Field Trip Tips: Our Survival Guide To Chaperone Your Class Like a Pro
I knew I was in for a wild ride the moment the kids piled into my car. The energy and volume were through the roof—windows rolling up and down, shouting over one another, and someone in the third row complaining their granola bar was “the worst snack ever.”
We weren’t even five minutes into the drive on our way to the zoo for my son’s preschool class field trip. As a self-proclaimed easily overstimulated mom, I was quickly overwhelmed with feelings of regret and self-doubt. Why did I volunteer to be a chaperone in the first place with out looking for field trip tips? As a boy mom and former emergency department nurse, I’m no stranger to chaos, but managing a car full of excited kids while staying focused on the road? That’s next-level multitasking.
This story is 100% human researched and written based on actual first-person knowledge, extensive experience and expertise on the subject of cars and trucks.
Welcome to Field Trip Season
It’s that time of year: field trip season. The weather is more accommodating, kids and teachers are anxious to get out of the classroom and there are many fun and fascinating things to see and do just a short ride away. But transporting children in your own car or supervising them on a school bus is a huge responsibility and can be a challenge.
Usually, schools will deliver a full set of rules for chaperones, and class parents or lead chaperones will assign tasks and set up everything you need. Usually, but not always. So it’s a good idea to understand what to expect, anticipate what you’ll need to do, and make sure that no matter how prepared, or not, the school is, you’re equally ready.
To ensure I get a “Yaaaayyyyyyy!” and not an “awwww…” when I announce at dinner that I signed up to chaperone the next field trip, I polled my Instagram community and asked my mom friends for tricks and tips. From keeping kids safe to ensuring everyone feels included and has fun, here’s what I learned from the pros for handling the trip like the cool mom you know your kids think you are—and that they want their friends to see.
Field Trip Tips Start with Making Safety the Priority
Ensuring everyone’s safety is the top priority. When transporting children in your car, make sure to know the car seat requirements of the kids in your group. If you’re using your own car seats, ensure everyone is a good fit; if you’re using each child’s own car seat, ask the parent or caregiver for installation tips and make sure you get a nice, tight installation.
It’s a good idea to think about where everyone will sit ahead of time to prevent any, uh, *loud* discussions among classmates. Before starting the engine, double-check that every child is buckled properly and comfortable—trust me, it’s easier than trying to fix a twisted seatbelt mid-drive.
Set Yourself Up for Good Communication
Safety extends to communication, too. It’s a good idea to start a group chat or text chain with teachers and other chaperones if the teacher or lead chaperone doesn’t do this. It can also be helpful to share your phone’s location with others in the group so you don’t get separated.
It can also be helpful to create a separate text chat with parents of the kids in your group before the field trip. That way you can share fun photos from the day, answer questions and alert them of the ETA for your return.
Also understand the possibility of allergies and medical needs in advance. As a nurse, I always want to know of any issues so I can be preprepared in case something happens. And don’t forget the Band-Aids; you know they can soothe hurt feelings, right?
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Preparedness is Key
The first thing to expect is … the unexpected! If you put a little forethought into what can (and probably will) happen, those things—bee stings, car sickness, lost lunches—are no longer the unexpected.
Then, being on time, not my strong suit, is important. This is something I often struggle with as a mom, but don’t we all? To not transfer my own struggles to the group, I plan to leave at least 15 minutes early to account for traffic and unexpected delays that can happen.
And I prepare for where we’re going. I want to know where to park (do I need to pay for parking?) and do a little research on the location ahead of time. I review a map and if possible, look at Google Map street view photos so I know what to expect.
Being Prepared In The Car Is Important, Too
To set the tone for the ride I like to share some simple ground rules with the kids- like keeping hands to ourselves, using inside voices and staying buckled until the car comes to a complete stop. To keep little passengers engaged, I rely on simple games like “I Spy,” which never fails to keep their eyes as well as mine on the road. If it’s a long ride, you may want to stock up on coloring books and crayons or other good in-car activities.
One of my favorite field trip tips is to keep extra plastic bags in the car in the unfortunate event of someone having motion sickness and make sure my son knows where everything is so he can dole out the bags if someone is ill.
