Some of the best moments happen by simply getting out and exploring new places with your child. Imagine the wonder of seeing a child at the zoo for the first time, or their first time riding a bus or a train. Small children can learn so much by just getting out and seeing the world around them.

Whether you are homeschooling a preschooler or are looking for ideas to make special memories, field trips and special outings are a great way to add fun to your week and encourage your child to wonder, explore, and get curious about the world around them.

In this blog post we are sharing 10 field trips for toddlers or preschool-aged children, inspired by classic children’s picture books you can read together. 

In this blog post: 

• Preschool learning: Pairing children’s picture books with real-life experiences
• 10 preschool field trips inspired by children’s picture books

Preschool learning: Pairing children’s picture books with real-life experiences

Instead of pushing academics too early, we love a preschool learning environment that encourages a child-led, play-based approach. When children are little, ages 3-5, we want them to become curious about the world and enjoy being immersed in rich stories and moments of connection. During this time, children can learn a lot through exposure to living books, unstructured play, learning practical life skills, and spending time in nature.

Reading children’s stories offers great opportunities for learning and making connections to real life. Whether you point out letters of the alphabet, early math skills, or practical life skills, reading together can be the foundation for learning during this time of a child’s life.

As children grow, offering real-life experiences encourages fun and connection. Taking field trips together can be a way to encourage learning or make memories during the years your kids are little. Whether you are just looking for fun things to add to your calendar, ideas for new things to try together, or ways to connect learning with lived experiences, field trips are a great way to get out of your normal routine and try something new. 

If you read about monkeys in a story, why not visit monkeys at the zoo and see their silly behavior in real life? Or take a trip to the farmer’s market together to taste and choose new vegetables to try? These are simple ways to engage with your child and make learning a special time, full of moments of connection with you and in the world around them.

One way to encourage learning is through a literature-based preschool curriculum like Treehouse Story School: Preschool. This curriculum invites children to learn through the themes in stories they love. Each week focuses on a picture book, inviting children into connection and learning through music and movement, play-based narration, alphabet and number play, motor skills, practical life development, crafts, and baking together. To learn more, try a free week of Treehouse Story School: Preschool below.

10 preschool field trips inspired by children’s picture books

If you are looking for ideas of real-life experiences to try with your child, here are our favorite field trips inspired by children’s picture books. These are low-cost or free ideas that are suitable for young children, ages 3-5, plus a few tips to make your outing go smoothly. We recommend reading the story together first so kids can connect what they read about to the real-world.

1. Caps for Sale + a trip to the zoo.

Picture Book: Caps for Sale by Esphyr Slobodkina

Field Trip: Visit monkeys at the zoo.

Caps for Sale is a clever story about mischievous monkeys and their antics with a hat peddler. This story includes bright colors, patterns, and repetition and is easy for preschoolers to follow.

Connect what you read to real life by visiting your local zoo and watching monkeys in real life. Chat with your child about the monkeys, including their movements and activity. Watch the monkeys climb, jump, and interact with each other. Ask your child what they notice the monkeys doing, or ask them to count how many monkeys they see. Ask them to imitate any silly movements they notice.

Cost: $$

Logistics: Sometimes animals at the zoo are less active or more lethargic if you visit in the heat of mid-day. Try going to the zoo on a day with the best weather, like in cooler temperatures or on an overcast day, or simply by going earlier in the day. Check with your zoo in advance to see if there are any special presentations or feeding times that may be fun to see.

2. The Poky Little Puppy + petting dogs at an animal shelter.

Picture Book: The Poky Little Puppy by Janette Sebring Lowrey

Field Trip: Pet dogs at an animal shelter, visit a pet store, or visit with a friend who has a dog.

The Poky Little Puppy is one of the best-selling picture books of all time. It tells the story of a curious puppy who digs holes under fences and gets into trouble. Published in 1942, this story is also one of the original Little Golden Books.

If your child loves animals, you will love the opportunity to sit and play with puppies, whether you visit an animal shelter, a pet store, or a friend who has a dog. Connect it to the story by talking about The Poky Little Puppy, including how the dog looks and behaves. When you visit pets in person, ask your child about the dog’s behavior as your child pets and plays with the furry friend.

Cost: Free

Logistics: If visiting an animal shelter or pet store, call ahead to see if there are any opportunities to see puppies.

When planning your visit, take a moment to talk with your child about animal safety tips, including:

• Do not approach pets unless an adult is present and gives permission.
• Do not bother a pet while it’s eating.
• Do not pull a pet’s tail or ears.
• Always wash your hands after handling or petting a dog.

3. Stone Soup + wander through the farmer’s market.

Picture Book: Stone Soup by Marcia Brown
Field Trip: Visit the farmer’s market and try a new vegetable.

Stone Soup is a retelling of the classic European folktale about hungry soldiers who wander into a village and outwit the village’s people into sharing their food with them. Though the villagers say they have no food to provide, the soldiers boil a pot of water and drop in a stone to make a soup, convincing the people to work together by sharing small contributions of food. 

Bring the story to life by cooking soup with your child after visiting the farmer’s market to see what vegetables are on display. Let your child touch, hold, and smell new vegetables, and help your child select one or several that would be good additions to a soup you can make at home. Here is a recipe to try if you’re looking for ideas.

