7 Helpful Tips for Chaperoning a School Field Trip
Being a chaperone for your child’s field trip or school event can get hectic and stressful. Some parents enjoy being chaperones for their children’s schools to be more involved in their child’s life and to monitor their child’s behavior. If you volunteer to be a chaperone for a school field trip you must prepare yourself for what is to come. Sometimes chaperones aren’t necessary but are prominently demanded by teachers who teach younger kids. It can be a hassle to be responsible for over 10 kids when you are the only one monitoring them.
To be a good chaperone, you must have certain skills and attributes that can help you lead younger and more rebellious crowds. Regardless of what type of field trip it is, the students may get out of hand and you should be able to handle certain situations as a chaperone. Here are some helpful tips to help you get ready for chaperoning a school field trip.
Be Prepared
You must be prepared when you are planning to chaperone a school field trip. Make sure you have all the appropriate items and tools for the trip. If you were appointed to bring snacks, make sure to ask about allergies and preferences. Healthy alternatives are always great to have for field trips as they won’t give sugar rushes like other popular prepackaged snacks. Have them ready ahead of time. Come prepared with cash if you need to pay for extra things like food and admission fees. It is also smart to bring band-aids and other First Aid along with you in case of an accident or emergency.
Understand what it is that is happening and know the plan of the field trip. Before you leave for the field trip make sure to go over everything with the teacher or leader to make sure you are all on one accord. You want to familiarize yourself with the trip so you know what to do in certain situations and what to wear.
You should also know certain meal times and meet up points to eliminate any confusion and allow the trip to go smoother. Keep your cell phone or mobile device on you for emergencies or times when you may need to contact your leader or teacher.
Be Smart About Transportation
Make sure to be smart about transportation. You should definitely consider and advise taking a school bus or charter bus to get your class to the field trip destination. Not only will it be comfortable for everyone but it will provide an easy monitoring process as there will be only one way on and off the bus and room to move around. You can ensure safety and security when using a charter bus.
Consider how you will be getting to the field trip destination as well. Will you be meeting the group there or riding on the bus along with them, It may be best for you and the teacher’s sake to ride together to save money and help with the students.
Establish a Relationship with the Leader
Establish a relationship with the leader of the field trip to make sure everything goes smoothly. This doesn’t mean make them your best friend, but communicate enough to where you are all on a similar page. You as a chaperone are supposed to assist with making the field trip go smoothly and you must have some relationship with the teacher to ensure that.
Parent-teacher relationships are important and if you don’t already have one with your child’s teacher, you should establish one before the field trip. Communication should be a strong skill for those who want to chaperone a school event or field trip. Make sure to practice good communication with the leaders and with the students. You want them both to understand you clearly and effectively.
Be Focused and Positive
Your attitude will reflect not only your level of authority but your personality as well. When you are chaperoning a school event, you must be positive. If you are assisting younger students, it’s important to lead by example. Children are more receptive at younger ages and can adopt your attitude. Try to remember why you’re there to help bring your attitude back to the positive side. It can be stressful to handle several children at once, but if you are calm and collected, you will help make the field trip smoother.
You must be focused to be of any assistance. Remember your duties as a chaperone and stick to them. It can be exciting to be experiencing your child’s life during school, but you must keep your focus on every child like they are your own.
Don’t lose the children
The main goal of being a chaperone with a charter bus for a school field trip is to not lose the children. Make sure to count the number of children you are responsible for and learn their names and faces. You should have a good memory to be able to keep up with the kids you are chaperoning. You won’t be able to avoid chaos on a field trip, so you want to at least make sure everyone is together and accounted for.
Children roam and wander off but it isn’t difficult to miss when a little one scurries off, especially if you are paying attention and keeping up with your duties and responsibilities as a chaperone.