do you put your children in kids clubs while on hols?

[goodbyemrschips]

As in the title ''do you put your kids in kids clubs while on hols, if yes why and if no why?

I use kids clubs through the summer holidays for ds2 and ds3, both have sn and the clubs they go to are specific to sn children and the only respite we get through the holidays.

On holiday yes, only if they wanted to for the odd day if there was something on that they wanted to do. It has been a case of them saying to us we would like to do xyz from this leaflet that they had picked up from the lobby of the hotel.

They are much older now - 14 and nearly 12, they always make friends and last year we hardly ever saw them. My two, two boys from different families and some kids from another family (there were a few as cousins had come along too) all palled up. In fact, they have still remained friends on fb.

Hell, yes. I stay at home with my children so I wouldn't GO on holiday if I didn't get some sort of a break from them. We go away very rarely and I've only been to places where they are in for a couple of hours at a time, anyway. The rest of the time it's chasing them around in blazing heat / making sure nobody drowns and navigating the hell that is "buffet dining rooms with small children".

"I don't understand why people feel the need to justify using these clubs."

Because of judgemental people who think we are somehow not having family time. When I was a child I certainly didn't want to spend my holidays with my parents. However we had no kids clubs so merely ran feral, unsupervised.

yes we use them, half a day here and there, not for dd, 2.5 as theres monsters in the one we are at the moment.plus i like to read.

My dd is an only child. She actually prefers spending time with other children her own age, be that playing outside the caravan, in the pool or at the kids club. She loves the "show" day. We build in plenty of trips out and of course eat all our meals together. It's about us ALL having fun and enjoying a holiday, not about her being welded to us 24 a hours a day.

I would disagree with children being MADE to go when they don't like it/don't want to. If you have 2 or 3 kids who will happily play together then the scenario is different I guess.

I was very impressed that Canvas did a couple of evening sessions when we were in Italy last year. Dd did a chocolate party and a disco and had a great time. It was wonderful for dh and I to go for a quiet drink and grab a pizza. ( I don't have any family nearby and dd is rarely left with a babysitter at home)

Why some seem to think this amounts to something approaching child abuse, I don't know.

Happymummy they are not IMO Childcare, they are activities for children.

I use them if we are having a day by the pool. The kids love them and it helps them make friends with the other kids at the resort who they then subsequently play with round the pool after the kids clubs are finished for the day. My kids are non swimmers so I have to supervise constantly

Would I use them? Defintely! Not for every day, but if they wanted to go then I would cheerily wave them off while deciding the best use of child free time- nap, cocktail, book, swim.....

When we go away on holiday I do send kids to mini club and I think it is great for them. There is plenty of time to spend as a family as normally it nonly runs certain times eg 10.30-12.45 and 3-5ish.

I think it does help both children and parents as parents get a chance to have a bit of time to themselves whilst the children are being cared for in a safe environment and children get to do fun activities and make friends. We were on holiday at the end of July and I did encourage mine (age 7 and 5yrs) to go to kids club. I still feel that we spent a lot of time together and they both say that they had a really fab time. And they have got lots of things they made in kids club to show people.

To be honest when booking the holiday I did look for a hotel which offered a kids club and will for any future holidays.

Perhaps clubs are less attractive for those who have a very equal parenting set-up (not me!) children who play together pretty well (not me!) or lots of opportunities throughout the year to do stuff they love (sports, pampering, walks, gardening, whatever) (not me!) and/or spending quality time with their partner (erm, no comment)
I love kids clubs!