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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:
Anycrispsleft · 15/01/2021 14:12

@Hardbackwriter

We took our kids (twins) when they were 4 and 5

Took me a while to work out you meant two different holidays and not that your twins are different ages!

Yeah that was some labour Grin
WorkingItOutAsIGo · 15/01/2021 14:27

We did this with our then 1 yo. I can’t promise he loved the experience but now as an 18 yo his best friend is a boy he met in that crèche up a mountain!

GreenTiles22 · 15/01/2021 14:37

Sounds fab, I would! In fact we did a 2 week holiday when they were age 1 and 3, and shock we put them into the daytime nursery so they could play with other children and the amazing facilities. My 1 year old was fine, but 3 year not so keen on some days. That's fine. I work full time, I love my kids.

Go for it! But be prepared they might not love the childcare facilities so you might end up doing less skiing than you hope.

Could you do 7 or 10 days instead? 2 weeks of snow sounds a lot.

Almostslimjim · 15/01/2021 15:00

@Evasmissingletter

I think 2 weeks is too long. Can you leave youngest with MIL and take oldest with you? He’s old enough to do ski school. Enjoy
2 weeks away from me would be very traumatic for my youngest, where as a few days of kids club wouldn't be an issue. And my kids love their grandparents but struggle at 2 nights away.
coffeewithcream · 15/01/2021 17:28

Of course it's ok. I'm sure they will have a lovely time in the kids club Smile

coffeewithcream · 15/01/2021 17:29

That is lovely!

thenovice · 15/01/2021 17:35

We took our 2 DDs skiing from age 20 months and had a whale of a time teaching them to ski. They would have hated to be left with strangers, in another country, in what was a very unfamiliar setting at the time. Both learned to ski quickly and loved it. We laughed a lot, played snowballs, went sledging together and skied LOTS. I didn't want to make it a stressful time for them in case it put them off skiing forever. They totally love it now and by age 4 and 5 they were blasting round the mountain with us, taking in bumps and steeps.

plumpynoo · 15/01/2021 17:35

No way! Four year old maybe, one year old is far too young! These people are total strangers, speak a different language and your one year old is too young to tell you or them if anything is wrong.

thenovice · 15/01/2021 17:38

No we didn't leave them. We taught them ourselves. Smile

Frazzledstar1 · 15/01/2021 17:40

I don’t think there’s anything wrong with it as long as you’re having time together too. But as others have said maybe wait and see because my ds would absolutely hate being left in a kids club.

Kathygnome · 15/01/2021 17:41

That depends on your kids. If your 4yo is outgoing and interested, then sure. If they're introverted and uncomfortable with new situations, then no, this isn't a good idea. Ditto on the 1yo and how comfortable they are with being away from you or in different places, which you probably won't know anytime soon, which I'd see a as a problem.

Our daughter was very uncomfortable with new situations. At age 4, this would have been a terrible terrible idea. But other kids are totally different. It's really about them.

Kateguide · 15/01/2021 17:44

I've done a couple of ski seasons with a family friendly operator. Totally normal to put children in the creche / day care whilst mum & dad do some hard skiing. Some just put them in, in the mornings but they tended to be really young - babies. The unusual bit of your holiday is going for 2 weeks, literally can't remember anyone doing this, probably due to the cost.

cherish123 · 15/01/2021 17:46

I think they are too young for a kids club. My DC have never used them. I would have allowed them to go for a few hours, if they had wanted to but not at that age. Perhaps you and DH could ski on different days. Then there is someone to look after DC. There are packages that involves some days etc. However, I personally think this a holiday for a few years down the line.

FiandB · 15/01/2021 17:46

Absolutely, and I've done the same in the past. We've always used kids clubs so the kids are used to them and all love them. We meet up at lunch, all relaxed from our own activities in the morning, and spend an nice afternoon together. Now that kids are a bit older after dinner they usually ask, completely their own choice, to go to evening kids clubs when they're on offer as well.

