DD doesn't want to go to holiday camp anymore

[Geeko123]

DD has been going to Camp Beaumont this summer, about twice a week. She finished her school on the 5th July so she got to go before the state schools ended and she absolutely loved it.

This Monday she went again (after a week away) and came back very stressed. She said there was a lot of really bad behaviour and the camp leaders were shouting a lot. She had a very unsettled night and kept talking about it yesterday.

This morning she is supposed to go again and she refuses to go as she is scared. I have work to do and I can't get my money back, about £45. What do I do?!!

She's got a few more booked but on Friday she's supposed to go with a friend who is very nice and well behaved so she wants to go with him, but not alone.

I'm devastated she's so anxious to go as she is very outgoing and always up for going to all sorts of things. Has anyone gone through this? I am working part time and I can't have her home all the time.

Thank you. No, we are in SW London

And here we go.

She's admitted it.

The poor have upset her precious little pebble.

It's not about English being your first language. Its about not looking down on the kids that attend those "state schools" like you've so easily done.

You know I'd love to be you? Going on the internet and bragging about how MY KID goes to THE BEST SCHOOL, that NEVER has any misbehaving going on? Kids are kids. Whether you throw thousands at a private school, or whether they attend state school.

You need a dose of reality.

@PenguinPete don’t be so silly.; this thread is not about you and the chip on your shoulder.

She posted on the internet asking for opinions. I gave her mine.

I know you rich guys would love to just pretend us poors don't exist, but we do. Most of us pay your mortgages.

So too bloody right I can have an opinion and I will share it.

@PenguinPete the Op is hardly rolling in cash if she is concerned about losing the money if her daughter doesn’t attend .

I don't think OP is trying to turn this into a state vs private argument. Her point is her DD was fine when the camp had a much smaller number of children in it, on account of lots of kids still being in school. If her 5yr old DD is sensitive to noise and big groups of older kids running about once all the schools have broken up, (especially given it's her first experience of holiday clubs), it's understandable that when it's gone from 9 to 30, she feels a bit overwhelmed.

I’ve found camps are often much quieter on Fridays if you have flexibility around when you work?

@PenguinPete I'm interested to know how come you pay my mortgage?
Care to explain?

The OP made a valid point that her dd became unsettled when the numbers attending increased.

Moving on from the chip on PenguinPete’s shoulder, @Geeko123 we have had good experiences of Ultimate in Berkshire, especially in the younger group. A good mix of games/ sports / arts and crafts.

I think it can be a learning curve working out what holiday clubs work for each individual child. My eldest also gets overwhelmed by very structured ‘sports’ based clubs, and much prefers one that runs at one of the local nurseries where they bake cakes, do crafts, and run around outside- but can pretty much choose what to do and whether to join in. Maybe look for something a bit more free flow and less structured for her for next year.

@Geeko123 please ignore the professionally offended mumsnetters I have a child in state school and also teach in state schools and it was very clear what you meant.
The club was quiet to start with but got busier once all the schools broke up.
You really didn't say anything wrong.

I have a 10 year old ds and holiday clubs are tricky for him as he's quiet and not at all sporty. I find these clubs very easily become dominated by football, which he hates, and that annoys me.

I hope you manage to get your dd sorted in a club that she enjoys.

Excellent, please can you send me next months mortgage payment?

You need a dose of comprehension skill training.

She just meant there were more children. More noise.

@PenguinPete I'm intrigued how you pay my mortgage too? 🤔

How about trying her at an art or dance club next time? We always send him in with their friends - and that's often better even if it's not an activity they love.

Oh dear. I immediately knew what you meant OP. Private schools finish earlier so it was much quieter.

Gosh, I'm not going down that way.

Like a pp said, you need some comprehension skills.

Yes, looking into art classes for the rest of the summer or perhaps shorter days.

My dc have always understood that going to childcare is not optional. Absolutely you will speak to the leaders about the things that are worrying her and have them looked at, but she cannot choose to not go, any more than she can choose to not go to school or you can choose to not go to work.

I always tried to have childcare options that my dc liked, but sometimes they had to go to childcare that was boring or not with their friends. We got through it by connecting them going to me being able to pay for the things the family needs. I don't think it did them any harm.

We had a kids camp near us, I don't usually book my kids in as they are tired enough from a whole school year, but friend offered me a free day.

Kids went 1 day, and came back and from what I could gather it sounded like 'Fight Club' so many badly behaved kids who clearly didn't want to be there, tired and hardly any supervision! (Teens who literally didn't care to look after 300 under 11's)

My kids can handle themselves, but goodness me it sounded like an awful day !

Just here to see if Pete will pay my mortgage 🤣

We go away on holiday as soon as DS breaks up in July as his school finishes a good 10 days earlier than State schools.
I thought it was to save money and avoid crowds but apparently it’s because I hate kids from State schools

Thank you everyone for your advice...and Pete, would you care paying for my mortgage too?!

That sounds awful! 😔 but I'm not at all surprised.