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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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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:

Sceptre86 · 14/01/2021 13:36

I would wait until the 1 year old is older or go for a week and leave the kids with mil if she would have them.

TurquoiseDress · 14/01/2021 13:37

Go for it!

We did the same for our DC at similar ages...they loved ski school/crèche!

You can't take young children with you up on the pistes (the low greens will be good for playing around with LOs)

Maybe your MIL would prefer if she looked after them? But it would be a shame if your older DC missed out on ski school seeing as you're there on a ski holiday!

movingonup20 · 14/01/2021 13:38

I wouldn't but I took my kids skiing at 1&3 cross country admittedly in backpacks. When we downhill skied we took it in turns or waited for my parents to visit (we lived near skiing)

Shadysback · 14/01/2021 13:38

I would, and did do this when DS was small. Just be careful which ski school you use. We had a horrible experience with one of the French ones, where DS was one of only two English speaking DC. No one told him there was another English DC, so he spent the whole first day with no one to talk to. The second day he was understandably not keen to be left there, so we stayed to watch him. They do teach the DC to ski, I'll give them that, but there was absolutely no interaction at all. I saw one little French child ski down, and go back up the little lift numerous times sobbing his heart out, with no one speaking to him or checking he was OK. Unhelpfully I can't remember now which company that was, but may be something to bear in mind. That said, DS is a teenager now, and loves skiing. He was never willing to do ski school again though.

Dailyhandtowelwash · 14/01/2021 13:40

It depends entirely on your kids I'd have thought. Some will be really happy in a kids club and others not. My lot love them. We've skiied at a kinder hotel so the kids club was great, and had a lot of toddlers in it who seemed to be having a blast.

Getitdonesharpish · 14/01/2021 13:42

We have done a week many times. Our youngest was 1 when we went the first time. To be honest she didn’t have the time of her life but she wasn’t scarred. From 2yrs on they have loved it and it is the highlight of their year. But there is no point in going if they don’t go to childcare as you won’t be able to ski. Would you MIL have the youngest?

movingonup20 · 14/01/2021 13:43

Just an idea - I know it's not the alps but we did take ours to Scotland skiing once we returned to the U.K. - there was an ofsted inspected nursery and the ski instructors all had dbs etc. Added advantages include no need for insurance, you can drive, go for a shorter period and there's reindeer and sled dogs which were a hit. As a first ski trip might be an option

IndieRo · 14/01/2021 13:45

I wouldn't do it but each to their own.

june2007 · 14/01/2021 13:46

I have worked in kids clubs and left kids with them. Could you get your 4 year old into ski school. (they often have reps who will take and collect them from the childcare. My children liked the kids clubs. (when my daughrer sprained her ancle they were very helpful in taking her in when she was officially too old and she din,t mind.). Do make sure you do take them sledging ect, but fine to use.

MarshaBradyo · 14/01/2021 13:47

I wouldn’t for 1 year old but up to you

I have used holiday clubs for a four year old or thereabouts

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 14/01/2021 13:48

We first used ski school when DDs were just turned four and five (nearly six). They did 10-3 (Austria).
On reflection, five year old was perfect age, four year old a little too young (we went at Easter when she turned four in the March deliberately so they would be together). She had fun, but didn't really learn much, and had forgotten it all by the next year. They are 9&7 now and really missing their ski holiday this year.

I have real respect for the crèche workers on ski resorts. We find it hard enough getting two kids in ski gear, let alone a whole group.

I think two weeks would be too long a trip. Especially if it turns out they don't like it. 7 day trip I long enough.

Tellmetruth4 · 14/01/2021 13:48

Do it. I’m assuming due to Covid, you’ve not had a break from the kids as a couple.

Ignore your MIL unless she’s offering to come and provide childcare, it’s none of her business. Enjoy your holiday.

FFSAllTheGoodOnesArereadyTaken · 14/01/2021 13:50

If you have the type of kids that love nursery and activities and settle anywhere really quickly then I'd do it. If not then I wouldnt. Personally I love skiing and kids 5.5 and 3 and we haven't done it because they dont have much of an attention span yet for anything even when they love it and I dont want to put them off skiing plus I do think it's a pretty miserable holiday if you're not skiing.but that might be because we try ans so it on the cheap and stay in small dingy apartments with nothing to do. I plan to go next year and see if my parents or husbands parents will take the kids so that the kids get a lovely break and so do we

Saying that I do know someone with kids the same age as yours that went last year and her kids loved it and were distraught at coming home! But she owns her own business and works very flexible hours around thr kids
and spends a lot of time at home with the kids anyway so I dont feel like they see holidays as a special time to spend time together if that makes sense.

TheKeatingFive · 14/01/2021 13:51

We did this. Kids of similar ages.

They loved it (in half days, so plenty of time with them still).

Lots of time for us to ski.

I would do it again in a heartbeat.

ErrolTheDragon · 14/01/2021 13:51

It depends on the kids.
We tried to put DD in a crèche on holiday when she was small - she simply wasn't having it. Wouldn't settle, just miserable.

Looneytune253 · 14/01/2021 13:52

I wouldn't. Surely the idea of a family holiday is to spend time together?

SoCrimeaRiver · 14/01/2021 13:53

Holiday clubs I've seem expect parents to stay up to age 3 so check you can drop and go. For me, I'd leave littlies with relatives here as they'd get cold quickly when out and about on non-childcare days if it's cold and snowy.

Tiny2222 · 14/01/2021 13:53

I would 100%!! Last time we went to Mexico my son begged to get dropped off at kids club almost every day!! Sometimes I would take him for an hour or two, sometimes I would let him spend the whole afternoon ! If your kids are happy and having a good time then why not!?

Br1ll1ant · 14/01/2021 13:54

Ski esprit were great for this (admittedly a few years ago now though). Getting ours on skis from 3 meant that they’re very accomplished now.

ShyTown · 14/01/2021 13:55

Done this loads of times. DD first skied at the resort daycare in Vail when she was 15 months. Now she can tell us if she wasn’t having fun but even when she was younger she always seemed happy to be dropped off so can only assume she liked it. Obviously you know your children and whether they’re likely to enjoy it. That said, if my MIL offered to have the kids I’d 100% take her up on the offer, go for a week and leave the kids behind!

Ori2021 · 14/01/2021 13:55

No, not great for the baby. The 4 yr old might enjoy a little bit of time in the creche but even at that age, they ultimately want to experience things with mum and dad.

unchienandalusia · 14/01/2021 13:57

Of course it's fine. To be expected in fact. You can't ski with a one year old!

AdelaideK · 14/01/2021 13:57

I wouldn't have put either of mine in but they weren't the type of children who enjoyed clubs like that. They liked to be with us and their cousins.

If your 4 year old does enjoy clubs that's fine for the odd day but I do think the younger one is too young.

cormorantes · 14/01/2021 13:57

I think you need to be clear that the holiday is for you and your husband, for your children it predominantly amounts to a more stressful daycare situation (unless they find brand new carers and environments stimulating rather than stressful).

HotPenguin · 14/01/2021 13:58

Personally I wouldn't want my toddler looked after by a bunch of young people who are there for the skiing and have no interest in childcare. Perhaps there are some places who have more highly qualified and experienced staff but I would be wary.

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