...to be irritated by people who pack their DCs off to clubs as soon as the hols start?

[juicy12]

I'm not talking about people who work full/part-time here. But really about people who are SAHM/SAHDs. Some people seem to be terrified at the prospect of spending any time with their DCs just in the home, just hanging out or doing home activities. I've got a DS - 5 and a DD - 2.5, and I'm looking forward to some weeks of chilling out, painting, craft stuff, swimming, playing etc. I've lost count of the number of other SAHMs who take the "can't possibly have them at home for 6 weeks" line and schedule the entire break to within a nano-second. Or am I being mean not booking DS1 in for loads of different activities?

at Doodle2u.

I have a DS aged 5 and a pre-school DD too and if juicy12 is "looking forward to some weeks of chilling out, painting, craft stuff, swimming, playing etc" then all I can say is her DS is significantly different to mine.

CurryMaid - sorry to have offended you so much. Haven't been on MN for that long, so I'm really sorry that I don't have all the "stupid" threads commited to memory yet. I will endeavour to do a thorough search through before posting again, lest I should rile you. That's the worst obnoxious I can do. Anyway, I'm off now to plan tomorrow's fun-filled day lol!

Juicy12 - why don't you ask your numerous friends who do this exactly why they do it and what they are so scared of? Then let us know, enlighten us all how people are terrified to spend time with their children.

"I will endeavour to do a thorough search through before posting again,"

I'd suggest you remove your overly tight Judgey Pants too.

My idea of a fun filled day doesnt necessarily involve children.

Jeez, I find it hard having one bored three year old at home.
I will send him to clubs he might fancy when he is old enough.
7 weeks is a LONG time to hang around at home.

My 12 year olds are capable of doing (by themselves) arts and crafts around the home, or chilling (though i prefer my desserts to do that ), and even have the choice of some good computer games...but they clearly would much rather sit on the sofa and say 'I'm Boooooooored! what can we do?'

LOL...can't wait for you to catch up, juicy12!

Some kids like doing organised activities. - I wish mine did- mine have spent most of this week bickering over the ps3, bickering over card games, bickering over the supermarket shop etc etc

"don't people want to spend time with their DC"

So, these clubs run 24/7 from the first day of holidays to the last do they? Ever thought that the children could do the clubs and spend time with their parents?

I send DS1 to art club because he loves it.

DH is a chef and this is (along with Christmas) his busiest time of the year. I have no family nearby.

Last week he worked 70 hours .

So shoot me, I need a bit of support so pack my DCs off to do something they love.

Well its your perogative not to want to use them, but im glad there are people that dont want them as it leaves more space for me, and im so unorganised I never book them in till the week before so I need the spaces!!

Mine are going cheerleading, multisports, tennis, football and dance. It keeps them active and me sane!

Juicy, this "but don't people want to spend time with their DC? That's my point." is exactly the same line that is used against working parents, 999 times out of 1000 it is inaccurate and offensive. Usually it is best to accept that other people can have different view points than yours and that people interact with their dc in different ways. For instance it is perfectly possible to get great quality time with your dc discussing thngs they have done that day, who they met, what they learnt and so on. Dc do not have to be strapped to our sides every day in order to have a great relationship woth them. You do things your way, you feel it works well and that is great however please do not be too judgemental about people who do things a different way, you have no idea about the hows whys or wherefores and are not really in a position to apply guilt.

juicy.....im a SAHM and my DS went to playscheme tues and today and my DD went to childminder wed. DS gets to do canoeing and swimming which is something he would not get to do with me. (will add DS is ASD so we have 12 hours of respite a week over the summer!

No, YANBU. My neighbour used to say right in front of her kids that they drove her nuts in the school holidays and she couldn't wait for clubs to start. If my dc want to go fair enough but personally I like being with my kids. Why does that make someone smug?

It doesn't irritate me as such but its not for me.

I think it is a balance.

Clubs/ activites can be brillaint at introducing new things to your DCs and get their confidence up.

but I find it sad how some kids seem to have their entire weeks filled up with organised activites. My best childhood moments were those of pure freedom from having to be anywhere or do anything. It meant I was really good at entertaining myself and that I spent loads of time with my parents just hanging out.

Give 'em a bit of time off.

...and no, I do not understand why it would irritate you if others want to do this.

Why on Earth do you care what other people do with their children so long as it's not neglectful or abusive?

If a child wants to do an activity club, and finances don't prevent it, then what is the harm?

DD has been home this week with me. However, one day she spent 7 hours playing with her best friend, most of the time upstairs in her bedroom and playroom. I saw her to feed her and her friend. Tomorrow will be similar when another frend comes. Not sure I see much difference betweent his and DD going to a clyb for the day.

i think the sports/ activity clubs are a fab idea- who can knock those?

however, i would make a distinction between those and the after school/ breakfast clubs that operate in this area, which offer full time childcare during the hols. i'm guessing that these are less fun for the dc than a morning cheerleading. do non working parentsreally put their dcs in childcare settings during the hols? that to me, is a separate thing altogether.

I think your just bitter cos you cant afford holiday club or yuor partner wont let you use them

do your kids go to playgroup even though your a sahm?
if they do isn't it because they enjoy it so much?

Surely a mix of stuff is better. If I gave my 5 yr old ds the choice of playing/painting at home (which he can do in the evenings and weekends anyway) or going to cricket or rugby camp I know what the answer would be. He does a mix of holiday club/activities and being at home. He had a complete meltdown yesterday morning because he was not going to holiday club. Surely it depends on the child, finances and (if you are a SAHM) patience.

6 weeks is a long time to try and entertain children. In my ds's case he gets 8.5 weeks hols. Both of us would be tearing our hair out if we spent the entire time together.

by the way, we are doing keycamp this year, as i've got rather used to a couple of hours by the pool without the dc, courtesy of kids club. i discovered this luxury when dd2 was 2yo. lots of peoiple would criticise me for this, i expect.