Cost: $

Logistics: Bring a basket or reusable canvas bag to the farmer’s market to transport your vegetables. Bring a separate bag for your child to carry the vegetables they select. Browse these cooking tips for toddlers to see what new skill your child can try in the kitchen.

4. The Tortoise and the Hare + host a race around a track.

Picture Book: The Tortoise and the Hare by Janet Stevens
Field Trip: Visit a running track or trail to jog and have a race.

This is the classic Aesop’s fable of the humble tortoise who does things slowly and the arrogant hare who does everything in a flash. But speed isn’t everything when the two compete in a race, as the story explores lessons of persistence and pride. 

Kids will love having their own race and testing their running abilities. This could be as simple as letting your kids race down your driveway or down a sidewalk in your neighborhood, or visiting a running track and letting kids race in a new setting. Kids could also race on a trail, in a parking lot, or at any other wide-open space you want to visit. Reward the winner with a ribbon or certificate, and let everyone share a fun snack to celebrate.

Cost: Free

Logistics: Dress your child in comfortable clothing, socks, and athletic shoes so they can run and play.

5. Corduroy + visit a shopping center and ride an escalator.

Picture Book: Corduroy by Don Freeman

Field Trip: Visit a shopping center and ride an escalator.

Corduroy is the story of a bear who lives in the toy department of a big store and watches as other toys are bought and taken home with families, while he is left on the shelf because he’s missing a button. Join Corduroy on an adventure as he tidies himself up to find a new home.

Visit a toy store or department store like the one Corduroy lived in, and let your child enjoy riding the escalator with you.

Cost: Free

Logistics: As you ride the escalator together, teach your child simple safety tips, like holding your hand tightly, facing forward, standing in the middle of the step, and stepping over the yellow safety line when it’s time to exit. Teach your child etiquette, like how to stand on the right and pass on the left, and to leave one step between you and other riders. 

6. The Little House + take a ride on public transportation in a busy city.

Picture Book: The Little House by Virginia Lee Burton

Field Trip: Ride public transportation in a busy city.

The Little House is a classic children’s story about a quaint house built along rolling hills and quiet pastures, but the area later turns into a busy, bustling city. What was once quiet and grassy becomes crowded by big buildings and skyscrapers, making the original home almost unrecognizable.

Let your child experience the sights and sounds of a busy city by visiting a downtown area and riding on public transportation. Take a train, bus, or trolley and observe how your city’s landscape changes when you enter a major metropolitan area. Look for any homes like the little house that were built long before the big buildings existed.

Cost: $

Logistics: Talk to your child about public safety tips and transportation etiquette in advance so they understand how they are expected to behave. This could include things like: 

• Standing five feet away from the curb before boarding a bus or train.
• Not playing or pushing while waiting in line or in a crowd.
• Holding onto handles or handrails while riding transportation.
• Have a safety plan in case you accidentally become separated, and teach children how to identify adults they can ask for help if needed

7. Little Bear’s Friend + float your own paper boat at a pond or lake.

Picture Book: Little Bear’s Friend by Else Holmelund Minarik

Field Trip: Visit a lake or pond to float your own paper boat and watch some ducks.

In Little Bear’s Friend, Little Bear makes a new friend one summer and is sad when summer ends and she has to leave. In this story, Little Bear finds a way to cope with his feelings and stay close to his new friend even when she is far away by writing letters and staying in touch.

Children will enjoy having a summer adventure like Little Bear by exploring a nearby lake or pond, sailing a paper boat, and observing ducks or other wildlife. 

Cost: Free

Logistics: Always supervise children near bodies of water and follow park rules and warning signs.

8. The Giant Jam Sandwich + pick out a pastry at a local bakery.

Picture Book: The Giant Jam Sandwich by John Vernon Lord

Field Trip: Visit a bakery to try a new kind of bread or pastry.

When four million wasps descend on a town, the people plot against the insects by building a giant jam sandwich as a trap in this rhyming, lyrical story kids will love. 

As you read this story, don’t miss the opportunity to make a real-world connection and visiting a new bakery to enjoy a new pastry or treat together.

Cost: $

Logistics: Encourage a child to order their own pastry, including making eye contact and saying “please” and “thank you.”

9. Roxaboxen + visiting a grandparent and talking with them about their childhood.

Picture Book: Roxaboxen by Alice McLerran

Field Trip: Visit a grandparent or elderly friend and talk with them about their childhood.

Roxaboxen is a story about a hill where a group of children play together and dream up an imaginary town using ordinary things like stones and wooden boxes. Take this sweet story about childhood as a way to engage with grandparents or elderly people you know, reading the book together and asking them about their childhood and what they played with when they were young.

Cost: Free

Logistics: Encourage children to listen, speak loudly and clearly, make eye contact, and put away other games and toys when it’s time to spend time with grandparents or the elderly.

10. Make Way for Ducklings + tour a police station.

Picture Book: Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey

Field Trip: Take a tour of a police station

In Make Way for Ducklings, the local police step in to make sure Mrs. Mallard and her eight ducklings arrive at their new home safely. Visit your local police station, take a tour, and learn how law enforcement helps keep your community safe.

Cost: Free

Logistics: Call ahead and ask your local police station if they offer tours for toddlers or preschoolers, or if there are any upcoming events where children can meet police officers and learn more about law enforcement.

What are your favorite outings for toddlers or preschoolers? Share your favorites in the comments below.