To wonder why baby groups aren’t open in school holidays?

[crinklyfoil]

Obviously have only recently started going to baby groups and am back to work in September, so a bit disappointed they won’t be on july / august - anyone know why this is?

Because where would the older siblings go ?!

The people running them probably have school aged children and want to go on holiday. Or staff probably run holiday clubs for school aged children.

Because they get over-run by older siblings

In my area some of the groups that ran pre Covid were open in the holidays (baby bounce and rhyme etc) but others closed as the people who volunteered to run them had older siblings at school.

Yes ... not everyone has older siblings, though. It seems a shame. I don’t think ours are voluntary, they aren’t cheap!

As per pps. Loads of school age siblings

Probs wouldn't be worth it for firstborns. Numbers would be decimated

Thanks, what a shame

The people who run baby groups (whether volunteers or paid ones) often have their own children.

Older siblings. They can't come as they completely ruin the dynamic of the group.

I used to hate this. I think it's due to a combination of the babies having older siblings, those who run it having school aged children themselves and the venues being used for holiday clubs for school aged children.
It's particularly annoying as of course all of the other places you go to are overrun with school children as it is the holidays.

I’m not sure how I’ll break the week up!

@DarcyLewis

The people who run baby groups (whether volunteers or paid ones) often have their own children.

Good point. That too. I rant two groups and a baby and toddler singing group voluntarily and it was nigh on impossible to get some mums to lift a finger (despite me paying to attend, just like them) and the school holidays were a well earned break for me.

Even if there not cheap, is the money from 2/3 first time parents going to be enough to cover overheads if more then half the group don't come because they have older children?

Not sure if it will be the case this summer with covid, but Lot's of local parks/ library's/ leisure centres/ community centres etc. Run ad hock 'family fun day's' which an older baby might enjoy (usually a range of stuff for different ages). We can usually find at least a few thing a week over the summer.

The staff are looking after their own children, usually.

Older siblings

grand-parents normally volunteering helping out their OWN grand-children

Time for volunteers to have a break

Most people going on holiday anyway

@Overdueanamechange

The people running them probably have school aged children and want to go on holiday. Or staff probably run holiday clubs for school aged children.

This is why our local one only runs term time. Also, the hall is used for holiday clubs.

Why not find a local Facebook mums group and see if some first time mums are up for an unofficial
meet? You might be able to get a small group together.

@Whoateallthechocolate

I used to hate this. I think it's due to a combination of the babies having older siblings, those who run it having school aged children themselves and the venues being used for holiday clubs for school aged children. It's particularly annoying as of course all of the other places you go to are overrun with school children as it is the holidays.

All the above.

Our parent-run playgroup used to arrange informal park-based meet-ups in its usual time slot - maybe suggest that to a few parents at the groups you go to?

@crinklyfoil

Yes ... not everyone has older siblings, though. It seems a shame. I don’t think ours are voluntary, they aren’t cheap!

Don't underestimate how much these things cost to run!!

Hall hire is ridiculously expensive.

Everyone says they'd like them to be on during the holidays, but in practice the numbers often don't justify it. Even the people you think will come (because they don't have older ones and have holidayed in termtime) tend not to turn up as frequently as in termtime - perhaps because they're meeting up with family/friends who do have older kids, or just because the weather's nice.

I used to take all the toys home for a good wash over the summer.

Some years we organised park meet-ups over the summer instead - no obligation on anyone - we just advertised which park and a time, and people knew then that if they turned up there would be at least a couple of friendly faces to talk to. Again, everyone was very enthusiastic about the idea, but we didn't always get any takers. That was in the days before everyone being on Facebook/Whatsapp - it's probably easier to organise it now (and cancel if it buckets down) - all it takes is a couple of people to say they'll promise to be there.

Everyone says they'd like them to be on during the holidays, but in practice the numbers often don't justify it. Even the people you think will come (because they don't have older ones and have holidayed in termtime) tend not to turn up as frequently as in termtime - perhaps because they're meeting up with family/friends who do have older kids, or just because the weather's nice.

Yes....and those that do tell you they'll turn up often text last minute because they have decided to do something else instead.
I stopped running children's activities in the holidays (unless it was a specific holiday club) a long time ago because it ended up costing me a fortune.

Yes I understand it is a shame though, ds only had a few weeks.l

With my three sessions a week, we offered all the fellow mums the key so they could take the group for the holidays. All you needed to do was open the hall doors, buy a loaf and some snacks (pop the receipt in the book) and put the sign in book and cash bowl out, then put the money away in the lockable cupboard til next session.

Really, really simple. The group was always a mum run group where everyone was expected to pitch in and yet every person who wanted the group to continue over school holidays would look at the floor and pretend they couldn't hear you offering the keys, expecting someone else to take the reins for a few session.

You will only be annoyed by this until your first child starts school!

school age siblings or organisers on hols or there are fewer people attending because of nice weather or hols I would imagine...