Daycare dilemma!?

Question

My daughter, almost 4 attends daycare. They are scheduled for her first field trip! The school sent a note home asking parents if they could come and transport the kids in their cars (not just your own child, but others). I, horrified at the idea of someone I don't know transporting my daughter and wanting her to be able to go, took off work to transport her, but clearly stated I did not want the liability of other kids in my car.

Wires got crossed and I found out today that they had "planned" for two kids to ride with me. I put my foot down, that no, I would not. Her teachers seemed upset with me.

I work as a teacher and have heard horror stories of lawsuits and false charges from teachers for giving rides to students.

What do you think?

Answer 1

I see your concern but really...yes things can happen what is the probability though. If the school has permission slips from other parents all should be fine.

Answer 2

You are 100% right! I worked as a pre-k teacher in a daycare and at my establishment they would NEVER have allowed children to be transported with parents other than their own. When a field trip was scheduled a small bus was hired and parents were invited on the bus or to drive their child themselves. This was due to liability issues just as you stated. Not only is it the transportation issue but your child will also be under the care of stranger in a vehicle with no supervision! The whole thing rubs me the wrong way. If I were you I would go straight to the director of your center and complain. As a daycare teacher I have saw A LOT of things I didn't like about daycare, and things like what you stated are indicative of the care your child is getting. If I were you I would think about maybe shopping around for a new center...

Answer 3

I worked in a Montessori school for seven years and every October we went to a local pumpkin patch. Often, some parents just could not take off from work so someone else had to drive their child or else the kid would have to miss the trip.
It's a tricky situation, I know. There were a few times when I personally had to drive a child. Considering that there was a permission slip provided, I doubt any lawsuit would hold up in court, but if you are not comfortable transporting other children then you simply don't have to.
I'm sure the teachers were frustrated with having to organize a ride for these children, but I think it was pretty rude of them to express any of that to you or to make you feel uncomfortable. I know that it was always helpful for parents to lend a hand with looking after unaccompanied children, so you might want to volunteer to do that if you feel it's necessary.
Either way, don't let this get in the way of you enjoying your day with your daughter and her class. This is a great opportunity for you to meet the parents of her friends and perhaps make some yourself! Good luck!

Answer 4

I work at a daycare that does not provide transportation of any kind for liability sake. It's to much trouble and I agree with the director. If they are going on a field trip I would've assumed that they had the transportation of their own. I,too, would not let my son ride in someone else's vehicle. I hope they make sure and have the car seats available.

Answer 5

Totally agree. I wouldn't let my child ride with anyone I didn't know, and I wouldn't want the responsibility of anyone else's children I didn't know. That seems odd for a daycare to ask parents to volunteer to transport kids, there shouldn't be a field trip if the daycare can't provide safe transportation.

Answer 6

You are absolutely right!! Why do you think the daycare didn't hire a bus company to take them? Because of the liability!!!! This is something a lot of parents overlook with daycare - both center and home. My mother has been a daycare provider for 20+ years and she never takes any children in her car....even with the proper liability insurance, she can still have her life ruined if anything happens! And, I know alot of daycare providers who do take their kids on trips WITHOUT the proper insurance...and parents don't know. They assume the proper precautions are in place. Besides - even if they are - I'm not taking that chance.

My daughter doesn't go in anyone's car I don't personally know and even some people (my sister for one) she's not allowed to ride with at all. It's not worth it, in my opinion.

Answer 7

This day care should have it's own bus or buses to transport children on field trips. Parental carpooling is NOT a good idea and NO Parent should be okay with it. The day care apparently doesn't WANT to have to be liable for what happens and obviously doesn't have the funds to provide busses or insurance...You need to get hold of the other parents and let them know that if anything happens to any child they transport it will be under THEIR auto insurance and THEY will be liable when the DAY CARE should be liable.

Answer 8

It's completely understandable that you feel that way. That is definitely not out of the ordinary and any respectable mother would have the same feelings. If there is, however, no way around it then have the teachers give you a copy of a permission slip from the parents saying that they agree to you transporting them. This way you have documentation and in the unfortunate event that something may occur you really have no legal ties to the event in question.

Answer 9

I think that you are right. I am a childcare provider & I have all my parents sign a liability waiver, so that I can transport kids when I need to. But it is a very touchy subject. I think that you have every right to only want to transport your own child.

Answer 10

i bypass contained in the path of a similar subject with my daughter from time to time. as long because of fact the the remainder of her day is large, attempt to get contained in the path of the tough mornings. My daughter began daycare at 18 months, she is now 3 a million/2 yrs., yet we in easy terms bypass there whilst our customary babysitter isn't accessible. My daughter has a large time at daycare, yet we've rather had stages (basically this morning, surely), the place she completely cries and clings to me as quickly as I drop her off. I hate it, yet what are you able to do? She does not proceed crying all day, and the longer you reside and attempt to calm her the greater serious she will have the means to be. basically the day previous my daughter became large, and as we talk grew to become right into a multitude dropping her off. My daughter knows i admire her, and that i ought to bypass to paintings, and that i visit return decrease back to %. her up like I do daily. that is stressful, yet i myself have not have been given any decision, and prefer I stated i understand my daughter is large the the remainder of the day, so that is not like the crying contained in the morning is disrupting her finished day, now not to point out her character or habit.

Answer 11

If you made yourself clear that this is not something that you are comfortable, then her teacher should respect that. If you are worried that her teacher is upset with you just let her know that you are concerned about lawsuits and that really you are just trying to keep the other children as well as yourself safe.