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AIBU?

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Original poster

To put DS in a 'kids' camp' on holiday?

229 replies

user1487945602 · 24/02/2017 14:28

DS is 4. He loves nursery, etc.

We are currently on holiday (2nd day) and DS keeps wanting us to go swimming, build sand castles, get him an ice-cream, play with him, etc.

I'm early stages of 2nd pregnancy and can't wait for him to have a sibling to play with Grin no, but seriously, I'd really like to just relax. I know that being a parent means doing what your child would like, but I would absolutely love to be able to just relax in the sun!

It is DH's day today - he has taken him swimming (DS found the pool a bit too cold) but obviously DH had to get in first, so was extremely touchy after as DS didn't even end up being in the pool longer than 5 mins.

Has played on the beach with him (built a hole, etc.) so has been entertained. We all went to lunch together.

DS won't sit on a lounger for 5 minutes/play on his own for a short while. I don't mean to sound mean, but I don't think it's particularly evil of us to say he has to.

We suggested the holiday camp that's at our hotel and he says he wants to stay with us, so I suppose that's why I'm asking.

He says he would like to stay with us for nursery but then goes and really enjoys it. I know he would have fun. WIBU to put him in it? Just for the mornings.

OP posts:
GwenStaceyRocks · 24/02/2017 15:00

Try it and see if he likes it. Our DC is an only child and they love going to kids' clubs on holiday.We don't put them in because we don't want to spend time with them but because they love playing with other DCs.

5moreminutes · 24/02/2017 15:04

Try it once for the shortest available slot - he might love it. If he doesn't don't send him again and suck up having to entertain him I guess (though I do think a 4 yo should be able to play close to parents, building sand castles or making patterns with shells or with some small toys you've brought with you, without constant parental interaction for a while each day).

My kids are quite close together so I've never just had a 4 yo, but all of them could play without parental interaction a lot earlier than 4. DD was my pfb and my most demanding (well behaved but attention intensive) and even she would invent games with things she found and play near me for half an hour at a time several times a day on holidays by the time she was 3 - I remember one holiday when DC2 was nearly 1 and she was nearly 3 when she invented and played a very complex game with a key she found in the self catering flat which had tassels attached, and two tall flowers (they were all people in her game)...

MrsTerryPratchett · 24/02/2017 15:04

I wouldn't. I wouldn't want to leave my child with strangers in a country where I might not; know the regulations; speak the language well enough; understand the culture around childcare; be able to access SS/Police/medical attention if something happened to DD.

Added to that if your DC doesn't want to...

TheWinterOfOurDiscountTents · 24/02/2017 15:04

Unfortunately you don't get to relax and lie in the sun when you have a young child!

Of course you do; when you put them into the kids camp!

OP loads of people will tell you that you since you have a kid you should not even dream of enjoying your own holiday, that it should all be enforced family fun every moment, and that you're a horror for even thinking of it. But really there are a lot of hours in the day, there is no reason whey he shouldn't go and have fun with other kids while you chill for a while, and then have family fun the rest of the time. No reason at all
.

novemberontrumpwatch · 24/02/2017 15:04

To be honest, if you just want to 'relax', I struggle to see why you're having another.

Starlight2345 · 24/02/2017 15:04

why don't you take him down to kids club..Let him see what it is like? I wouldn't force my child into kids club but my DS did enjoy it when he went.

We did haven type holidays when my DS was young as the idea of lying in the sun is none existent.

I do agree though break care up into a few hours rather than days.

TheWinterOfOurDiscountTents · 24/02/2017 15:05

To be honest, if you just want to 'relax', I struggle to see why you're having another

Yes, because once you have two you are never ever allowed to relax ever again!
Hmm

FunkinEll · 24/02/2017 15:07

Go for it. We're going on holidays with or 4 in June and they're already booked into kids club Grin we didn't want to risk it being full!

novemberontrumpwatch · 24/02/2017 15:09

You are, Winter, but four year old and newborns are not known for respecting this, particularly on holiday, where everything is exciting. Building sandcastles and playing with your four year old is hardly an unrealistic expectation on his part.

gillybeanz · 24/02/2017 15:09

No way, but that's just me.
Holidays are family times.

TinklyLittleLaugh · 24/02/2017 15:10

I think this is a bit sad. The little lad goes to nursery at home, on holiday he wants to spend time with you. You sound like you don't enjoy spending time with him.

My kids went to holiday clubs when they wanted to. The rest of the time we played with them. They aren't little forever.

IamFriedSpam · 24/02/2017 15:10

I wouldn't consider you evil for doing it but I wouldn't. Holidays are for building memories and spending time together as a family - when you're at home there's work, chores, school run etc. Part of the point of a holiday is to spend time together without all the other crap getting in the way.

