Teachers and school age kids in holiday camps

[maybein2022]

Not a TAAT but sort of inspired by a couple of threads recently.

Say you’re a teacher or TA or on a term time only contract, with primary school age kids (I’m one of those people). So off for all the holidays. Views on putting your kids in holiday camp type things (sports related for example). Yes or no or depends? I have one in secondary (13) who I basically don’t see, she is off with her friends, camps have no appeal to her at all. Sometimes we might spend the day together or do stuff as a family, and she’s obviously coming on holiday with us soon.

I also have a younger one, (9) who loves sport, and actively asks to go to camps. We can afford it. I’m also pregnant so nice to have some down time. Out of the whole 6 weeks holiday he’s doing 4 days of one camp 9-3, and 4 days of another 9.30-1.00. So 8 days total, spread out, plus some days out, days chilling and our family holiday.

YABU- camps are unnecessary if you’re not working
YANBU- of course camps are fine if you can afford them and the kids are happy to go

I think people get touchy about this, as its massively stressful trying to cover the holidays if you don't work term-time only. Most people in that situation don't get a single day in the year where they are not either working or doing childcare. A day in the summer to just work, rather than trying to work and parent simultaneously sometimes feels like a holiday. Particularly if your child hates camps, it can be a huge source of stress.

So listening to people complain about having the summer off with their children can grate.

But - it's not a race to the bottom. I would love to be in that situation. If there is camp your child likes, then that sounds like a lovely situation to be in.

My mum was a childminder so always around in the summer. We always would have spent a week away at scout camp and a week or 2 at camps of various interests.
I think it's good for kids to do stuff they enjoy and play with other kids their age.

My children love spending time together at home so I wouldn’t put them in a holiday but in your case, I don’t see why now.

Of course YANBU! They will have fun, socialise and try new stuff.

In my experience holiday childcare for primary aged children works out far cheaper than even a mediocre day out, so I use childcare as a way of them doing something enjoyable/stimulating alongside those more expensive activities and to avoid spending the whole summer bumming around at home.

Sometimes my kids go on Brownie camp at the weekends when I'm not working. Please can someone tell me if that's ok?

(Of course it's fine OP - if everyone's happy it's a win)