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.

The club where we go is open 9am to 10pm, kids can go in as much or little as they want. They do BBQ on the beach, bungee trampoline, zorbing, swimming, talent shows blah blah. They also spend plenty of time with us but I really don't mind if they want to go to the club for an afternoon. They can also have lunch or dinner with the nannies. It's nice to have dinner on your own sometimes. They even braid their hair! They make lots of friends. Last year we went to Disney world and the kids missed the club!

Of course he's midways are for relaxing! I read ten books on my last ho,idsy, thank you kids club.

I can't believe how judgemental people are about kids clubs ! 4 year old will have a great time...he does mornings then you play with him in pm ?

Jesus Christ enjoy it and have a break!

Mouldy sounds fab! Where is this wonderful place?

Do it. I remember going to these clubs as a child and loved it. Now I know how much my parents enjoyed me being there as well We spent loads of time together as a family as well on holiday, don't get me wrong. But I can see why these clubs exist and they are a great idea, provided they have good reviews and don't look dodgy.

@purpleden
Mexico!

Mouldy

My favourite pre-children holiday destination, I love Mexico! Not sure if I can bear the flight with a 4 and 2yo though, really looking forward to going with them in a few years time.

When mine were age 2-4 we went on neilsons holidays. Awesome kids stuff, from age two they are out sailing, going on speed boats, sitting in surf boards, swimming, yoga, tennis etc. Brilliant. Would,love to go back as mine would still enjoy the activities but it's expensive in school hols.

Do all the "family time" people work 80+ hour weeks the rest of the year I wonder. We both work but still spend she'd loads of time together / with the kids - the whole sacred "family time" thing baffles me. I actually think that it is a peculiar new invention, and I'm usually the one claiming nothing fundamental really changes ...

Yanbu-Put him in holiday club. He will probably really enjoy it and you will get some time together. However, I do think yabu with your expectations of a family holiday with a 4year old. Been there done that, and have another planned when I am 37weeks pregnant and dc1 is 4 so I understand you want to chill but really you can't expect a 4yo to sit on a sun lounger. Unless they have an ipad which was our saviour last year for sunny lazy afternoons

It is DH's day today

You make your child sound like a burden. Do you argue over who has to spend time with him?

Yanbu. I remember putting ours in one when they were 1 and 3 and just going and sitting in the cafe with a book for two hours!

I do think it's a bit of a shame to dump them for the entire holiday but, if he goes for part of the time, then you get to recharge a bit and, hopefully, have more energy and inclination to do fun things with him the rest of the time.

Holiday clubs didn't really exisit when I was young but my parents always used to book my and my sister into the nearest riding school for a half day ride. That was the only time we went horseriding and we used to love it. Only since having my own children have I realised that mum and dad would send us off with a cheery wave then bolt for the car and head to the nearest tea shop for a civilised lunch and a read of the paper!

I would have thought a bit of time in the kids club Is a good compromise for everyone tbh unless he hates it.

And yeah sorry- wait until there's two of them. Entertaining One looks really easy in comparison I'm afraid.

I too really really miss the sitting on lounger type holidays so I get where you're coming from OP.

Yanbu to use kids club IF he is happy to go.

You do realise 'entertain each other' translates to play nicely for 10 mins before they fall out over the most irrelevant thing in existence and then one starts having a tantrum because the other breathed in their space

Mine are always a tearful, heartbroken mess whenever I attempt to settle them anywhere so I would never use a kids' club, even though they'd likely love it once there because the guilt of leaving them in a state would nix any hope of relaxation. It really depends on the child and what the club is like. Anyway, I have an equally horrifying solution as far as MN is concerned; we holiday with MIL. We all make sure we all get a turn at having a lie-in and relaxing with a book or a drink or whatever at some point every day. But yes, post-kids holidays are a different kettle of fish. I was lamenting this morning that I never go back to work after a holiday feeling any more rested than before I went - but we all have a good time and one day I guess we will miss the days of young children. It would be nice if you could just put them on pause every now and again

Use it. Its there.. why not! My DCs love them (not all day but a few hours). Win win.

Live your own life and don't worry about others opinions.
Personally, I would do and have done it.
It's not a holiday otherwise. It's drudgery with a change of scenery.
Why should you always have to be "on"?
I put mine in for a couple of hours a day when she was 7.
However, since age 9 she refuses to go so I don't push it.
She wants to be with us, which is fine but I have to say enough after 10 goes on the slides.

Just to say that, after the first year, I found entertaining 2 much, much easier than 1. Even now (11 and 9) they largely entertain each other.

You make your child sound like a burden

No, it makes it sound like they are trying to ensure that every family member gets some relaxation whilst on holiday.

One of my worst holidays as a child involved a holiday club that my DP's insisted that we went to. It was called Gordon the Gopher club and not fun at all. I suppose it depends on whether he would enjoy it or not, but YADBU thinking that a holiday with a 4 year old would involve relaxing around the pool

5moreminutes. Actually I was a SAHM when mine were small, because I enjoyed being with them. And if they didn't want to go to kids club, well that was fine, they played with each other or made friends or we played with them. I never felt a desperate need to have a break from them on holiday.

Some people seem to actually struggle with spending a whole day with their DCs. I think that's a bit odd.

I find it more odd, and very unlikely, that anyone never ever finds their children even slightly a chore or hard work or wants a break from them.

Tinkly I find my kids easy now, and when I only had two I found them easy even when small (3 of different ages was difficult for a while when the youngest was small and didn't sleep) I've been a sahm for a couple of years and for most of the last 12 mostly a sahm but worked evenings or later early shifts while the kids are at school, full 8 hours done by 2:30pm so I can pick up at 3pm... We don't find it hard to relax with the kids about and our kids actually do play together for considerably longer than ten minutes (the younger two plus a friend who's staying the night have been playing in the other room for the last hour without needing any adult input, eldest is relaxing with us with music playing)

What I don't understand is the Disneyesque "making memories" / "precious family time" strap line concept or the idea you have to constantly be a children's entertainer, or that there has to be a ring fenced week/ ten days when none of you interact with anyone else or climb out of each other's pockets. You can be together and make each other laugh and experience new things together without constantly having to pretend to be your child's peer / friend / sibling, and you can read a book while your 4 to plays near by (not near water obviously, but on a terrace etc) if your 4 to hasn't been conditioned to expect that an adult will be constantly providing entertainment.

We did/do loads of family fun stuff on holiday. But also ours really enjoyed the kids clubs and made friends while we did our own thing.
Doing both is allowed.