Field trips can help your children improve academic skills and learn important social and safety skills. Even so, it’s important to take proper safety measures to avoid accidents and problems. Following are some tips to ensure your next daycare outing is as safe and enjoyable as possible.
Choose Venues with Care
Ideally, you should visit a venue in person before planning a daycare trip to the site. Make sure the area is free from hazards. Check for unsupervised exits that would allow small children to wander off. At the same time, you’ll want to see if the place you have in mind is fun and engaging for small children. When little ones get bored, they’re more likely to get into trouble than they would be when fully engaged in an entertaining activity.
Prepare in Advance
Talk to the children about the field trip in advance. Explain where you’re going and what you’ll do and learn while you’re out. Talk about safety precautions such as not talking to strangers, sticking with the group, not running ahead when crossing the street or walking through a parking lot, and listening to teachers and helpers on the trip.
If fellow teachers and supervisors have never been to the venue, talk about the layout of the area, what to expect when there, and what will be expected of them during the outing. Each adult on the trip should have a number of children assigned to them and there should be plans in place for emergencies. Bring a first-aid kit to deal with small cuts and scrapes, and make sure you have alcohol wipes or hand gel to keep children’s hands clean. Plenty of water is a must for any outdoor activity on a hot day.
Make Sure You Have the Right Insurance
General daycare insurance won’t meet your excursion needs. If you own a vehicle, you’ll need commercial vehicle insurance to cover any accidents that may take place as you travel to and from the daycare. If you use vehicles that don’t belong to you, purchase non-owned or for-hire auto insurance for your trip.
Field trip insurance covers liability and property damage. If one of the children has an accident that requires medical care, you won’t have to worry about shelling out thousands of dollars for doctor’s fees. If children get rowdy and break a statue or window, field trip insurance will cover the cost.
Little children often enjoy variety and there is a lot they can learn from an outing to a local zoo, farm, fire station, police station, or another suitable venue. With proper care and planning, you can minimize the odds of serious problems and ensure your trip out is as successful and enjoyable as it’s meant to be.
Our team specializes in the ins and outs of insurance coverage, and we offer specialized insurance to meet the needs of any facility or event. Fill out our free quote page to find out more about your insurance options to ensure your daycare is adequately covered no matter what happens.