When it comes to snacks, I make sure everyone knows ahead of time when they can eat, avoiding a backseat free-for-all. If I’m providing snacks, I steer clear of anything too messy and if possible, we wait until we reach our field trip spot before digging in. It’s a good idea to keep a small cooler stocked with water, along with garbage recycling bags to keep things tidy.
Before heading out I cue up a kid-friendly playlist at a low volume, and we are off!
Guiding, and Surviving, a Bus Trip
More often than not, you will be asked to ride on a school bus as a field trip chaperone. Sitting in those small pleather seats designed for 8-year-olds is a challenge on its own, and that’s just where the fun starts.
Allow the teachers or staff to take the lead and always defer to them; they are in charge. However, you can reinforce their instructions throughout the trip. It’s a good idea to sit with the kids, not only to keep an eye on them but to engage with them. A little conversation goes a long way in keeping them entertained and preventing restlessness and misbehavior from boredom.
Even though you’re not driving its a good idea to learn the route to the destination, to know the landmarks you’ll pass and have an idea of what to expect when you arrive. This may be helpful if the bus driver is unfamiliar with the area and in sharing points of interest with the kids around you.
Before the bus pulls away, take note of the emergency exit locations, just in case. It gives me peace of mind knowing that if anything were to happen, I’d be ready to help.
Keeping Your Group in Check at the Venue Can Be a Challenge, Too
Phew. You’ve arrived and are ready for a great day. This is when the real chaperoning starts: you’ll need to keep an eye on all the kids in your group throughout the day, make sure that all they brought—coats, hats, backpacks—return home with them, that any learning requirements are met and that the basics are covered.
It’s a good idea to understand the basic schedule of the day and know when and where meals, snacks and bathroom breaks will take place. Find the location of coat closets, the cafe or lunch spot, and the restrooms.
Be sure to have fun along the way; snap photos to share with parents and teachers. Keep your phone put away as a good example to the kids, especially those who may have a phone of their own. Before sharing any photos on social media, check with teachers and parents; not all parents or schools condone public sharing of photos of students.
Finally, encourage the kids to use the buddy system to make it easier to keep everyone together. And be sure you know when and where to meet for your return trip; even if you get separated or off track, that is the one part of the trip that can’t be missed. I set alarms on my phone to keep on schedule because time flies when you’re herding a group of excited kids.
Taking Care of Sensitive Kids, and Delicate Issues
Even if the sound level on the bus on in your car sounds like everyone is enthusiastic for the trip, that may just be the volume level of nerves. Keep an eye out for the kids who are either overstimulated or overly quiet; they may be having a tough time and unable to ask for help.
Try to create an inclusive environment, perhaps with a Q&A game that everyone has a chance to answer, or by asking the shy kids to offer an opinion on something. While touring the field trip venue, offering a little extra help to those children who need it, from holding the hand of a smaller child to simply allowing older kids to take their time, can go a long way toward the success of their experience.
If a particular child is too challenging for you, alert the teacher or school staff; they are familiar with the class and know better how to address individual issues.
Don’t Forget to Take Care of Yourself, Too
I go into every field trip knowing that things won’t go exactly as planned because kids will be kids, especially in a new and exciting environment. Setting realistic expectations ahead of time helps me stay patient when things get chaotic. It’s important to take care of yourself as well so that you can be at your chaperoning best!
If I’m riding on a bus, I bring noise-canceling earbuds to take the edge off the volume while still staying alert. Comfort is key, so wear comfortable sneakers, dress in layers, and check the weather beforehand. Be sure to stay well hydrated and avoid getting “hangry” by packing yourself a protein-rich snack. A small backpack is great to carry your essentials, such as your wallet, lip balm, snacks, water, sunglasses, and sunscreen, but also keep both hands free.
When the noise level or stress starts to build, take slow deep breaths and remind yourself why you are here. Every field trip will come to an end, so keep a positive attitude and take pride in knowing this field trip won’t just be memorable for your child, you’re making your own memories too.
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