awwww Kristy that is a sweet story. I agree let him go. I also agree ask who all is going, and if you're free volunteer to help. I'm sure there are more than 2 adults going. What you are feeling is normal, but this will be really good for him, and really how many people are at a farmer's market on a weekday morning. It will probably be pretty empty.
So, we have the first day of school under our belts. His teachers are awesome. There are 9 boys in his class. All ages 2-4.5. All on the spectrum. With the exception of an attempt to bite a teacher on day one...we have received raving reports EVERY night. We have had notes from his teacher every day, as well as a note from his ST and his OT. Thus far, I am impressed...but the year is young, lol.
Here is my quandry. There is a field trip scheduled for next week. A local farmer's market. The children are to bring money for a toy and snack. I am terrified...afraid he will wander, get lost, kidnapped. Good God, the possibilites are endless and I can't stop adding other reasons he should not go. I now have a top ten list of horrifying things that could happen. DH is not happy about the trip either.
However, my gut tells me I am being overprotective. I doubt these teachers and aides lose children on their field trips. I am unaware of any children being kidnapped at the farmer's market....
HELP. I need rational input, please.
You are not overprotective - just used to parenting a different kind of kid.A field trip is a very exciting and important part of your child's educational experience. It promotes independence (wow - bringing his own money) and will help your son learn to be confortable in novel and stimulating situations.
I think it's natural to be concerned. I would call the teacher and ask for some more detail as to how the children are going to be supervised for the trip. For field trips in our school, a number of parent volunteers come along to accompany the teacher and the aide so it may not just be the two of them with the nine boys.
My gut tells me you are being overprotective. However, does your child have a tendency to wander off (e.g he sees something he likes and just walks away from the group) or is he a "runner" who disappears the moment you let go of his hand? If so, you should probably make sure the teacher is aware of these tendencies. If your son has a history of "running" - I think the officil term for that is "elopement" then I think it's reasonable for you to request that an adult be assigned to him 1:1 for the duration of the trip. If it is feasible for you, you could also possibly volunteer to come along as a chaperone.
Your reaction is normal, but I'd let him go. I remember when C was 3 1/2 and in his 1st year of SpEd preschool I got a note home that the kids would be going on a field trip to go horseback riding. Yes, you heard that right - HORSEBACK RIDING! I remember thinking are these people nuts? You're going to take 8 ASD preschoolers with a variety of different sensory issues and put them on HORSES! I thought they were absolutely insane, but I sucked it up and signed the permission slip.
The day of the trip I spent the entire day of work sitting in my office unable to get anything done because I was so freaked out (what if he hated it? tantrumed? scared the horse and the horse threw him, trampled him and broke his neck?). I didn't even go to the ladies room without my cell phone lest I miss a call from the school. Of course, when I got home from work the first thing I saw was a polaroid photo of C, sitting on a horse, with a helmet on his head, smiling from ear to ear like it was Christmas morning! C was barely verbal at this point, just starting with 2 word phrases, but when I went to go find him he just looked up at me with a big smile and said "horsey mommy, I go horsey" and I could have just cried.
Share your feelings and worries with the teacher. If it's not her first year you won't be her first mom with concerns. It does sound like a wonderful opportunity for the kids and it will give the teachers a bigger picture of your child's strengths and challenges. If you can go, do so. It's a great way to assess the teacher's skills
Some visuals and social stories to prepare your child for the fieldtrip might help. If it's close enough for you to go as a family for a sneak-peek it might help if anxiety is an issue. Sam and I just got back from a 3 day school camp out. He amazed everyone and I got to see a new side to Sam that I wouldn't have known about if I had held him back. mama to Sam 8 yrs PDD NOS OCD ODD PPD and Alex 2 yrs The more experiences your child has, with an able support network around him, the better. This is what one of Cole's special educators told me (she has two profoundly autistic sons herself). We had done LOTS of mini adventures the summer before he started in her cla** (almost 5 yrs old) and continued to do so on weekends. She saw his little mini photo albums of the stuff we did, and of course read my Monday "ice breaker" notes about what we did over the weekends. She wrote us notes praising us for getting Cole out and into new situations. Told us to continuously do this if possible...that it would help prevent rigidity issues. Furthermore, with either a photo or a little stick man sketch I would send in with him, he would recall the event and answer questions about it. He could not converse very well, but would tell them what we were doing and where. Two years, later, and we've taken him and little bro camping overnight at the zoo, on a cruise to Mexico, two trips to DisneyWorld, giant festivals with enormous fireworks shows, onto a new naval vessel for a tour, street car rides, umpteen zoo, aquarium, beach, weekend trips, dinner out once per week, numerous plane flights, ETC. I really think her advice paid off for us. In fact, we are planning a trip to Pittsburgh this fall to sleep overnight in the soon to be opened Carnegie Museum's dinosaur hall. Yep..."night at the museum". Your son will be fine at the farmer's market! Think of the pumpkins, apples, indian corn, colorful gourds, scarecrows that will be set up this time of year. DO SEND IN A DISPOSABLE CAMERA! I'll bet they have a pumpkin patch. He can later show you the photos and tell you about his adventure. Let us know how it goes! I've always been nervous about field trips, too, and secretly glad if they landed on my child's free day or if my child got sick. But I've always said yes, and nothing bad has ever happened. Since you're new to the school, it's okay to ask about security routines, if not now, then at parent night because I'm sure there's lots of other parents wondering about the same thing. I'd also give them your cell phone number, then you'll find out if they'll have a cell phone with them. I think that's really important, so they can react quickly in the unlikely case of an emergency. Good luck with everything! Thanks everyone for the input. The trip is scheduled for Tuesday....DH is hoping my son still has his head cold..hehe. So....I guess my son is going on his first field trip.
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