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!

My friend managed to sign up for 2 different nurseries (one which was not term time). Her kid attended once a week to keep his place. You could ask about to see if they would take him for a couple of months.

A child minder is your best bet OP, someone that has a couple of minded kids would bring the overall cost of your DCs place down.

Yes exactly! I hear Bridget Phillipsob wants us all to move towards school based nurseries. We’ll do that when they actually start providing a childcare service that allows us to work thanks.

You can’t afford the childminder? But realistically any other childcare is going to cost you in some way unfortunately.
Your only cheaper options are maximising you and your dp’s annual leave, if you work part time, swapping days/kids with another family or calling in a lot of favours from friends or family.
Can you WFH?

You split leave between you, try and do reciprocal arrangements with other preschool parents, take parental leave each if it's cheaper than childminder (probably not), look for preschools that offer holiday childcare (one near us but I know they're not common), both wfh juggling and do extra in the evening?? Nothing ideal unfortunately.

If you and DH take 2 weeks holiday each and look after all the kids that’s 4 weeks covered, then you look for private summer clubs or ask your childminder for the other 2 weeks.

If you can't afford a childminder what can you afford to cover the childcare? You'll have to use your annual leave.

This seems the most sensible option.