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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to think it’s ok to put kids (4 and 1) into kids club on a ski holiday

508 replies

Needallthesleep · 14/01/2021 13:21

Obviously not this year! Planning for the future.

DH and I love to ski, and given what a shocker this year has been for holidays (plus we have a newborn so not like we can go away anyway) we are planning an epic one next year.

It would be the first time going skiing with our kids, and are planning on putting the 4 year old into ski school and the 1 year old into kids club so we can ski.

For context we are looking at doing 14 nights in a very kid friendly hotel in France with childcare on site. We are planning a 2 week break so that we (and the children) can have some relaxed days together at the pool/sledging and me and DH still get a decent amount of time skiing.

MIL thinks that’s mean. And I am wracked with mum guilt about our plans now. Are my plans unreasonable?

OP posts:
SherlocksDeerstalker · 14/01/2021 13:22

I mean, I wouldn’t do it, but that’s neither here nor there. Neither is your mother in laws opinion. If you’re happy with your plans, then have fun.

AHobbyaweek · 14/01/2021 13:23

Hell yes we did with my 3 year old and it was the best thing. She loved it. We loved it and she wants to go again.

PurpleHoodie · 14/01/2021 13:24

Oh goodness.

Do it (when you can).

Have a great time Flowers

BendingSpoons · 14/01/2021 13:25

I personally wouldn't as it would stress my children out. DD used to hate the creche at the gym and church and my 1yo has only ever been left with family members. But if yours are happy to go then go for it!

Mumdiva99 · 14/01/2021 13:25

People do it obviously - or the clubs wouldn't be there. I wouldn't. My kids would have hated it. They've never used a kids club on holiday. I have friends whose kids love a kids club. But at 1.....what if your child doesn't settle? You don't know yet what kind of baby they are.

GypsyLee · 14/01/2021 13:26

It's a holiday for you and dh with the kids tagging along, but with childcare.
Why don't you leave them with mil, you won't need childcare and then look at booking a family holiday where you don't need childcare.
I agree with mil.
I'm glad none of my dc would think of doing this Sad
My opinion though, obviously sits well with you and dh.

OnceUponAThread · 14/01/2021 13:26

I think it's a great idea. The 4 year old will love ski school and the earlier they learn, the better IMO. And the 1yo will love holiday club - loads of other toddlers to play with. Why wouldn't you do it.

My advice though is ski school normally finishes at lunchtime and your 4yo will be quite tired. So ski hard in the morning. Have a good lunch. Maybe half an hour with 4yo in the afternoon. Back for a nap and then lounging round in the afternoons or sledding or ice skating or whatever.

Sciurus83 · 14/01/2021 13:26

Sounds amazing can I come?!! Grin

unmarkedbythat · 14/01/2021 13:26

Not something I'd want to do but whatever works for you. Far worse things happen, I cba to get worked up about people making different parenting choices that cause harm to absolutely no one.

Elpheba · 14/01/2021 13:27

In my honest opinion, my youngest would have to be older and verbal- maybe 2 1/2 minimum. I worked with a British ski company on my gap year- market leader for childcare etc etc and I couldn’t believe what they expected of the staff. One worker and the three under 2 children assigned to them all day on their own in a chalet hotel. I don’t know how they went to the loo safely! Paid minimally, long days. I just wouldn’t feel comfortable doing it with my own.

Okbye · 14/01/2021 13:27

Absolutely - Kids clubs are there to be used! Our son goes in them on holidays (not every day) and loves them and being able to make friends 👍

plumpootle · 14/01/2021 13:27

I wouldn't. It would really stress my DD out to be in unfamiliar setting with carers she didn't know. I also wouldn't feel comfortable at all and so wouldn't enjoy myself. Don't suppose your MIL would take them for you so you could have a holiday? Or could you and DH go separately?

HamSandwichKiller · 14/01/2021 13:28

My kid was always thrilled to hang out south other little people at that age. If you know your kids will be the same, go for it Grin

AnnaSW1 · 14/01/2021 13:28

It's not something I would do. Doesn't sound great fun for the baby.

Tier10 · 14/01/2021 13:28

It sounds good, two weeks sounds quite a long time for a ski holiday but I can see it makes sense for your family as then you can have family days in between skiing days.

