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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:
ChateauMargaux · 14/01/2021 17:04

2 weeks is a long time. Ski school at 4 can be quite challenging, large group, language issues, not knowing what to do, other children crying, needing the loo.

Skiing with young kids is a lot of getting in and out of uncomfortable clothing, trying not to fall over, getting cold, getting tired, lots of tears, soothing them with hot chocolate and then having cranky kids because they have more sugar than they are used to, plus no one sleeps well at altitude and there is a high risk of stomach bugs in ski resorts.

You might get some good days skiing in, but you will all come back exhausted!

wixked · 14/01/2021 17:17

I agree 14 days is way too long. 7 days would be fine.

hopefulhalf · 14/01/2021 17:25

Skiing with young kids is a lot of getting in and out of uncomfortable clothing, trying not to fall over, getting cold, getting tired, lots of tears, soothing them with hot chocolate and then having cranky kids because they have more sugar than they are used to, plus no one sleeps well at altitude and there is a high risk of stomach bugs in ski resorts.

I'm sorry but this is nonsense. On the holiday with the DCs aged 1&4 DH and I slept for 10 hours straight everynight (as did the DCs). I have never heard of anyone getting a stomach bug on a ski holiday ! Hot chocolate is an absolute corner stone of ski school and breakfast in the mountains for DCs- again never heard of a problem with it. Getting in and out of ski gear is a pain no matter how old you are- thermals are your friend here. I get it's not everybody's cup of tea but millions of familys take pre-schoolers skiing all over the Northern hemisphere every winter. It's perfectly possible and enjoyable.

Nameandgamechange123 · 14/01/2021 17:32

I have got experience of this. I took both kids, then aged 3 and 5. Partner wanted kids to go into the hotel ski club and creche. I felt unhappy about it but put kids in anyway. My 3yo was traumatised as I had never left her anywhere before but my 5yo loved it. My view is go ahead and try it but perhaps at the start of the holiday try leaving them for an hour and gradually build up the time you leave them.

EggyPegg · 14/01/2021 17:32

@hopefulhalf

Skiing with young kids is a lot of getting in and out of uncomfortable clothing, trying not to fall over, getting cold, getting tired, lots of tears, soothing them with hot chocolate and then having cranky kids because they have more sugar than they are used to, plus no one sleeps well at altitude and there is a high risk of stomach bugs in ski resorts.

I'm sorry but this is nonsense. On the holiday with the DCs aged 1&4 DH and I slept for 10 hours straight everynight (as did the DCs). I have never heard of anyone getting a stomach bug on a ski holiday ! Hot chocolate is an absolute corner stone of ski school and breakfast in the mountains for DCs- again never heard of a problem with it. Getting in and out of ski gear is a pain no matter how old you are- thermals are your friend here. I get it's not everybody's cup of tea but millions of familys take pre-schoolers skiing all over the Northern hemisphere every winter. It's perfectly possible and enjoyable.

Quite. There's no uncomfortable ski clothing. You spend the week walking around in what are essentially warm pyjamas with a waterproof layer on top. After a day skiing I fully embraced that it was acceptable to walk down to the spa in my leggings and a hoody. Yes boots are cumbersome, but we found our DC acclimatised to them very quickly and would even be climbing all over the place in them over the lunchbreak, including on the climbing frames.

And everyone slept solidly because we were so busy every day.

saffire · 14/01/2021 17:39

I don't see the point in a family holiday if you aren't spending time together as a family.

ElectricMistofelees · 14/01/2021 17:44

As long as you can check out who is looking after your kids and that they’re responsible. I speak as someone who worked in a ski resort for a season and the people who looked after both babies and small children were the people who put their hand up on the first day when asked if anyone wanted to. No further questions asked!

Iknowwhatudidlastsummer · 14/01/2021 17:47

@saffire

I don't see the point in a family holiday if you aren't spending time together as a family.
Confused

must you spend every second of every day with your partner and child when you go on holiday? Sounds claustrophobic and the opposite of a holiday.

The OP is not talking about booking a kennel for the children!

Sounds a hell of a lot better than parents dumping the kids in a soft play, letting them in front of a screen or tablets for hours...

Why aren't parents, especially mothers, not allowed to enjoy themselves ever? If the children hate it, fine, keep them with you but if you haven't even tried? How do you know if they have a nice time or not!

Divebar · 14/01/2021 17:56

The likes of Ski Famille and Mark Warner all have British qualified nannies who look after kids from newborn

You’re saying people go on holiday with newborn babies and leave them in childcare to go ski-ing? Hmm

wonderup · 14/01/2021 17:59

My parents used to skiing and leave us with the nanny. I go on holiday & leave my dc with my parents so don't have an issue with the separation.

