What does everyone do with their toddlers over the summer break?!

[Supamum3]

Not AIBU - posting for traffic!

I have a 3 yr old who attends school nursery so will break up for 6 weeks in July. Summer clubs in my area (Hackney) are from age 5, so I’m buggered. No family nearby plus they all work full time.

What do people with toddlers do?!!! Please offer me some tips!

Just to clarify, are you talking about what to do for activities or for child care?

Can you find a childminder for the summer holidays ?

Everyone I know with a toddler sends them to private nursery for this reason.

Summer nanny

I was one when I was a uni student. Looked after two infant school age siblings for four weeks of the summer holiday while their parents went to work then they went to see extended family for two weeks.

Went to the park a lot, did museums (free as in London), went to the water fountains to play a lot etc. Parents shifted hours around so one went to work earlier and then finished earlier so they were back at 4.45ish

Also am in Hackney and there are some schemes for three year olds

https://holytrinity.hackney.sch.uk/parents/extended-provision/summer-play-scheme/

https://www.greenwaysforestschool.com/book-holiday-camps

https://wentworthnurseryschool.co.uk/parents/parent-and-school/holiday-play-scheme/

Take 6 weeks off and look after them. If you have no job to go back to after find another, you are replaceable at work but not at home.

Booking for this one opens on Friday this week so get on it: http://www.hackneyforestschool.co.uk/web/

This actually made me laugh out loud, if only life was that simple hey!

You could ask at local nurseries. Ours has lots of term time only children so there would be spaces over the holidays. DD2 only goes to ours 3 days per week usually but I have been able to book some extra days for her over the summer for example, whilst I finish a major project at work.

And if you can’t pay your mortgage and bills ….?

Hahaha I’m not quite sure you understand the concept of ‘work’.

Op this is why you need a private nursery. Failing that do you have a dp who you can juggle annual leave with? Any friends who could help out? Six weeks is a really long time to try and wing it. You need to get plans in place asap.

I think your mistake was in putting your toddler in a nursery that isn't open in the school holidays. Why would you do that?

Can you WFH and employ a teen babysitter to entertain them whilst you work?

Take as much annual leave as possible and get dp to do the same and/or ask for some unpaid parental leave.

Trade days with another family in a similar position if you know anybody.

Ask the school TAs if they would do some babysitting hours.

Ring around a few day nurseries and see if they have holidays places.

I’m curious though, how have you only just realised this is an issue.

OP may be a SAHM and just asking for ideas of things to do.

• Farm trip
• Jumping in puddles was one of our favourites and taking cars to play in the puddles, getting filthy including weeks full of water! Then stripping off outside the house and having a nice, warm bath with loads of toys for an hour.
• Walk, feeding ducks and an ice cream in big park
• Park and picnic
• Visiting friends
• Staying with grandpare or cousins
• Getting bus into Central London and visiting Dad at work/ walking along the river/ going in Tate
• Going on a stream train
• Baking and playdough
• Paddling pool and making potions in the garden

Gosh I miss those days.

thanks for the replies, lots of great things to check out.

I have just started working after being a SAHM sonce toddler was born so it’s first time it’s an issue. I have older dc that will go to playscheme whilst me and dh work but they only take from age 5. We have a childminder that helps with wrap around care but no way we could afford her for full days.

Parental leave?

Split the holiday between you?

I think that's why most working parents use private nurseries.

Personally I felt being able to put a roof over my childs head and food in their stomach was pretty essential

This is why we were unable to use school based preschool and had to use a private nursery. Pre WFH days when we needed watertight childcare.

We have a childminder that helps with wrap around care but no way we could afford her for full days.

I assume you've used all your 30 hour funding during term weeks?

Alas whatever you find childcare wise will cost you, the childminder is likely to be among the cheaper end of the options. As a pp said, term time nursery classes & preschools are less popular with working parents for this reason.

Stick them in the attic with some tinned Ortiz tuna (only the best) till September.

Yes, they could make a magic money tree rockery as part of creative play

Unfortunately, childcare costs are one of the sunk costs involved in going back to work.

This, I'd move across to a year round one and keep DC in until school age. Just make life easier for yourself.

We used a nursery that was open all year instead of a school hours nursery.

🤣 and the bills will disappear because summer holidays