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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think the summer holidays should only be four weeks long.

251 replies

MyBrexitUnicornDied · 02/09/2018 20:22

I’ll probably get flamed for this but I really think 6 weeks is too long for kids to be off school.

The kids (and teachers) still need to keep the same number of weeks off as holiday but summer really drags. My kids end up bored and miss their friends. I think there’s an issue with some kids losing skills over such a long break too.

It makes more sense to me to have

2 weeks half term in October
2 weeks Christmas
1 week half term February
2 weeks for Easter
2 weeks half term May / June
4 weeks summer break.

Anyone else of a similar opinion? Or am I going to get flamed?

OP posts:
Sleepyblueocean · 03/09/2018 11:52

I'm sure if you used your imagination you could think of other reasons why a child is not able to do imaginative play.

arethereanyleftatall · 03/09/2018 11:59

Enlighten me please.

Original poster
MyBrexitUnicornDied · 03/09/2018 12:00

How can a kid be? They have such active imaginations, that they'll make up a game out of a pebble

Seriously you have a 7 & 9 year old who have never been bored. My kids can do imaginative play but they do get bored after a few hours.

OP posts:
Chickencellar · 03/09/2018 12:01

steff13 sooty
Those with huge summers off where abouts in the world are you ?

arethereanyleftatall · 03/09/2018 12:10

Yes, seriously. But maybe everything is set up in their favour; ie sibling of same sex and similar age, garden, toys, money to do stuff with, opportunities to try different activities. I don't know.
I'm not trying to be goady, I'm interested in what causes boredom in children.

Sleepyblueocean · 03/09/2018 12:15

Some children never get to the stage of learning to play imaginatively.

arethereanyleftatall · 03/09/2018 12:21

Sorry, @Sleepyblueocean I'm talking NT children,, I should have clarified.

teachergirl2011 · 03/09/2018 12:28

As a teacher we need our 6 week holiday to recover. During term our days are long and gruelling and we need time with our own families.
We are not a babysitting service.

Lemonysnicketts · 03/09/2018 12:29

Mine haven’t said they’re bored - that’s not the issue. For me it’s just that my DD goes into this hyperactive state due to additional needs that it’s very difficult to get her out of. But I remember getting bored by week 4 of the holidays as a child and I had a very active imagination and read a lot. Doesn’t mean I wasn’t getting bored doing the same thing day in, day out though. My parents didn’t really take us anywhere apart from two weeks away - the rest was spent at home, not even going to the park as there wasn’t one nearby and my mum didn’t drive and my dad was working. So even with an active imagination, siblings to play with and lots of reading, I still got fed up with it!

Skyejuly · 03/09/2018 12:31

I think it 100% needs to be shorter.

Original poster
MyBrexitUnicornDied · 03/09/2018 12:33

We are not a babysitting service

Never for a second suggested you were. Kids and teachers need to keep their holidays but I just think there could be a benefit to rearranging them a little.

Maybe kids and teachers would feel less knackers if they had 2 weeks off at May and October. Plus you would lose a lot of the hard work you’ve done by kids deskilling over a long summer break.

OP posts:
Sleepyblueocean · 03/09/2018 12:37

Fair enough. I think there will also be some children with difficult home lives whose mental capacity may be taken up with dealing with other things so they won't have much space left for imagination.

I also think children have different natural abilities for imaginative play and some NT childrenwill find it easier and get more enjoyment out of it than others. I was never much into it as a child. I preferred reading and could be engrossed in a book for hours.

Original poster
MyBrexitUnicornDied · 03/09/2018 12:37

I'm talking NT children,, I should have clarified

My kids are NT (eldest is really highly strung but NT). They can do imaginative play no problem at all. But they can’t do it for hours on end without getting bored.

I’ve had loads of kids round to play over the hols. They play really well but after a few hours they complain of being bored. So I need to redirect them or take them out.

It’s not unusual for kids to get bored.

