Do you put your dc in kids clubs on holiday?

[loonylovegood23]

Never done it before but we go away on a Spanish package holiday in a few weeks and all of the reviews say how brilliant the kids club facilities are. My toddler is 3 and very chatty and sociable. She loves preschool and I genuinely think she’d enjoy it and I would enjoy having an hour to relax by the pool with my book and a cocktail.

But I just don’t know if I’d feel comfortable leaving her. She has only been potty trained since the beginning of the summer holidays so that’s one concern. She is doing amazingly but I don’t know if it’s within the remit of a hotel kids club to deal with any accidents. I would definitely go and stay with her to see what it’s like first of course. Have you done it before and did your kids enjoy it?

We planned to 2 years ago when we were in a hotel with a club but never got round to it. We were either out for the day or if we were at the hotel kids just wanted to be in the pool.

We made sure to give each other at least an hour solo a day though for uninterrupted reading and relaxing.

I don’t, but had the same worries as you. In actual fact you are welcome to stay and it’s a nice cool area for them to play and make friends. I sat on the sun bed reading literally outside the indoor bit. They loved the staff for the mini discos and were happy to potter in and out. It wasn’t a leave or go set up where we were. Just popped them in and stayed about and they enjoyed some indoor time.

It was always the highlight of dd's holiday. She's very fair skinned, so used to do kids' club after lunch, to get her out of the hottest part of the day. She didn't fry, I got a couple of hours to chill out. They also did shows/dancing etc in the evening, which she loved joining in with.

I definitely wouldn’t put a 3 year old in kids club in a foreign country.

We always look at the activities and give them the option. DD2 decided to go to the beach one year, she was 7yo and the only English speaking kid there 😅 then both of them decided to join in with a water fight one afternoon.

Other than that, they always love the mini disco in the evening.

No, our kids are close in age and play together in the pool and DH and I are both happy to be in the pool/in the sea with them all day as we’re not big sunbathers. We usually take them inside out of the midday sun for a couple of hours and take it in turns each day to have a break during that time.

I am sure I would if all of the above didn’t apply!

I think if their confident and you think they would enjoy it absolutely. Older kids i would just go along with whatever they chose

We do, but only once I felt my kids were old enough.
Youngest was 5, with her 2 older brothers to keep her safe. I made sure they would take her to the toilet if needed etc.

At 3 I think its unlikely you will be able to leave them unaccompanied, I think they normally have to be 5 to be left. You can take them and stay with them, great to get out of the sun for a bit.

I put my 18 month old and 4 year old in kids club for a couple of hours a day on our last holiday

3yo... probably not to be honest.
Older child who wanted to... yes.

We did from age 5, for 1-2 hours. I wouldn't have put them in at age 3, and we preferred spending time with them in the pool or doing trips anyway.

Im sure op will still spend plenty of time with her in the pool and doing trips

I never have, wouldn’t feel comfortable personally especially not that young

Yes, have done in a Martinhal hotel in Portugal.

I’m not talking about dumping her in there all day. It was just a thought given how good the reviews are. And I know she’d enjoy the activities and social element of it. It would only be for an hour or so and probably not even everyday as we will be out and about. But no I don’t think I’ll feel comfortable leaving her and will probably just hover about.

Don't let others make you feel mum guilt over this its your holiday to and you deserve an hour to read a book and have a drink. You know your kid best if she enjoys being with other kids she will love it. I went to holiday club as a kid and loved it.

My eldest (6) has gone in for the last two years and this time her brother (3) joined her. Both loved it. Went for about an hour a day.

Yes I am on universal credit so we get free kids holiday clubs all week for the 6 weeks. My youngest has been attending twice a week.

• Misread the post but they also attend when abroad if he go all inclusive somewhere a club or whatever they offer.

Shes on about kids club abroad on holiday

Yeah, I was too excited to talk about free holiday clubs as it's quite a novelty for us as we only just moved to universal credit.

Sounds like it's just the two of you so I think I'd be more tempted so you actually get an hour to yourself here and there. Maybe stay with her, see if she settles and if you're happy, leave her for an hour then come back. And just take it as it comes

Nope they’re generally run by underpaid very young staff. Wouldn’t trust them personally

No, because the staff are not properly trained. I’m happy to have them do the kids disco or painting etc when i’m around but no way would I leave them in a kids club with untrained staff in a foreign country.

Mine went in it when she was about five. That was our first AI abroad holiday anyway. At first she said she wasn’t sure so we said it was fine and a few days later she asked to go. Then she was in the show and they also had movie night so DH and I just went for a few drinks at the ‘nightclub’ on site. We picked her up about 9. Next holiday after that she was 9 and didn’t want to go but she made a big group of friends and they spent the whole week pushing each other in the pool!