didn't have to remove mine. Just added some boosters </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-driven-for-a-field-trip#post-2904271 Tue, 03 Dec 2019 13:59:35 +0000 Corduroy 2904271@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@SproutBee: I'm in CA too. Maybe it's a CA thing? </p> <p>The kids will likely be in boosters because of age but I'll have to use whatever child restraint their parents provide. I didn't drive last year but I heard at least one parent driver had the other parents come to their house and install their own seats the night before. Now that they're all 6 &amp; 7 I'm hoping there's no 'install'. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-driven-for-a-field-trip#post-2904270 Tue, 03 Dec 2019 13:51:35 +0000 Foodnerd81 2904270@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@SproutBee: good point! I read car seats and was picturing younger kids in harnessed seats. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-driven-for-a-field-trip#post-2904269 Tue, 03 Dec 2019 13:49:42 +0000 SproutBee 2904269@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The kids were all in boosters - high back or regular. I believe the poster is talking about -1st graders too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-driven-for-a-field-trip#post-2904267 Tue, 03 Dec 2019 13:38:58 +0000 Foodnerd81 2904267@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>That’s crazy to me too. Once kids are in boosters I get it, but in a regular harnessed car seat I would be super uncomfortable. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-driven-for-a-field-trip#post-2904266 Tue, 03 Dec 2019 13:38:34 +0000 SproutBee 2904266@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@DesertDreams88: Silicon Valley, baby! Like I said, there are *some* buses, but not for the district kids - only to bring in out of district kids through a particular program. I don’t really understand it either. Kids are expected to walk, bike, be dropped off, or (if older) take the public bus (which isn’t great - not timed well). It is awful for traffic congestion. 🤷🏻‍♀️ </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-driven-for-a-field-trip#post-2904262 Tue, 03 Dec 2019 13:17:00 +0000 DesertDreams88 2904262@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@SproutBee: that's nuts, what part of CA? I live in AZ as a teacher and we are consistently ranked 46th-50th for school funding and yet we even have busses. (only 1-2 per school and a horrible shortage of bus drivers, meaning our bus kids have to wait 30-40 minutes after school to get on the bus!!) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-driven-for-a-field-trip#post-2904245 Tue, 03 Dec 2019 11:21:47 +0000 MrsSRS 2904245@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've done it but they were all booster seat age so didn't require a real install. I keep order with loud Kidz bop. Also all the kids know I'm a teacher and don't mess around... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-driven-for-a-field-trip#post-2904243 Tue, 03 Dec 2019 11:18:34 +0000 lilyofthewest 2904243@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The carseat thing would terrify me. I know I've spent a ridiculous amount of time reviewing manuals and manufacturer's install videos...only to get to my CPST check appointment and find problems with my install. Plus some carseats are simply incompatible with some vehicle seats. And what if the kiddo's parent has them in an inappropriate seat (outgrown by weight/height) or in a booster when they're not developmentally ready for it?? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-driven-for-a-field-trip#post-2904237 Tue, 03 Dec 2019 10:52:59 +0000 SproutBee 2904237@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I live in CA and all the schools use parent drivers for field trips. There are essentially no school buses. Not sure if it’s a funding thing or what. The only school buses that exist are used to bus out of district kids in and they generally won’t use them for any other purpose. I was surprised as well, being from the East Coast... but it seems to be the norm out here. </p> <p>The car seat installation was annoying but totally fine. The kids have been super well behaved - there was only one kid I had to consistently remind to put his seat belt for his booster back over his shoulder. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-driven-for-a-field-trip#post-2904236 Tue, 03 Dec 2019 10:43:04 +0000 bhbee 2904236@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I’m surprised too! Elementary uses buses (that parents aren’t even allowed to go on - if you chaperone you drive yourself and meet the bus there). Preschool lets parents carpool to the few field trips but it’s up to the parents to make that choice and I’ve never done it. I occasionally drive kids of a friend but only one at a time due to space and only if they sit in a seat I already own - my extra booster in my one extra seat or a harness if one of my kids is not present and theirs can be used. </p> <p>My oldest was driven on a sort of informal field trip once by another mom - she took 4 girls - we dropped off our boosters for her to use (kids were in first grade). Her other kids are older though so she likely didn’t have to remove any seats to do it. And she knew us all so she knew they were easy kids to manage. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-driven-for-a-field-trip#post-2904224 Tue, 03 Dec 2019 09:03:13 +0000 muffinsmuffins 2904224@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have had one field trip and one coming this week in kinder and both were with buses. There’s zero percent chance they would ever have parent drivers and tbh I wouldn’t want my kid to attend if it was a random parent driver (no offence to you at all, I mean in general!) This seems like a crazy liability to me and totally bananas idea! We always had buses growing up as well. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-driven-for-a-field-trip#post-2904219 Tue, 03 Dec 2019 08:38:24 +0000 DesertDreams88 2904219@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yeah I wouldn't do it at this age. And I don't know of any similar situations. Even the 4 private schools in my area owned a bus. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-driven-for-a-field-trip#post-2904217 Tue, 03 Dec 2019 08:32:15 +0000 Jennibenni 2904217@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I’ve never heard of parents driving for a school field trip. I would not be comfortable either driving a car full of other people’s kids or having my child ride with a parent. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-driven-for-a-field-trip#post-2904214 Tue, 03 Dec 2019 05:32:54 +0000 hitchhiker 2904214@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had no idea this was a thing. They don't use buses for field trips? We live in a city, so the kids walk to many of the field trips, but if they can't walk, they go on a bus. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-driven-for-a-field-trip#post-2904163 Mon, 02 Dec 2019 18:16:13 +0000 Corduroy 2904163@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Have you been a driver for a field trip or group of car seat age littles? I'd like your tips.</p> <p>1st grade DD is begging me to drive for her school trip to the SPCA on the 10th. I finally completed the 5 forms and upped my car insurance to the required minimum amount. I'm hoping they've already gotten enough qualified volunteers though. </p> <p>The idea of removing/moving my two car seats + installing four foreign car seats/boosters and driving five small kids is pretty overwhelming. But I know if it isn't for this I'll be doing it soon for Girl Scouts or something else. I've never driven anybody else's kid before. How do you keep order? </p>