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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think if a child doesn't want to spend all day doing sport one is limited on holiday camps???

19 replies

receiverofopiniongiver · 29/03/2011 16:33

There is one day during the month long Easter break that I'm stuck for childcare for my youngest (6). So I've been looking at day camps for him.

He has said no to the one that involves karate (this is the one all his mates are going to but he doesn't want to do karate all day).

He has said no to the one that is gymnastics/trampolining/swimming.

He has said no to the one that is climbing/archery/go karts.

He has said no to the one that is arts and crafts in the morning, followed by skibobbing/cycling in the afternoon.

He has said no to the football acadmey.

He is sporty in as much as he does do extra-curricular sports for an hour after school every day, but he doesn't want to do it for 9 hours (which I do see his point and agree with him).

I'm struggling here to find somewhere to send him.

I do feel guilty being a working parent, and don't want to just send him somewhere for the day, that he won't enjoy.

Any camps that are not sporty?

Any ideas with what I can do with him for the day?

Friends/Family not an option. He's already doing CM for a number of days (this will be the last resort, but he doesn't want to do more days there (due to the babies)).

OP posts:
scurryfunge · 29/03/2011 16:35

I would give him the choices and say he has to choose one.

LindyHemming · 29/03/2011 16:35

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

cestlavielife · 29/03/2011 16:36

look at local ones run in schools that are not sports camps but mixed activities.
go to local council website and look - if near county boudnary looka t next county too.

try www.fitforsport.co.uk/activities/? sporty games duck duck goose goose etc rather than sports in the main and some camps do more arty stuff too

OldLadyKnowsNothing · 29/03/2011 16:37

Why not ask him what else he'd like to do, since he's vetoing all of your suggestions?

belgo · 29/03/2011 16:38

I would go for the arts/crafts/cycling one, that sounds like a good mixture.

Wallywithabrolly · 29/03/2011 16:42

Do you have a Barracudas in your area? They are multi activity, lots of different sports and my kids always loved them?

Original poster
receiverofopiniongiver · 29/03/2011 16:52

Our area obviously has a poor uptake on holiday camps, because we used to have a Fit for Sport and a Super Camps but neither are in a 30 mile radius this year.

Barracudas aren't unfortunately either.

So I'll realise that camps do exist just not in anything like a local area.

OP posts:
Rebeccaruby · 29/03/2011 19:15

I totally sympathise. When I was a child, I was quiet, bookish, and useless at sport. Although I had friends I wasn't keen on team activities. My mother was a SAHM, but it would have been misery for me to join one of these camps, where you are either doing physical activity, or joining in one of those horribly hearty activities.

I reckon they should have camps for kids who like crafts; or academic subjects; or chess, even. Because what they have now would be hell for some. I would be interested to hear from some people who work in this area, to know whether and/or how they cater for this type of child.

PlanetEarth · 29/03/2011 19:35

Really depends where you are I guess. Over the years we have done:

general childcare (a nursery which as well as pre-schoolers does after-school/holiday care up to end of primary) - crafts, trips, playing etc.
holiday club at primary school - similar to above
sports camps (some general, some more specific - dancing, swimming, etc.)
zoo camp (this is great, based at the zoo and they do lots of animal-based activities)
residential camps (one with Scripture Union, another with a club they were in - these are mixed activities, mostly outdoors)

Not all are available in all holidays though, and not all will take kids for one day only, so you just have to take what you can get. Also, some are short hours, e.g. 10-3, which is a problem if you're full time. By the way, at the sports camps they don't actually do sports for 9 hours a day (I worried about this too at first!), there is some down time too when they might do colouring or watch films or something. But if you can find something like the first couple that might suit you better.

Original poster
receiverofopiniongiver · 29/03/2011 21:52

I didn't know about nursery having older kids, I'm going to look into it.

RR I can't believe my child is the only one who would prefer that type of thing.

I was looking at residental ones that used to be from 6 years old, and now they are from 7. Let's hope by the time we get to next year they've not changed it to 8.

If I could find something that was more than one day that he'd enjoy, my dh and I could reduce the amount of leave we are taking. It's just we are trying to minimise the time spent in somewhere that he's not keen on.

He has done specific sport camps before (karate/football/tennis) but doesn't want to do them.

OP posts:
CMOTdibbler · 29/03/2011 21:58

Theres a few dance/drama ones round us - would he like that ?

PlanetEarth · 30/03/2011 09:16

Oh yes, forgot my kids did a couple of drama ones. Stopped sending them though when my 7 year old was put in a production of Macbeth with scary music (chosen by teenagers I think!), and with battle scenes complete with fake knives and stabbings Shock.

southeastastra · 30/03/2011 09:18

all our clubs are meant to be free choice stuff, do want you want. to be honest not alot go along with this though!

try local authority sites and check out ofsted too

southeastastra · 30/03/2011 09:22

also council run sports centres usually work within free choice principles and have trips out

ssd · 30/03/2011 09:28

is there really no friends you could adk to take hime? I feel a bit sorry for him, it sounds like he just wants a few days at home, maybe one of his friends mums could take him along with her kids?

I hated the thought of these enforced camps when I was a kid , sounds like your ds is the same

mamatomany · 30/03/2011 09:31

My children's school offer an Art course, a cooking course a spy/mystery course you just need to do some research.
Camp beaumont do residential courses where he can do more than sport and have a little holiday too.

justaboutsmiley · 30/03/2011 09:31

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SooooCynical · 30/03/2011 10:12

In my area some of the nursery's do holiday care and they're not sporty. They tend to do various activities such as arts,crafts,baking as well as trips to the park etc etc. I found the ones that do it via this

childcarefinder.direct.gov.uk/childcarefinder/

My sons aren't sporty and having to do sport all day would be their idea of hell. However the eldest is about to turn 11 which causes a whole new range of problems as the holiday care becomes very limited when they hit 11!

SooooCynical · 30/03/2011 10:14

Oh just seen my link is only available until 5.30 tomorrow!!!!!!!!!

Anyway your local council website should be able to help.

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