Why don't people take their kids on holiday?

[Micnerhss]

Just to be clear, I don’t mean people who genuinely can’t afford holidays... I’m talking about people who can but still don’t.

In my close friendship group, I’m literally the only one who takes my kids away. We love seeing the world, exploring new places, different cultures, and just getting out of the UK for a bit. I honestly think holidays are so important, its proper family time away from the constant busyness of life.

But none of my really close friends ever take their kids away, not even for a little UK break, and I just can’t get my head around it.

The excuses are things like “I don’t know how airports work” or “I wouldn’t know where to go”… but there’s a whole world out there!

If you can afford it, why wouldn’t you treat your kids to a holiday?! They are missing out on so much by never leaving the UK!

How old is your daughter?

"My son has non verbal severe ASD. Having autism doesn't stop anyone travelling. It may be more stressful at times but its worth it to give your kids that experience."

My son would get nothing out of that experience. I do things that he enjoys.
Also I don't think anyone would enjoy sharing a plane with him.

She'll be 6 next birthday.

We've been on a few UK holidays (which was all we could do to begin with anyway as she was a Covid baby), once to Portugal, next month to Lapland, and she's had 2 birthday parties and will be having one for her 6th.

Some of our friends go abroad 2-3 times a year and have UK breaks in between, so I notice those, but I don't notice who doesn't go.

I know someone who will stay with their sibling now and again as they live a distance away but never goes on holiday with their partner and children, not even UK holiday.

Reasons they’ve given are no desire to go away, get overwhelmed organising what they need, don’t know where to go and find the idea of booking somewhere stressful.

I understand all of the above but think it’s a shame they don’t try it, even if just for their children.

They sound... odd? If they're you're closest friends, you must know why they don't take their kids away.

It was your comment about them saying they wouldn’t have parties for their child EVER

My guess is they were talking about bloody awful whole class parties

What did they do pre DC? Did they go on holidays/weekend breaks as singles or couples? Did you holiday with them?

It is unusual to have a high percentage of yoru social group who don't holiday or travel at all.

Some people are daunted by the unfamiliar, some people have grown up not holidaying, some prioritise their spending on reducing mortgages or upping their pensions, some people love being at home.

I think it's important to show your children that "abroad" is nothing special. It can be, but "abroad" covering every country in the world, many of them are really not a big cultural shock.

Going a bit further to show them what IS different is interesting too.

It's a bit narrow-minded to tell them the world is your own country and not more.

I think it’s just one of those different strokes for different folks things. I always to struggle to relate to people who aren’t ambitious and just stay in dead end jobs for years on end, my brain is just wired differently, but I find myself feeling jealous of family members who don’t feel the the need to run up a ladder and are seemingly content with a simpler life. Just what it is I suppose, different things motivate people.

I’m lucky enough to have enjoyed many holidays with my kids (now young adults). DH and I had maybe one weekend a year away without them, but every holiday was with kids. And I’ve loved 99% of them. We are going skiing at NY (driving with the boys and a mate) and I’m so pleased they still want to come with us. Suspect they might do their own thing where night life is concerned though!

This seems unusual. I’ve never come across it in any middle class or working class uk families. Obviously different locations and types of holiday depending on the budget and preferences but not no breaks at all

what's wrong with class parties now 😂

I don't think many parents actually LOVE them, but they go with the territory when you have kids. You throw a couple or more during Primary school, invite back every child that ever invited your child, done.

I never did a class party shudder

best party was when I hired in a reptile and insect chap who came to the house with a loads of spiders, giant snails, snakes! 8 of them… sat in the garden and got to touch them all, then party food and games.

that just would not have worked with 33

we did go ape
theme park
pizza making
lush party

and never more than 8-10. My children’s actual friends who they actually wanted at their party

worked for us

I bet people wonder the same thing about us. On the surface me and DH have well paid professional jobs, a big detached house…. But we don’t prioritise holidays, never have. We’ve taken DCs abroad a few times, we go on holiday in the UK fairly frequently, but there are more important things to spend time and money on! Also, I just love being at home.

You struggle to understand that people might not have the same interests as you? Really?

I am a musician and would rather spend my time performing with my various ensembles locally, than go on holiday. It gives me absolute joy.

Some of the loudest who crow about 'broadening horizons' and 'culturally enriching' their children, barely leave the all inclusive complex in reality 🤷‍♂️

My son is 7 and only been on a couple of caravan holidays in the UK. Why? Because we have a reactive dog that can’t go in kennels. We have to go places that take dogs. Also if truth be told I can’t be arsed getting new passports to go abroad. I loathe travelling. Don’t mind once we get there, but the travel stresses me out.

Travelling is generally stressful and not worth the effort. Queuing in airports, delayed flights, lost luggage, jet lag etc.... Have never managed to travel anywhere without severe disruption. And have ended up ill from the food on every trip I've ever taken. Don't sleep well away from home either. Not been on a holiday for over 15 years now, and never intend to go on another. Doesn't appeal in the slightest.

Just how dim are your friends? If someone told me they 'didn't know how airports work' I would presume they were taking the piss!

Well you're wrong in saying they dont go on holiday. They do, just not abroad. What's wrong with that? It's still a holiday. The kids have plenty of time to go abroad once they are adults. I only went abroad once as a kid; since I turned 21 I've been abroad pretty much every year. My friend however has never taken her kids abroad but they have a holiday in really interesting places in the UK, see lots of sights, go on walks etc

How many times do we have threads on here from people asking how London Transport (tube, buses, Oyster payment cards etc) works?
If you don't live in London or go there regularly then why would you know?
Would you say those people are "dim"?

I love travelling and have brought my dc1 to lots of places but in all honesty travelling with kids isn’t all it’s cracked up to be and I’ve found that he enjoys holidays at home just as much. I would never question why someone else doesn’t bring their kids abroad. Kids don’t need fancy holidays abroad to have fun or be enriched.

I traveled a lot as a child aboard and the U.K.. We haven’t taken all the children aboard we travel the U.K.

One of my children I’d have to drag kicking and screaming to step foot on a plane and they would likely use anything they could to get out of it so it’s a bit of a no go anyway.

But most of the families from my children’s school who do go aboard just tend to do the typical all inclusive not leaving the resort type holidays which doesn’t do anything for me. If and when we do go do either with or without children I want to go off and explore.

I also recall as a child how none of my friends seemed to of visited anywhere in the U.K. always just the chips by the pool in Spain or possibly at most Skegness or Blackpool.

I have no desire to see the world. I don’t speak any other languages and a food allergy rules out a lot of meals and food. I wouldn’t trust google translate to keep me alive. Quite happy in the UK.

I’ve never understood this either. Growing up my parents ALWAYS took me on holiday. They didn’t once go on a weekend away without me. Granted, im an only child so they could afford it. But I had so many friends who’s parents seemingly couldn’t wait to get away for the weekend and would go abroad without their kids etc (and yes they could afford it!)

Their reasoning was that they didn’t want to be without me and also to experience different cultures etc.

We’re expecting our first child soon and I hope to do the same in taking them away - though much more expensive than 20 yrs ago…!