To think the school holidays should just be August ?

[yellowbeard]

It's too long. I think a break in routine does kids good, but it's too much all at once. I think in Italy August is considered Holiday month ( not sure about the school holiday length ) but I know a lot of businesses close down for August there. Aibu ?

If you can access nice safe parks, count yourself lucky

This is true. We are very lucky that we have decent parks (although they are all a car/bus ride away) and free activities we can access (again, a bus ride away but close enough).

Not the case with us, on the bones of our arses as it were. Quality time connecting with your children doesn't cost a penny. We have a garden like a postage stamp but we get out and find space whether it's in the woods ( not our own) at the park ( not in our back garden) or exploring our local environment. Colouring in, drawing a story, play dough, a washing up bowl full of water outside, oh my days the list is endless. Not a penny spent.

No I don’t think we have long enough by the time we’ve spent time settling into holidays, going away then preparing for going back to school we still never fit in everything we want to do together. Also it’s hard enough for everyone to get leave to go away as it is, would be even less chance if everyone was competing to book off 4 weeks.

OK - still not understanding lots of these posts ... seriously how do people manage to be at home so much over the holidays enjoying quality time with your children unless one parent / carer is not working? My annual leave and DH annual leave combined does not cover the entirety of the time DC have off school for hols and inset days - what am I missing??

what am I missing??

Badly paid term time jobs.

Part time working?

Part time working here too.
It’s difficult when both parents work full time.

All those saying the holidays are just right or too short and they barely have time to do what they want to do....
Do you not work? Most people I know struggle for time off. And if they have the time (I.e SAHM) they don’t have the money to keep the dc constantly entertained.
I think four weeks would be perfect.
With a week in may and then two in October.
Weather is often nicer in may/June anyway.
There is already an autumnal chill in the air. I don’t think August is the best month at all.

@Sugaredcube I am single parent that works full time. I am happy as they are.

Some people have the time and the money. Just like others have no time and no money.
Or whatever mix in between.

I found it easy when DD was small or during the primary school years. Lots of clubs and activities, not a lot of money to spend and walks and playtime in the park was cheap and easy.

Now I have a pre teen, all clubs have dried out or are extremely boring, DD already complained the last two years that they were mixed with 7-8 year olds. Activities are either very expensive or not existing.

There is a huge gap for 12-14 year olds to be occupied during work days. We are lucky that DH works from home so he can be there if there is a problem, sort out food and works from 7-4 to then do something with her.

There is not much choice to swap days with friends, with just one day off I cannot offer lots of days taking other children if I also want to do something with DD on my own.

We are lucky that I always have 2 weeks off in Summer but we also go away and DD goes in a scout trip, that’s still 3 weeks to sort out.

We haven’t been away on holiday this year though as we realised a week away somewhere would cost the same as 6 weeks of entertainment at home.

It can’t be a huge proportion however that have both an abundance of time, and an abundance of money.
Most people are somewhere in the middle and it is just an observation from real life that I have made that most parents I speak to are stressed due to childcare arrangements or if they are at home keeping the dc entertained on a minimal budget.

I also think for very poor children the six weeks holidays must really suck.
No decent free school meals, nothing for them to do in deprived areas and hearing about peers having fab holidays and days out when they don’t get as far as a decent park. Then returning to school after six weeks of that. Hardly a recipe for a lovely break for them!
It seems like the six weeks must be lovely for parents with a reasonable amount of income who can spare time with their kids.
For those who have the money for their kids to do clubs etc it must be nice for the kids but stressful for parent organising things.
If you are a poor child it is probably very grim.

When we were kids (my family were dirt poor) we played outside with other kids in the street and stayed out until it got dark (only staying in for lunch) our parents didn’t entertain us and we just got on with it. Best days of our lives and we didn’t have mobiles or any gadgets. But instead make shift dens, parents may feel less stressed if they don’t feel the need to constantly entertain.

Part time work and participation in various family arrangements.

Free museums ? In London yes, but not around where I live. There are big train and parking transport costs to go to London.

