Choose a field trip pertaining to an area of study currently on your child's curriculum. A place for extra studying on the subject provides your child with an extra amount of learning she may not receive from a textbook. Field trips to a local museum provide a place to learn about history and science, while a state park helps her learn more on biology and environmental science. Hiking or other physical activity field trips may count for physical education as well as the major studies.
When to go on your field trip depends not only on the time the establishment opens, but also the best time of day to visit. Mornings typically provide the optimum time to take your field trip, as your child tends to have the most energy to get him through the day. He also will not be burnt out on learning if he uses the trip as his actual school day. Places you are visiting also may be quieter in the morning, making education that much easier, as you won't have to compete with other groups and distractions.
Field trips can be affordable while also being entertaining and educational. Seek out a place that is free to visit, uses the least amount of gas to get to, or has a lower admissions cost. Use recreational parks or centers in your area that are typically free of charge, or only cost a few dollars for you and your child to enter. Local libraries often offer free reading and activity classes for younger children, and low-cost classes for older children to learn a new skill, or the opportunity to join a book club. Many museums and historic parks also offer free days where your child can go and learn without the usual admission charge.
Your child should have a say in where you go on a field trip if she is old enough. Forcing your child to go to an establishment that does not hold her interest will hinder her ability to learn from the experience. Field trips are a way to bond and learn with your child, not to force more education into her at the wrong pace. Instead, select a few places that educate in the field of study she currently has work in, and let her choose the place to visit. This will provide both of you with a better learning experience.