OP posts:
Snog · 03/09/2018 12:42

Christmas holidays are crap imo as everything is closed and the weather is shit!
I'd be happy with just the bank holidays off for Christmas.

arethereanyleftatall · 03/09/2018 12:42

Re boredom; With my dds, I have found that doing one activity, and engaging properly, will then result in a good few hours independent play. For example, we went swimming this morning, and they've been playing mermaids for about 3 hours since then.
Re op holiday hours. I'd like a 2 week October half term, yes please, and would sacrifice 1 week of summer for it.

Lavenderdays · 03/09/2018 12:43

Yes, Lemony, I remember it being very much like this and like you I use to read a lot/have a good imagination. I think I was fortunate in that I did have extended family living nearby plus a few friends in the neighbourhood as I got older but I very much enjoyed primary school and looked forward to going back.
Can sympathise with the poster who says their dc moves onto the next activity every 20 minutes...this is my 4 year old today and she is causing a huge mess in the process (both inside and outside), though to be fair she will help to clear up later. I think she is missing not having children of her own age to play with and we have regularly visited the local park because of this. Not seen my older dc all day - out meeting up with friends, it really seems to be a different ball game as they get older, I can see how some people enjoy the Summer more than others.
teachergirl, can understand the need for a long rest. I think there was a thread recently surrounding school being considered a form of childcare so I think some people do view it in this way.

Lavenderdays · 03/09/2018 12:50

arethereanyleft, my dcs enjoy swimming, unfortunately due to the age of my dcs (3 dcs) we require a second adult in the water for safety purposes so I have to rely on dh taking leave during the week days (which he has done), if we want to go. This is just one example where doing an activity can become difficult depending on the ages of dcs/transport etc. It is not through want of trying, sometimes it just becomes too logistically difficult. Just at the moment, I am glad of school for providing structure etc. but have absolutely had lovely Summers when I just had one dc and missed them when they returned to school (though love all my dcs and wouldn't be without them), it can undoubtedly be different. People will have their own agendas for feeling sad/happy that Summer is over...and I can understand all points of view.

Stompythedinosaur · 03/09/2018 12:58

I love the long holiday! I don't think a 4 week holiday would feel so liberating. I like that the dc have a good long stretch of less structured time to explore their interests, hobbies and friendships.

I like the opportunity to plan quite a few activities (away and at home) and a shorter holiday wouldn't allow this as much. We certainly didn't get bored.

CountFosco · 03/09/2018 13:03

I've enjoyed the summer holidays this year but all my kids are now primary age, we've moved to a bigger house with a big garden, MIL could come and stay and do a bit of childcare, we've had our first foreign holiday with the kids which was fab, but most of all I'm enjoying not having all the afterschool activities to worry about. Normally we rush from school to the next place, eat late, and the kids are always tired.

I do think half terms are too short but I suspect that's because there's always a build up to the end of term at school with various events that wind the kids up. I particularly hate December and all the nativities etc, if there was more of a regular routine it would be better. If there were 2 weeks off for each half term I'd happily use holiday clubs for half of it but it seems a bit unfair when they are shattered to get them to go to clubs etc and having no downtime when they only have a week off.

Frazzled2207 · 03/09/2018 13:19

In our area we get 2 weeks in May/June and 5 in summer. Works well.

Original poster
MyBrexitUnicornDied · 03/09/2018 13:22

In our area we get 2 weeks in May/June and 5 in summer. Works well

That sounds good Frazzled. Do you mind if I ask - is that secondary too. A few posters have said a two week break would be difficult with exam prep.

OP posts:
Frazzled2207 · 03/09/2018 14:33

Yeah it's primary only unfortunately, I imagine external exams has got something to do with the fact that it doesn't apply to secondary.

SciFiFan2015 · 03/09/2018 14:41

Live in Scotland. Two working parents (though I'm part time. Compressed hours + additional freelancing, averages out to 4 days per week)
Would have loved to have longer summer break this year.
I think I'd quite like longer school days and then more time off school but with some guarantee of affordable, reliable and good quality holiday clubs for working parents
We're extremely fortunate that we do have that sort of holiday club.

DunesOfSand · 03/09/2018 17:47

My 13 weeks is in Saudi, international school.
The local schools finished mid May, and went back yesterday.......

mikeyssister · 03/09/2018 18:46

@Chickencellar. 13 and 9 weeks are Ireland as well.

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