Haven with a 5 year old

[TwentyTwenty20]

I've booked a Haven holiday for October. Booking activities now and there are loads aged 2-4, most age 6 or 12+, and a very small handful for age 5 and over (mostly things like rock painting and sand sculptures). Even the football kickaround is age 6+. My son will be 5. I'm trying to get through to them to ask whether they are guidelines, or if they're rules but suspect they are rules. Don't want to book age 6+ activities and be disappointed!

Has anyone been with a vert sporty 5 year old and found that they're disappointed at not being able to do a lot of the more physical stuff?

Even den building, nest box creations, football kickaround etc is all age 6+. Feeling a bit deflated but I guess we can build our own den...

We had the other end of the spectrum this year with our 11yo! He was able to do the adult versions of the activities no problem (segways, rock climbing etc) with us despite not being 12. It was a guideline. He’s tall and capable so they went with that.

Definitely ask the staff, I can’t imagine it being a problem. Oh and we went in the height of peak season to a busy park (Devon) and didn’t prebook activities for this reason, it was fine to book when we got there.

Good luck!

Yes, I'd enquire about that - it seems just plain wrong that an age is missed out completely!

I don't know how well Haven check ages on activities (I think it might be only done if your DC looks completely the wrong size, because it really wouldn't be fair to anyone to have a toddler in an activity aimed for school-age DC)

I do know that if it's a pool based activity (like those underwater thingies whose name temporarily eludes me) when they ask for a minimum swimming competency, they do check at the start of the session by asking everyone to swim 2 lengths. If you can't do it, then you will be asked to leave.

I've just phoned and asked and they said they check at the start as it is am insurance thing. I'm gutted, I don't understand how a 5 year old isn't allowed to go den building. He's been in forest school building dens with tools since he was 2! I'm not going to argue it with them. I should've checked before I booked.