Ohalrightthen · 14/01/2021 13:29

Tbh i think this is kinda shitty. If you're taking your kids on a family holiday, its a family holiday. They're very young to just be left with strange people in a strange place.

If you want to go on a skiing trip, with kids aged 4 and 1 I'd be leaving them with grandparents and going solo for a long weekend.

Lemonyfuckit · 14/01/2021 13:31

I guess it kind of depends on your children's personalities. Also a very keen skier, as are my parents, who took us from a very young age. I remember them trying to put me into to ski school when I was quite young, but they watched from round the corner to see whether I settled, which I (unfortunately for them) absolutely did not and they had to take me out after about 20-30 mins. To be fair though, this was a French ski school which made absolutely no allowances for fact 4 yr old me did not speak French and was quite brusque in style (this was in the 80s) - so am sure the crèche in your hotel these days would be very different, and also, I was an especially wimpy and shy kid who was very shy around strangers! Am sure plenty of children have an absolute blast, making friends and playing in the snow.

So I hope for your sake you have the latter variety! One other option is we used to go with lots of friends so there were other children, and the the grownups used to take it in turns for a few of them to look after the children whilst the others skied and then swap, so that could also be an option if you have skiing friends also with younger children.

OnceUponAThread · 14/01/2021 13:31

@Elpheba

In my honest opinion, my youngest would have to be older and verbal- maybe 2 1/2 minimum. I worked with a British ski company on my gap year- market leader for childcare etc etc and I couldn’t believe what they expected of the staff. One worker and the three under 2 children assigned to them all day on their own in a chalet hotel. I don’t know how they went to the loo safely! Paid minimally, long days. I just wouldn’t feel comfortable doing it with my own.
Chalet hôtel is a very different kettle of fish to a big hotel with a proper kids' club IMO. From the latter I would expect proper provision, staffing and activities just like in a summer kid's club.
NaughtipussMaximus · 14/01/2021 13:32

I wouldn't do it as my DS wouldn't have enjoyed it. If I thought he'd be happy to go off to a holiday club, I'd probably do it some of the time at least.

For context, we both work so he gets palmed off to his local holiday club (same place he does afterschool club two days a week, so he's familiar with eveyone there) for some of his holidays anyway as we don't have enough leave to cover all of the school holidays. So it seems harsh to send him off on his own on a family holiday.

Bobbybobbins · 14/01/2021 13:32

I think it would be fine for the four year old but I think one is young to be left like this. Agree with a pp- if you can, leave them with MIL and go skiing for a long weekend.

MadgeMak · 14/01/2021 13:32

I probably wouldn't want to put the youngest in the kids club because both of mine were very clingy at that age so I would have just spent my free time worrying about them, I'd also prefer them to be at an age where they are verbal so that they can tell me if something wasn't right. As for ski school though, then absolutely, we first went skiing when our kids were 5 and 8 and they had an amazing time, ski school in the morning and then we all spent the afternoon together.

ScrapThatThen · 14/01/2021 13:33

Well there's no point going skiing if you don't. Just fingers crossed your 4 yo likes ski school - I saw a very unhappy little one being babysat by a v pissed off looking ski school instructor one day. I think it's fine. Just have a couple of days off the slopes together.

NoSquirrels · 14/01/2021 13:34

Thank MIL for her kind offer to look after the DC for 10 days whilst you and DH have a break and go skiing...

Tier10 · 14/01/2021 13:36

I used to do lots of child care holidays (Mark Warner) when my DC were pre school and they worked out well. The DC liked the routine and my DH and I got to learn to water ski, sail , do tennis courses etc and have nights out together. We had no nearby relatives so it was a way to spend time together a couple of times a year. We were fortunate to be able to have two or three othet types of holidays each year to places like Norfolk, Devon or centre parcs. I think our Mark Warner holidays kept me sane during the pre school years.

OcelotPanda · 14/01/2021 13:36

Done this with a family hotel that offers full on childcare. The kids loved it. The younger kids did so many fun things in the nursery, going out in the snow, different craft activities, and the older ones loved skiing. It was a case of skiing in morning and then family time in the afternoon. It really wasn't a case of spending no time with the kids at all. Instead we all got to do fun things apart and together. Loved the afternoons spending time in the pool or drinking hot chocolates. We all came back very revived!