Having kids in nursery all summer whilst you’re off

[Willwejustbehotforevernow]

Just seen a friends post about being happy to be off for the whole summer (teacher) because now she can pick her kids from nursery (they’re in full time whilst she works)
Would you still put your kids in full time nursery if you worked full time and then had summer off-6 weeks, where you could be with them?

I love the holidays as it's time I actually get to spend with my children. They are only children for a short time and I feel like I miss out so much when I am at work. I would never put them in childcare over the holidays unless I had to (emergency situation) or if it was a club one of my children desperately wanted to do. Holidays don't have to be all singing all dancing but for me they are family time.

I would never put them in childcare over the holidays unless I had to (emergency situation) or if it was a club one of my children desperately wanted to do.

Fab that's great you do that if it works for you. However once again yours is another post dripping with judgement for those who make a different choice to you.

What if you know shock horror your child actually enjoys going to nursery and asks to do so?

Sounds like she's got the right idea tbh

Firstly thanks for your post. Since I read it first I've been feeling shit about my kids in creche for the summer as they are "missing out of the family time". Just feck off, people can do what they want. I work and have no choice but to have them in creche and own my shit parenting style.

You state she has no money worries, how do you know? You state she has no holidays booked, how do you know? Maybe these are things she tells real friends not the likes of you.

I know plenty of people from other countries across EU who send their kids to GPs for the summer, so thats about 6 weeks and theyll visit for 1 or 2 weeks. Let me guess, they shouldn't have had kids? Such undisguised judgement from you and others and you know it otherwise you wouldn't have name changed.

Since I read it first I've been feeling shit about my kids in creche for the summer as they are "missing out of the family time".

There's lots of research that nursery is really good for child development. Language acquisition, social skills, motor skills etc.
Not that family time isn't important too, but I imagine you have that when you can and as a result it's better quality time.
Do not feel guilty, no one gets the ideal choice when it comes to their children and we have to go with what suits our family and children.
I think it's important not to judge others by your own circumstances. Op may have a homebody child and the resources for fun activities at home. Someone else may have a child who thrives on nursery routine and limited resources for activities that equal what professionals can do.
Both equally valid choices. I massively judge the op for goady thread.

I also work in a school so get all the school holidays off. I send my 2 (3 and 4) 2 days a week in the holidays just to keep them in routine and give me time to get stuff done. No way would I send them full time if I was off

Wow I presume all these teachers who are spending a week sorting out classrooms are primary? I'm secondary and I don't even have a classroom so none of that. I will do some work towards the end of the holidays but for me the perk of the job is long holidays with my kids. Each to their own though. I suspect she has to pay for it regardless and in that case I'd use it a bit certainly. We did always get term time only childcare though for this reason though.

Well yes, the standards in primary are generally higher in secondary based on what I have seen.
Of course, if you say this to secondary teachers they get all defensive.
Equally, there's probably a reasonable amount of secondary teachers that do have to work as hard as primary.

@BaddityHabbityHoppingPot thanks for that and I think today is a bit of a guilt day even though they're actually home with me. I just hate the judgement of others, it starts from the moment you are confirmed pregnant ("you can't have caffeine" 😱) and doesn't stop. Everyone is trying to get by and do their best.

And for those with their "no way eould i do 5 days I only do 2" one teachers 5 days could be for 3 hours a day and yours is 8 hours for your 2 days. Who knows!

As PPs have said, with most nurseries you pay monthly and would have to continue to pay even if you removed your child for the summer break, so I think most teachers would do as your friend did.

@Heyisforhorses Honestly, you can't make a decision without being judged no matter what you do. Our health visitor has made judgemental noises even though she knows I have childcare qualifications and we don't qualify for any free hours and can't afford it, but doesn't stop her for making us feel guilty that toddler doesn't go yet.
Im sure she'd be making judgemental noises if he was in nursery full time though.
But yes, don't feel guilty. As long as you've left your kids with childcare professionals with crbs they're in good hands.

Just seen a friends post about being happy to be off for the whole summer (teacher) because now she can pick her kids from nursery

OP, is there a part of your post missing here? It feels like the post should say pick her children up early

It seems odd to post that's she's happy it's the holidays as she can pick them up, does she not normally collect them from nursery?

Depends entirely on the child.
my youngest is going 4 days a week to a scheme set up in her SEN school that keeps the day very similarly structured to school.

would be hellish for her coming out of her routine for such a long period, then trying to readjust back in. Holidays when she was in term time nursery were a nightmare

Faux naive innocent blinks, it’s just so confusing!” The whole thing is judgy as fuck.

Exactly. If people can't see that they're being willfully obtuse.

Anyway OP, who cares? You do you, let this woman get on with doing her.

If we could all resist the urge to hoist the judgy pants at every given opportunity and post dumb threads on MN, that would be great, thanks.

I wish, for the sake of the parents at my school (SEN), that we did a holiday scheme. Some of them will be tearing their hair out about now. I’m not saying I’d work it (obviously having my own kids) but I’d probably be willing to do a bit to help out.

There is no doubt whatsoever that your decision is the best for your dd.

And for the sake of the children too, obviously.

It’s an absolute godsend.

Entirely run by volunteers as well. Lots of the school staff do odd days, especially the day trips when more hands are needed. They also help a lot (with parents consent) in giving those that are helping there hints and tips beforehand about things they find work with certain children.

I did notice when our kids were small that some friends used a lot less childcare than us - but had grandparents taking them for afternoons here, an overnight there. For some people time at nursery is the only time they ever get a break.

Sounds great, @JustLyra 😊

@Whinge She doesn’t get to pick them yp
normally as works long hours, so she wouldn’t be picking them up early, she’s just picking them up

Teacher here. Kept mine off everyday in the holidays, even though I paid to keep the place. And money was very tight, but never an option for me, as I wanted to spend time with them. Husband, a police officer, used to keep them off on his days off, or he would never see them. Nursery was purely a child care thing for us.

We don't have much in the way of family support. Since I had my eldest (almost 3) the only time me and my husband have had alone is when we've had our eldest at childcare and then both booked a day off work.

Normally all annual leave is used on covering childcare issues/illness and we then don't get a huge amount of time off together. When we do have time off together we always have both children so it's all go all the time.

If I had both my kids in nursery, so I was paying full time hours anyway, and my partner was a teacher I absolutely would be keeping them (more or less) in full time child care. I'd have them home for a day or two here and there to go on day trips but I'd mainly use the time to have some one on one time with my partner and sort the million jobs that build up around the house. Jobs that aren't child friendly (like clearing the garage and sheds etc).

Seriously, I’ve never spent two weeks sorting in the holidays in my life.

I’ve no idea if it’s different in primary but I left my school on Friday and I won’t be back in it until September 1.

1. Children do need a break IMO (being at home with parents shouldn't be that boring?) That could be fewer days per week or a few weeks off. It doesn't mean no nursery for 6 weeks - just more akin to what most parents tend to do with their annual leave.
2. All non teaching parents pay for nursery and don't send their kids - ie, the 5/6 weeks annual leave you get when you have your kids off with you. You don't save money by not sending them.

I work TTO, and when my youngest was nursery age, I could only find a full time place. Over the holidays I kept him with me sometimes, and sent him to nursery other times. I did not feel the need to justify my decision to keep him in or take him out to anyone.