Thisgroupneverceasestoamazeme · 15/01/2021 17:47

Seems reasonable to me, you know your kids best...our son would really struggle being with strangers, I have friends who’s kids would love it! I have a friend who did a ski season as a nanny providing childcare and she often earned a bit of extra money going back to baby sit in the evenings.

The conditions the staff lived in on the other hand sounds like a nightmare! They were 6 to a small room, in bunks with a two ring burner and a sink as their kitchen! She had a blast though so it’s not like they were being forced to do it!

pointyears · 15/01/2021 17:48

Sounds like a great plan. There's so much magic in skiing holidays (snowboarding for me), for adults and kids alike, and such a lovely change from muddy UK winters. Unless your kids are super-shy and uneasy around strangers, I can't see any problems with the arrangements. My older daughter has been in ski clubs in Italy and Austria with complete strangers since the age of 5 and no issues ever.

lottietiger · 15/01/2021 17:51

We have done this for several years and learnt the hard way not to go with ESF as the majority of teaching and other children will be French, we swapped to ESI, and it’s made a huge difference. If there are activities on then my son was happy to go out with the group, sledging etc (and he hates new situations) but left in the crèche after ski school he didn’t enjoy. As he has got older, he is now 7, he goes to ski school in the morning stays for lunch and we all ski together in the afternoon. Then we go swimming or do something together. It seems to work well, and he sleeps like a dream!

Feelingsosadandguilty · 15/01/2021 17:55

Go for it. We did it from kids being very young until they we good enough to ski with us. The absolutely loved it. We did go with either esprit or family ski company as their child care is all in house and fantastic and o lot so ski lessons with other kids in your accommodation. We and the kids made life long friends. Hope you have a fabulous time x

SuddenlyMummy · 15/01/2021 17:56

I’ve done exactly this last year and it was great! I also work full time and my kids are used to nursery - they were 3 and 1 at the time. My eldest is also a sensitive soul and not massively into physical stuff, so we didn’t know how she would take to it. All I can say is that we’re STILL hearing about her skiing and when can she go back!

You know your kids and you’re best placed to decide whether this is something you all might enjoy - and it sounds like you’re perfectly prepared to reduce the days in kids club if it’s a disaster. This is a fabulous opportunity for your children that they will be lucky to have, and you and your DH deserve to do something that you enjoy too - you work hard!!

For what it’s worth, I also wouldn’t go wi to MIL in tow. Hope you go and have a wonderful time.

joles12 · 15/01/2021 17:58

YANBU - we first went when DC were 3and 5. They both love skiing, now 10 and 8 . We have only ever gone for a week, agree with the post that said ski hard in the morning - likely after lunch your little one will struggle to do much skiing with you - it’s a tiring vacation, but lots of fun and plenty of time to play together in the snow around the skiing.

Celestine70 · 15/01/2021 18:00

Definitely selfish. Go for a week and leave the kids with mil. Then take them to the beach or something.

Toomuchtrouble4me · 15/01/2021 18:02

Yes. They will love it, so will you. If they are utterly miserable after a few days to adjust then you’ll have to pull them out - to not do so would be mean. But in my experience - they will LOVE it.

Bakingcupcake · 15/01/2021 18:02

4 yo fair enough ski school buti certainly would not feel comfortable leaving a 1 yo with a strange kids club, you hear horror stories and I just wouldn't be able to relax

janj2301 · 15/01/2021 18:03

My girls adored childrens clubs from 1 year old through to 6 or 7 when we stopped going on family holidays but they were very gregarious and loved other kids

HesSpartacus · 15/01/2021 18:16

I honestly think I'd wait and see what sort of child your youngest is before committing to book - if they are shy it is going to be very frustrating (and a massive waste of money on equipment hire) as you'll have to take turns to do the care while the other skis if they refuse to settle.

Waiting another year might be the best option - (hopefully) all the covid disruption will be over and your youngest will be old enough to even try a small ski. I'd really recommend the Kinderhotels chain in Austria - they are perfectly set up for families and have on-site childcare. The one we went to had its own 'magic carpet' and they had dd out there for half an hour each day aged (only just) 2.