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

[user1487945602]

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 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.

I would send him.
I've never used kids club till we won an upmarket holiday. The kids were in kids club from 9am to up to 10pm. It was crazy, the baby club had nannies. My dc started going for just a couple of hours and ended up out of their choice going loads.

LOL only on MN are parents never allowed to have a break and relax... you must be mary fucking poppins and entertain your children all the time!

Try kids club. He will probably love it. I loved playing with other children and being led in activities by leaders. Lots of fab memories in kids club. If he doesn't like it, he doesn't have to go back.

5moreminutes we normally go in the winter when it's colder, less smelly and less full. But this year it was August . Very hot and full and we lost our luggage so we were smelly and pissed off. But DD still thinks it was the best holiday ever.

I just stay away from the really touristy bits. There's a lot of Venice people don't visit much. Tourists aren't always totally welcome off the beaten track but I speak Italian so it's not as bad.

Kids clubs are a godsend. It gives you a chance to recharge your batteries to then devote your time and energy to your ds properly. The family time is then improved. You need a break too

Some people relish the opportunity to spend time with their kids Kiroro some don't. We are all different. Fancy that.

My DS used to love kids clubs when on holiday, it was only a couple of hours a day. We purposely would choose a hotel which had this facility.

Also lots of fab memories of being with my parents on holiday... the two aren't mutually exclusive!

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 don't think children's memories of family holidays will be forever tainted by the fact it was a beach holiday though... Plenty of people, including children really enjoy them.

So it's a good job I didn't say that then isn't it former? FFS. It was a suggestion.

Up to you. I wouldn't have sent dd off if she didn't want to - she would have screamed the place down. If you do send him, be aware, not all clubs are safe. Dd at 5 wandered off back to me and they didn't notice. I was only a few meters away from on a sun bed her as she wasn't sure whether or not she wanted to go. Then decided she didn't. They were Oblivious. So if he doesn't want to go, get a bed closeby.

I'm probably in for a total flaming but you could try NOT entertaining him for a while, lay down and read your book and you might find he is suddenly desperate to go to holiday club.

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

Well in that case, I have no idea what you meant by this comment.

5moreminutes I thought that was me until I saw you went to Venice in May and I was there in August.
I will never forget 'belli gemelli' (Italian for beautiful twins.

Not experienced it yet but heard great things about the kids clubs, friends kids have loved them, i'll put my daughter in one when older, for a morning or afternoon a couple of times across the holiday

You are still a human being, not just a parent! You are allowed a bit of time apart, a bit of down time. Put him in holiday clubs fgs.

LOL only on MN are parents never allowed to have a break and relax

I don't think anyone has said that. Just that OP seems a tad unrealistic about a holiday with a four year old.

Off topic I was considering taking DH to Venice for his birthda but on reading the comments from MrsTP and 5moremins I don't think I'll bother. Sounds awful.

Just to add I would try my daughter with kids club but would never make her stay if she didn't want to, but given our holiday activities (walking a lot, boat trips etc) she might prefer kids club

Oh god do it

I have fond memories of my holiday club days as a kid

When's his birthday Notso? Because summer is hot in Italy but the winter is gorgeous. And carnivale is great.

Did you plan the holiday expecting to put your child in kids club, but then change your mind when you arrived and he didn't want to be apart from you?

Or did you plan it expecting him to be with you all the time, in which case, how were you expecting the parenting to work - surely you knew that at least one of you would have to be doing things with your DS throughout his waking hours/actively keeping an eye on him around water, wandering off etc, and that he wouldn't just go to sleep on a sun lounger all afternoon?

Mine are grown up now and some of my happiest memories are holidays when they were little, BUT they don't remember very much before they were 8 or 9.
I'd use the creche for a couple of hours but only if he loves it and is happy to stay.
If you think a four year old will be entertained by a baby I'm afraid it won't happen, a four year age gap probably means they will always be at different stages and wanting different kinds of things.

We used to take turns at relaxing / playing with DC when on holiday with small children.
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

My DC loved kids club on holiday. Not only did they have fun there but they made friends who they then played with during the times they were not in kids club.

I'm with 5moreminutes on Venice.

There is a thread on it there

Thinking about it, one year DD chose to eat most of her evening meals in kids club rather than with her brothers and me.

The place we go has an hour and a half kids club in the morning four days a week and one pizza and movie night evening. For me that's the perfect amount (although we had one year when they both went this year DD is too old) as it's just enough me/us time.

Divide and conquer as well when you have one, two won't entertain each other and if they do they need an eye on them