I am glad you liked the idea. my boys always liked them. you would be really surprised at what some children like. my boys love the musicals also. that is one thing they liked the best about the school in Alabama. the field trips.

my daughters enjoy plays we went 2 weeks ago to see the stone soup and they loved it.i remember seeing it when i was little.

Find your local theatre group and I'm sure they have children's performances. You might find that some of the kids are motivated to join a drama club or troupe themselves.

Oh, a play I had not thought about that! When I was little my mom took me to see a play about this town that only appeared every 100 years and if you went in this town you couldn't leave or the town would disappear forever. I can't for the life of me remember the name and it's right on the tip of my tongue. Well, I thought it was the coolest show, I think that might just get my vote!

i have 2 boys. they both have enjoyed the theater. and I'm not talking about movies either. me i always enjoyed when i was a kid going into the business and getting behind the scene. to see how they operate i think that is now called career day right. alot depends on if they make it fun and interesting for them.

Actually there is one aspect about the art museum I do like-the kids art area. It's where kids make the art and put it on the walls and there is art you can touch and some stuff to climb on. If we could go to that particular museum I would be on board. I just think that kids enjoy themselves way more when they get to contribute or touch things.

sbozarth23,

You'd be surprised at how well an art museum goes over if you have the right docent and they understand kids. Ours sat on the floor with them in front of paintings and had them completely rapt for over an hour during the tour.

I do think you're right though, and anything with movement trumps anything too still because they get that all day long anyway.

Hey everybody,

The zoo is out this year since that was what the kids did last year. MM, my husband and I love volunteering I had so much fun at the zoo and took so many pictures! There is a lot of buzz right now in the PTA about taking the children to a local art museum. While I am not against this I'm not really for it either. I have taken my son there since he was four, and while he loved it, it's not for every child. The science center (the kids get to play in a big body) or a farm would be pretty cool. I grew up on a farm so I know there would be plenty to see and do for everyone!

Nothing that calls for lots of sitting and being really quiet gets my vote :)

i think museum's and zoos are a great idea for field trips it is very educational for the children.

I agree with others. Great learning/ fun experience in the Museum or zoo, or farm/farmers' market, or State capital. My children love the Museum, state capital/Governor's mansion, farm, and the zoo. My son dreams about the science Museum most nights and wants to sleep there every weekend.

Thats nice but the trip is far and many miles away and I can not go.I must work.The field trip is many hours away.I just think if a child goes and does not have enough shaparones for a field trip that they could get lost or maybe missplaced.

Oh THAT space center. How cool is that? My kids would go nuts. :)

I live in Tampa,FL. and this is where some of the field trips are. Maybe a movie theater or a show you,re childs school can take them on. maybe a play or maybe at a hospital where sick children are.

Hi chtterbox, keeping in mind this is a nationwide community message board, would you mind mentioning where you are generally? I've never heard of the places you mentioned and I'd love to see if there are any like that in Los Angeles.

I have a question. Do you think if a field trip is at the space center that I should let my child go seeing her teachers have missed placed her for a couple of seconds or should I keep her home?

For first graders I think natures class room is a good one.They get to go boating see animals and do lots of cool things.Another one could be is lowery park zoo. Movie theater. Mosi is a good one to.

when my daughter was in first grade they went to the zoo and to the natural bridge indian village.it was educational for them to learn about the indians.mueseums are great for field trips,the kids get to learn about history.

My daughter's school took the kindergarteners to a small teaching zoo, and in first grade they went to the Ronald Reagan library and a great marionette show that's been going on for like 50 years. This year they went to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, and later they'll do something else.

With younger grades, it's important that they do something that will hold their interest, and hopefully has a hand in the curriculum. Our district long ago banned the trips to Disneyland or Six Flags for field trips--they had to have some educational value.

Along with MSMomm's suggestions, is there a botanical garden, a state park, or some other outdoor place that is within driving distance (it usually has to be within an hour or so)? I actually had thought the first graders would be too young to appreciate a presidential library, but with all the artifacts and memorabilia, they still talk about it.

If you can, definitely volunteer to be "field trip mom." I went on virtually every field trip my son took (until his senior year), and I'm now doing the same with my daughter. It's the best.

Museums, especially a childrens' museum, is always a good choice. An observatory is also appropriate. Do you have any memorials located in your city? If so, that's another place for the kids to learn a bit of history. Also, if your near your state's capitol, that would be an excellent opportunity for the kids to get a first-hand look at where your state's important meetings take place.