BoomBoomsCousin · 24/02/2017 15:11

I would try it for a session and see if he likes it. Our DC loved holiday camps. You're getting plenty of quality time with him, you need to try and make this holiday work for all of you. But I also agree with others that you might be being unrealistic in your expectations of siblings entertaining each other and that it may be better in the future to look at different types of holiday.

Goodasgoldilox · 24/02/2017 15:11

If you are in the early stages creating your second - you are probably quite tired!

I can't see anything wrong with 'holiday club' things for 4 year olds - if they like it. Encourage him to try it - be ready to remove him if he doesn't. ('Holiday prison' wouldn't be a good idea.) It is just like the swimming - he might have enjoyed it - so it was worth a try.

However, holidays with children are different from those before them. Even a beach holiday is more an adventure and less about relaxing.

My mother always said to consider that a change is as good as a rest!

5moreminutes · 24/02/2017 15:12

People do spout nonsense - if you are relaxed then you can relax with small kids about. You can't shut your eyes and ignore them unless they are safely in bed when very small, but you don't have to be in full power "Family Fun" overdrive 24/7.

Of course people who think you can't relax with kids around probably constantly over entertain their kids and create kids whom nobody can relax around ... or have a very extreme definition of what qualifies as relaxing (perhaps nothing short of being asleep or not having to move except to turn pages of your book, reapply suntan lotion and reach for a cocktail) I suppose.

*some SN excluded from all generalisations of course...

Notso · 24/02/2017 15:13

I wouldn't put mine in a kids club, and in any case we always book a villa so it's never an option.
We do have different rules on holiday though. We get up early, go to bed late and insist on siestas so DH and I get some time to relax too.

RainbowsAndUnicorn · 24/02/2017 15:16

Holidays where you get to lie and relax are pre children or when they are grown up.

Siblings aren't there to entertain each other's so that parents don't have to bother doing it.

They are only little once, little point in going away if you are just going to put them in holiday club.

MrsTerryPratchett · 24/02/2017 15:16

I read an article about what children remember from their early childhoods. And family holidays were near, or at, the top.

I would suggest more family places than sun loungers. DD loved Venice! Ice cream, gondolas, weird canals instead of streets, Italians cooing over her blonde hair, pizza. Of course your kind of holiday sounds like a living hell to me, so maybe not Grin

Hullabaloo31 · 24/02/2017 15:18

We've not holidayed anywhere with ours that has a kids club, but generally go with the 'keeping them up late so they'll have an afternoon siesta' approach and I get maybe an hour outside on the sun lounger with my head in a book.

formerbabe · 24/02/2017 15:22

I would suggest more family places than sun loungers. DD loved Venice! Ice cream, gondolas, weird canals instead of streets, Italians cooing over her blonde hair, pizza. Of course your kind of holiday sounds like a living hell to me, so maybe not grin

Wow...This should win the award for one of the most middle class, smug posts I've ever read on MN.

Clutches pearls at the thought of all those poor children who haven't been to Venice...

bigearsthethird · 24/02/2017 15:25

I think going on holiday with a 4 year old isn't going to be your usual relax on the beach with a cocktail type of affair. that sounds so lovely just thinking about it though! I haven't relaxed on the beach since I can't remember when!

If you think he will enjoy the kids club then go for it. Could he go for an hour or 2 to see if he likes it? I know people who use them and the kids like them as far as I can tell, I've never used one because I work FT, single mum, so my holiday time with the kids is precious and I love spending time with them anyway(I have 4 ranging in age 3 to 14) I wouldn't be adverse to a kids club though for the little one if it meant I was able to do something with the older ones that they wouldn't get to do otherwise.

5moreminutes · 24/02/2017 15:28

MrsTerry what time of year did you go to Venice? We did a day trip to Venice when staying at lake Garda - we were there in May, outside UK and Italian school holidays but holidays where we live - it was rammed! Apparently its far worse in August.

Walking around Venice is a lot like walking around Ikea - interesting for a short while but a bloody nightmare after a while with 3 kids. You have to walk like a heard of Walking Dead in the more famous areas and over the bridges, and you aren't even allowed to sit down in the main squares. Ours were all 5+ when we were there - I felt very sorry for the poor couple I saw hemmed in by crowds with twins howling in a double buggy.

Only a top family holiday destination if you have unlimited funds for the minimum 100€ a pop gondola rides and have one child who can be, and likes to be, carried on shoulders I'd say.

Olympiathequeen · 24/02/2017 15:29

Take him to the kids club saying it's a bit like soft play and stay with him half and hour to see if he likes it, and if so you can leave him. I'm sure he will love it and go again on his own next time. Obviously tell him where you're going

5moreminutes · 24/02/2017 15:29

*herd not heard of Walking Dead

MrsTerryPratchett · 24/02/2017 15:30

Don't be an arsehole former. I don't like lying in the sun and I bet those sun holidays cost a fuck-ton more than a weekend in Venice. I could have said Cornwall but that's really expensive.

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