Holiday clubs abroad ?

[hatter69]

Hello.

We are due to go to Spain this month with our 5 year old . There is a kids club there. I personally don't like the idea of leaving them with strangers in a foreign country. I personally think a family holiday should be just that!
Am I being completely over protective, paranoid and unreasonable ?

I would love to hear some of your experiences/opinions !

We have just come back from Crete and did this for the first time with ds 5.I was nervous as hell the first time but sucked it up as he had asked to go.He had 2.5 hours a day there doing various activities and loved it.

Just to add it was in an air conditioned room very close to the pool area with the entertainment staff we were familiar with.It also had a secure door and they had our details and phone number.

I don’t really understand why you have started a thread. Is your partner pressuring you to leave your child in kids club? If not then just don’t use the kids club. No issue.

We didn’t use them for our first two and I was quite disparaging about parents who did but by number three I was the first there when they opened the doors. Admittedly I stood outside with my ear to the door for much of the first morning. I’m a SAHM so I have pleeeeeeenty of time with our children.

Someone else doing craft under a canopy by the pool with DSs whilst I watch from a sun lounger...God, yes.

Some of my best holiday memories when I was small involve going to Club Mickey on the beach in Royan. I spoke nearly no French and was jollied into all kinds of random things by the power of mime. I also saw lots and lots of my fab parents on those holidays. Blissful memories!

It's not mandatory to use all or any of the facilities the resort offers. If you don't like the idea, personally, don't leave your personal child there.

always used them - 3 kids - 1 parent - it's lovely to have family time (not 'couple time - some of us aren't in a couple ) but for under 2 hours a day I liked time for me to read and relax - mine loved them - the hard bit was they loved the evening stuff (chocolate parties etc) so I spent many evenings on my own watching an Abba tribute act!

Currently at a Holiday Village hotel. My 4 year old has been to a few sessions this week and loved it. I was a bit meh at the thought of putting her in but I've been really impressed by the whole team here, the safeguarding aspects and the range of activities. Still can't get my head around the late night (9.30pm) ones for 3-5 year olds! (Mine are in bed) but she's loved it and keeps asking to go back in. They have a creche for 0 -35 months too, but I think that's a little young.

Yes, you are superior to all those bafflingly uncaring mothers, throwing their poor children to forrin randomers to raise, instead of spending precious moments making memories.

Thank you all for your comments. It's given me something to think about.

Just to clarify my DH has suggested the club, which is why the conversation came up.

'@G5000 My main concern is a safety point of view, not that I think I am superior. I guess there is alway one person who needs to make a sarcastic comment

Worrying about about safety, language skills, staff etc, is of course reasonable. Stating that 'I personally think a family holiday should be just that!' sounds judgy. But I'm probably taking this personally, as mine love going to holiday clubs and I find it quite nice to have an hour or two for myself.

@G5000 apologies if I offended you by saying that. I thought the clubs were an all morning/all afternoon thing. I've never really looked into them. Of course and hour or so away from the kids never hurt anyone

Not my thing. We both work so the kids are in childcare anyway. Holidays are for us to have them to ourselves all day (much as they drive me nuts they are pretty fun sometimes!). If you are a SAHM I can see how it would appeal. It also depends on the child. DS1 even when he was an only for nearly 5 years would have hated it. He’s a very relaxed easy going kid so no trouble to have along. DS2 meanwhile loves company and would enjoy something like this more. Each to their own. For me I wouldn’t use a holiday club- foreign or local because as I said holidays are when we have the kids full time, all day, and it’s nice for them to get a break from childcare and their usual routine.

My 9 year old’s only request in where we holiday is “somewhere with a good kids club” - we’ve a big age gap between her and 2nd dd and she loves the chance to go play with kids her own age. It’s only a couple of hours a day and we still have plenty of family time. Never been concerned with the safety - they’re normally in secure rooms with multiple staff and fenced outdoor space and a signing in / out policy, plus she’s a sensible child.

I haven’t left the 3 year old in one yet and I think about 5 is when I’d feel comfortable in a normal resort but we’re thinking of going on a Disney cruise next year when she’s 4 and I’d imagine she’ll go to the clubs there and that will be fine as it feels more secure.

You'd not keep my DC out of them if they got wind of it. They love organised activities, getting to know staff and playing with other children. They can go for an afternoon and we'd still have breakfast, morning, lunch and all evening together as a family. And it wouldn't be every day as we don't always stay at the hotel. Obviously I'd judge on the facilities and individual set up of the hotel, professionalism of staff etc.

Good lord, some of you are shockingly judgy.

We're about to head off on our first family holiday abroad with our 4yo (not been brave enough to take her abroad till now). She's a very sociable only child who loves organised activities and the company of other children - she would adore holiday clubs. We have plenty of time together as a family and will have plenty of time together on holiday but god forbid we should be shit parents and let her enjoy herself for a couple of hours and make some friends?

We used them for the first time ever in April. Mine are 7 and 9.

I only let them go because they wanted to go. I felt guilty (and bored) being alone. They had 2 morning and 3 afternoon sessions in 10 days.

However on our first full day they went me and DH went to find a nearby shop. When we got back we saw DD7 crying stood with a man. Apparently her sister went to do another activity and she got upset (the other kids there didn't doesn't English).. The man had taken her to both pools and all the restaurants and our hotel room looking for us. I'm not sure why they didn't leave her at the club to be honest.

The did try phoning my DH though and his phone was in airplane mode.

The second session I went to collect and I couldn't find them. They were actually in the pool. Mine aren't good swimmers and they didn't have their swim suits. I was a little shocked but they absolutely loved it.

All staff were great with them. They also did they day time adult activities plus the evening entertainment. Long days for them.

I didn't send mine to nursery until they were nearly 3 though as I wanted to be with them.

When me and my siblings were little we spend all day every day at these clubs. I think we enjoyed it but do wonder why we went away just to go there z🙈😂

The main reason to use the club is so that the parents can have sex whilst on holiday.

What are your plans?

Couple of afternoons, maybe?

We're having first family holiday abroad in October and I'll let the kids decide if they want to participate. If they do go it'll be for an hour or two, not an eight hour stint, and probably not every day, so don't think we'll miss out on too many precious family memories!

@DirtyBlonde that made me laugh

DH said it would be nice to have a couple hours at the pool on our own.

@DirtyBlonde Oh, is that why DH is so keen! I just wanted to read my book in peace

You'd not keep my DC out of them if they got wind of it. They love organised activities, getting to know staff and playing with other children.

This! I suppose it depends on the child, but for mine making new friends is the most important measure of success of any holiday.

We have used kids' club on holiday and mostly they have really enjoyed it. The staff have all been great, speak about 10 different languages, enthusiastic and "fun". They've done crafts, played games, been to pinata parties - loads of stuff.

All kids' clubs I've come across are drop in type places where you can take your kid for a couple of hours, every day, one day, whatever. Very flexible. I don't think anyone uses it all day, every day.

It's perfect for the early afternoon after lunch when it's boiling hot and gives them a couple of hours in the shade.

I was always sad as a kid that I wasn't allowed to go to kids club. It looked and sounded like so much fun. The kids disco at night wasn't the same as the other kids all knew each other from kids club.

My mum felt it was dumping me and we should spend time together, though they also wanted to relax which left me playing by myself!

I’ve sent DS to kids club since he was 10 months old. Everyone gets a break then. No guilt, no regrets

I tried with my 3 year old at the time but parents weren't allowed to stay for a settle in session so scrapped that. I would happily send my child though, she needs child company and doesn't have siblings.