At what age do holidays with children start to feel relaxing?

[hallydays]

At roughly what point did you actually feel holidays were relaxing?

I am not saying that they aren’t enjoyable with little children; they can be but there’s no relaxing involved!

How old were your children when you were on holiday (not necessarily away) and felt like you were actually having a break?

marking my spot as interested in the answer too 😂😂

We went to Disney when DD was 7 and DS was 9 nearly 10. That was good. Tiring but good.

Year after was Barbados. That was very relaxing/easy.

It's been a breeze since.

Before Disney we'd take grandparents, that was probably more stressful than the kids!

When they could swim well enough to go in the pool while I read a book. I clearly remember a holiday when mine were 7 and 9 and they played for hours with some dive sticks and I didn’t have to go in. Life changing!

When they can swim safely tho in eyewatch so varying if had lessons but around 7ish

Ha ha. Snap. Great minds

Yep, 7 and up, they started to make friends around the pool and that was the game changer. We did go away when they were smaller though so we were used to sun holidays. I think if you started at 7 it could still be tough to get used to

Yes same as pthers 7-10 years old. For toddlers and babies i wish i hadnt bothered

I found it was when they could stay up for a normal dinner time and a bit beyond, I guess when ours were about 5 and 8. Though we did make it easier on ourselves by anyways self catering so we weren't stuck in a room after kids' bedtime. Also generally avoided beaches or holidays that were lots of lying around a pool, which I don't like anyway, and also that stuff is stressful as hell bc you are having to watch them that absolute hawks in our near the water.

Around age 6/7

28

I went camping (we love it) with my 27/25/22/19 and 13 year old this weekend that was pretty relaxing 😂

Always!

We holidayed in Spain, self catering, for six weeks, every year from them being 4 months old. Loved it!

When they can order at the bar themselves

mine were 5 and 2 last year and it was the first time it felt like a holiday, although obviously nothing like a holiday pre kids. We went again in spring this year and found the same. Think we’ve found the kind of holiday that works for us with these ages though.

When they're teens and want to lie in a dark room on their phone all the time - you can go and do your own thing and come back and find them exactly where you left them. Then as older teens (girls) when they are old enough to lounge around in the spa. And finally when they are old enough to go away on their own.

When we started leaving the children at home and holidaying without them….

Only half joking 😆 when they got to around 8/9/10, then came the grotty teen years when they weren’t happy with anything, then they became adults and holidays were fun again 😆

I would say 5 and 7, but we also tag team them too so we each get a kid free hour or two a day too which helps with the relaxation. I also love a beach and pool combo as sitting on the beach my girls will happily hunt for shells and dig in the sand for a good hour or so with minimal involvement from me!

😂 when they went to children's club freely and willingly!

In my experience:

Babies and toddlers - not a holiday. On pins the whole time anticipating hazards, and dealing with the hell that is a change to their routine. Save your cash.
Children: Still hard work
Teens: Sulky little buggers that wind you up with their incessant complaining after you’ve paid out a fortune
18-24: Refuse to come, far better things to do than holidaying with boring parents. Holidays are good, aside from the worry that they’re trashing the house back home.
25+: Functional human beings. Enjoy parents company again. Holidays are finally great.

Taking away young adults now. It’s still not relaxing

Depends on your kids and your set up. DH hates sitting still so he is usually in the pool with them. Last year at 6 and 9 we went away with their cousins and they all played together and it was really chilled out. AI so they helped themselves to drinks and snacks, no pestering. My kids are fairly chilled out though but hate organised fun like kids clubs and evening entertainment. They prefer going for a walk!

Holidays with our 2.5 year old DD can be relaxing at times but only because my lovely DM comes with us and that allows us some downtime here and there!!

I feel like all holidays have been relaxing with DS since 7m but I have a DH who pulls his weight and one child means we could tag team. Now he’s 9 it’s really enjoyable. We’ve also used kids clubs if DS wants to go but never force him to.

TBH I find holidaying with family/other kids worse as you’re managing different schedules/food preferences etc.

Since the youngest was reliably continent and could walk far enough that a buggy wasn't required. Maybe 3? Plus she was pretty self entertaining then and better at sleeping in new places.

Last year when the you gest was 6 and could swim well. They were old enough that they could be trusted to sit in a restaurant properly without constant entertainment, could entertain themselves a bit and I didn't need to be at arms reach in the pool with them constantly. We could also site see and travel without worrying about over tiredness and tantrums etc.