However I'm not sure I would feel comfortable using a childcare club particularly for a 1 yo for 14 days.

notalwaysalondoner · 14/01/2021 18:03

@Divebar - yes, it's not unheard of. Although probably not super newborn as skiing 2 weeks postpartum doesn't sound like a comfortable option...

Scarby9 · 14/01/2021 18:09

Two kids we took skiing (3 and 4) point blank refused to go back after lunch on day one.

These were kids who had been in nursery and school, Sunday school and been babysat by myriad people and had playdates on their own. Really sociable, confident children who never looked back in any other situation.

Having refused (full on stomping and arms folding - I have a photo of the 3 year old in front of the hotel Reception), one or two of us had to stay back every day to look after and play with them. It was fine because there were enough adults, and they were happy with any of us, but could have been distinctly limiting with just a couple of adults available.

So I would just caution not counting on the children going along with the plan!

Notimeforaname · 14/01/2021 18:10

saffire
I don't see the point in a family holiday if you aren't spending time together as a family

Yes I feel like this too. Makes me sad to think of kids in a creche or club on holidays,away from parents.
Especially if they spend a lot of their time in creche back home.

Cluas · 14/01/2021 18:12

@Divebar

The likes of Ski Famille and Mark Warner all have British qualified nannies who look after kids from newborn

You’re saying people go on holiday with newborn babies and leave them in childcare to go ski-ing? Hmm

You haven't met any real ski obsessives, have you? There are women who are strapping on skis pretty much as soon as they've delivered the placenta. Grin
ReceptacleForTheRespectable · 14/01/2021 18:14

A high risk of stomach bugs in ski resorts? Eh?

I took up skiing as an adult and have done a fair few trips now. Never had a stomach bug.

ReceptacleForTheRespectable · 14/01/2021 18:17

@Notimeforaname

saffire I don't see the point in a family holiday if you aren't spending time together as a family

Yes I feel like this too. Makes me sad to think of kids in a creche or club on holidays,away from parents.
Especially if they spend a lot of their time in creche back home.

Outdoorsy ski enthusiasts are more likely to be doing long family walks with their children than going to soft play or creches ime. If you're into getting outdoors on holiday, that doesn't magically change when you're at home.
HavelockVetinari · 14/01/2021 18:26

Outdoorsy ski enthusiasts are more likely to be doing long family walks with their children than going to soft play or creches ime. If you're into getting outdoors on holiday, that doesn't magically change when you're at home.

Actually I don't think that's true - every year the Swiss and French hospitals are full of people who do practically no exercise but seem to think their bodies can cope with far more than they really can annual skiing holiday.

wonderup · 14/01/2021 18:27

🤣🤣

Rodent01 · 14/01/2021 18:29

Die Hard skier here - wouldn’t do 14 days with a 4 year old. DD7 has “been skiing” every year since birth and started just shy of 4 and loved it. DD3 would have started last year had ‘rona not crashed the ski system.

Even at age 6/7 a week is plenty, it is tiring for them. Used a mix of nanny agencies / UK tour op childcare and I’ve done multiple seasons for both “family” operators and not. Kids will be fine with both.

Do it - lifelong passion begins as a child. Roping in another family so kids have a friend shouldn’t be overlooked as an option tho. Or chalet for them to make friends. Having a buddy to stand in the ski school line with is a real plus!!!!!

There is plenty of scope for family time around a morning’s 3 hours hard adult ski time

NoIDontWatchLoveIsland · 14/01/2021 18:31

Outdoorsy ski enthusiasts are more likely to be doing long family walks with their children than going to soft play or creches ime

Pp meant nursery/daycare I think. Many people who can afford skiing & holiday childcare have two working parents so are in nursery a lot of the time already.

GintyMcGinty · 14/01/2021 18:33

Sounds like a great plan.

My two have always gone in the kids clubs on holidays and they have had a great time.

Trekkerbabe · 14/01/2021 18:34

Kids age 4+ yes. Anything younger no and def not a baby for the reasons other pp have said.
When do you plan to go as some months it would be too cold for kids to be outside for long.
Leave them at home and go for a week. That's what my Parents did with my youngest brother until he was 4.

Notimeforaname · 14/01/2021 18:43

Pp meant nursery/daycare I think. Many people who can afford skiing & holiday childcare have two working parents so are in nursery a lot of the time already.

Thanks NoIDontWatchLoveIsland that is what I meant.

MMMarmite · 14/01/2021 18:44

I think it's fine as long as you don't force the kids if they aren't happy. You could try it, but have a back up plan that you and dh will take turns doing childcare.

aSofaNearYou · 14/01/2021 18:48

I loved the kids club on skiing holidays, I would go for it.

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