There are small parks that are walking distance that are fine around here, a few teenagers hang about, but yes we go to them. But that's not all day is it ? Maybe 20 minutes, longer if he has a friend to play. Some bigger parks are a drive away and you need to pay parking or pay entry to some. One nearby is £13.50 for age 3 +, we have never been to it. If you cannot even imagine not being able to afford £26 for a day out then you are very lucky.

Btw for my birthday I don't get anything as we don't do presents due to finances, although this year I did treat myself to a pack of new socks from Tesco's due to mine being like nets. And I don't live in a one bed flat although a flat can be massive,---- but yes my garden is pretty small, like most of the properties in my area as it's a newish town.

I could work, but I wouldn't be cherishing the holidays then as my child would be at a childminders (as well as before and after school.) Unless of course I work in a school or get a job with very an extremely generous holiday package. My DH can't help with holidays, or school drops, as he doesn't get paid if he doesn't work so only takes the absolute minimum. He works 10 hour days plus travel. I can't use family. My siblings do not have kids.

And I adore my child, he is however very hard work.

Eh?

I could work, but I wouldn't be cherishing the holidays then as my child would be at a childminders (as well as before and after school.)

Shit happens - I think it’s easy to say, back when I was a child etc etc.
But I do think that In general children don’t play out so much. You’d be frowned upon for allowing them out for hours on end in a deprived area that wasn’t deemed safe.
Parents can’t really do wrong for doing right.
And parents on a low budget even more so. They will be judged whatever they do.

Then there is the issue of social media and kids seeing everything their class mates are up to.
So yes I do believe it is different these days in comparison to living on a poor estate 30-40 years ago.
If you were in that estate and all the kids were out playing all day, great, no judgement on the parents, no judgement on the kids. The poor kids also wouldn’t have their noses rubbed in it on social media by more well off class mates, seeing little Fred’s trips to theme parks, exotic holidays and so on.

Judge parents as you wish but there is no denying the world is a different place now compared to when many of us grew up.

I think the time side is even harder to do without. Luckily I have the time.

For entertainment...we had kids over A LOT. She went to a few people's houses. We did some arts and crafts stuff. Hottest days have been in the pool. Painted rocks one day, long walk the next to hide in the woods. Took a train to a great park with splash area,sand pit and even a few farm animals all free. Went into London to meet with friends and just did southbank/parks. Tomorrow it'll be one of the museums .
Many days of just doing nothing and hanging out together.

Might not be the greatest summer break ,but we're both enjoying it.

DD actually said she's sad school starts soon because she loves hanging out with me.

I get her. I dread getting back into the routine,trying to cram everything in 3/4 hours,always on the go and what's the next thing we need to do/we forgot.

I know for a lot of people this is their reality regardless, and term time is even busier than hours , but that doesn't stop me enjoying what time off I do get with her and being sad it'll be gone soon.

She's 7 so I suppose I have many years of her actually enjoying my company anyways.

We live in the sticks (small village in the midlands) but have free museums a bus ride away (derby, Nottingham, Leicester and Loughborough).
Mine will play at the park with friends for a couple of hours. We can kill a half day if we take a picnic and bikes or scooters. Realise that will change as they get older though.

@shithappens123 my DS went out to play early evening, once some kids across the road got back from their holiday club. They played on their scooters on our road for an hour before they went in for dinner. He was so happy, so it's not all about going places, but school gives him company, which holidays don't. Yesterday we had a play date planned, but they cancelled that morning

They're only little once and you have to decide what's really important to you, if you choose your career( no judgement if that's the case) don't be whining that school holidays are too long. Personally, cherishing every moment with my children is important so I cut the cloth accordingly and that's what makes us happy

I work part time at school and my other half works full time, he takes his holiday over Christmas and spreads the rest over the other holidays so we at least all get a long weekend together each holiday, he's got a week off next week and we're going camping ( our holiday)

@shithappens123 the mentality and society changed as well.

If I were to send DD out(which tbh I'd love to do) It's more likely I'll get SS at my door than other kids joining her.

No one's out around here unless they're at least y6.

if you choose your career

That tripe again. For many people they don't "choose" a career. Hell they don't even have a career,they just have job. A job that they need for things like food,and shelter and all the other basics.