To be pissed off at everything stopping for summer?

[Cyclemad222]

I have a baby and toddler. All the groups are off for the summer. Baby cinema is off.

What am I supposed to do to entertain these kids? I get people go on holiday, but argggh

Totally agree. Summer was long and lonely when ds was baby /toddler age. Soft play was always full of big kids in the holidays. Used to survive by going out early when parks were quiet then home for lunch /nap x

Locally a lot of it is ran in schools even our baby clinic shuts as it’s held in a secondary school. The events ran in church halls are all rented out to holiday camp type clubs.

Churches don’t tend to charge toddler groups where as they do for the camp groups. Schools just can’t afford the extra running costs to be open for a not likely to cover the bills toddler cinema event.

It really only affects first time parents on maternity leave or sahm. Others have the older children to supervise anyway or need the clubs that have taken over the spaces to be able to get into work.

I agree really annoying. 90% of the mums at my groups have only one baby so there can't be a drop in demand.

Thank goodness I've still got yoga and Hartbeeps

Oh god that really annoyed me with my first too!

Agreed! My partner works away so it means being more isolated than usual for 6 weeks, fab.

Lots of stuff run by volunteers who have their own school age kids to look after

It annoyed me when I had little ones, but I have to admit, I'm enjoying not having to do the drop offs and pick up for extra curricular stuff. DS usually does Scouts on a Friday night!

I agree, it makes for a long old summer. It’s hard even though events for kids are advertised everywhere, they generally are aimed at school age kids not pre-schoolers.

The lady who runs a group I go to relented one year and opened up a couple of mornings despite telling us it wasn’t worth it. Unfortunately she was right. There are just too many people off on holiday or taking advantage of the better weather.

You exchange numbers with other Mums who also don't have school aged children, then either:

• phone / text to arrange a meetup
• phone / text to say 'I am going to be at XX at 10am Wed if anyone would like to join us'

It’s annoying when it’s your first but you will be grateful when they’re school age.

I was literally just thinking this!!

Swimming lessons seem to be the one thing that carries on through here. But, the pool was so quiet this week so I can see why lots of other things stop altogether as for smaller groups, it wouldn’t be viable. It did used to bug me with my first but she now does so many clubs it’s quite nice to have a break.

Agreed, a lot of volunteers who run the groups have school aged kids or the halls are used for kids clubs. Tbf it’s way easier to entertain little ones. My 17 month old will be happy bum shuffling round the garden this summer. My 4 year old, not so much...

When I had DC3 and ran a baby and toddler group I explained at the start of the school summer holidays that I wouldn’t be available to run it for next six weeks but if anyone without similar commitments wanted to take over I could do a handover. No one stepped up!

Often the volunteers who organise it are either a. gagging for a week off, or b. wrangling older children as well.

Also lots of the people who use the groups would need to bring older children, and it stops being manageable safety wise.

I used to try and buddy people up as term wound down, making sure everyone could get in touch with someone over the long summer.

Agree. Not just toddler groups and the like but other groups/work events too. Everyone seems to have six weeks off work. Lucky them. Can you tell me where these unicorn jobs are please?

Exactly @mysteryfairy ! Same here! Lots of people asked me to stay open, none of them offered to commit to running it.

Lots of stuff run by volunteers who have their own school age kids to look after

This.

Except instead of 'lots' I would say 'most', at least around here

If you want group meets up, arrange to meet up. Or become a volunteer yourself and run the group(s) and/or offer to keep them up and running over the summer. We used to have groups around here come to a complete end in term times, too, when nobody would step up to run them .... all the parents of babies and toddlers wanted them to run, but funny how no one wanted to actually run then. They were outraged when the groups actually stopped entirely for a while ... and finally started running them themselves and handing off to new parents as their own children aged out.

A few ideas : Check the local library. They may have summer story time or at least story time kits you can take home. Simple baking with kids. Take a torch and go into a darkened room - show kids how to make finger shadow figures. Turn on music and do silly dances. Outdoor fun in the back garden - paddling pool; bucket with water and a paint brush to ‘paint’ the house, outdoor furniture, etc; bubbles; finger painting, sheets of cheap paper to make paint footprints and handprints, kids can be washed off in paddling pool; bin with sand and sand toys; bin with water and water toys - cups, spoons, sponges, balls, etc. Local park - bring a picnic. Nature walks. Teach your kids simple songs and simple poems and word plays: www.preschoolrainbow.org/preschool-rhymes.htm (I used to run a home daycare, and had loads of summer days to fill!)

The groups I'm talking about are all run by 20 yr old drama students. I don't mean the voluntary community type ones.

I know there is stuff you can do at home and I do but living in a flat without a garden it's nice going for a huge walk in the park then a group then home for a nap. I am missing them

I agree. Have you tried to Hoop app for other things that might be on?

I've found it hard over the holidays myself. A group of us with similar aged children have been taking it in turns to host once a week so the children can see each other and us parents can have a bit of chill time.

You exchange numbers with other Mums who also don't have school aged children, then either

I never knew any of them well enough to exchange numbers, I was always busy trying to control my rather boisterous and unco-ordinated child.

I have a 2 and 3 year old and I still miss our preschoolers groups (not as much as I miss preschool obviously!!)

In our area one group put on a few summer specials but the older siblings took over or so few people came it wasnt worth it. We find it hard as the only park in our village doesn't have any public toilets which is no good with little ones.

Can you not arrange a meet up with some of the other mums you usually see? That’s what me and some friends do when these groups aren’t on, we just sort of arrange our own informal one or a day out together.