Childcare during Christmas holiday

[Hope4newlife]

Hi,

I will be working my first job soon. So I do not think I can get holidays this year. When I looked at Christmas holidays, 1 day in Jan and 4 days before New year's day will be an issue as I won't be able to find a holiday club or childminder. This may happen Easter and A long summer holiday as well as little half terms.

I have no family or friends and my ex will not help but will laugh at me.

Is there anywhere I could possibly look at?

Some childminders work between christmas and new year

You have no friends? No family in the area for Christmas? How old is your child? Do they have school friends?

My child is 6 and of course I have friends but all of them will be with their family and relatives on Christmas holidays and Easter. I really struggled to find a childminder even during the day while I was waiting for a space in school in order to apply for a job to show them I am ready to work. So I am very much worried about it. I may be able to find someone for half term and may be summer time but when I think about big holidays like Easter and Christmas. I have never heard of any holiday clubs do or childminder will be higher than my daily pay.

See if you can find a childcare provider willing to work then. Try childcare.co.uk

I would absolutely look after a friends child over Christmas (maybe not xmas day or Boxing Day) if they were in a pickle. Ask a few different friends. My kids would love a school mate over to play with their new toys. That time between xmas and new year is weird.

Holiday clubs will be running. They are a lifesaver at Christmas when everyone you would normally call on are too busy. They are not advertising in my area yet but will do once half term is out of the way.

Its £30 a day for a full day where I am but Its a lot cheaper elsewhere.

If you have a school WhatsApp or Facebook group you see if anyone would be up for doing a childcare swap. As PP said, I’d happily have one of my DS’ classmates over for a play date over the holidays and they had him another time- even at a weekend or something.

You might find a college student for the days between Christmas and new year. That would allow your dd to stay at home and play with her toys.

I agree with PPs - we used to take it in turns to have the kids in the holidays. It varied, and sometimes both kids went to different houses, but we had 3 or 4 families we used to do swapsies with - all working parents who took turns to have a day off, or just wfh as the kids got older and could entertain themselves for large parts of the day.

@whosaidtha

I would absolutely look after a friends child over Christmas (maybe not xmas day or Boxing Day) if they were in a pickle. Ask a few different friends. My kids would love a school mate over to play with their new toys. That time between xmas and new year is weird.

So would l....would break up that Chrimbo limbo week nicely

Find a sensible but penniless local student and pay them well.

Ask on your local groups about holiday clubs - you'll be surprised as to what is out there. I live in a really small town, and even then there is half term and holiday clubs held at the leisure centre as well as things at the tennis club, rugby club, circus skills some days at a school, dance/drama club things, and the church sometimes. The local private schools all do holiday care as well and don't advertise it widely. When ds was younger I had a spreadsheet of all the holidays and what was available.

Same as I replied on similar thread

Call a local nanny agency - yes you may have to pay more then you earn but it’s a one off

But I would ask school mums

I would have no problem having dd 4.5 school friend over 27/28/29/30 Dec

Obv not every day. But sure most parents will be the same as me and happy to help lesst once

A friend over is fab as they play nicely

Plus for summer hols and ht you book now for holidays clubs as they do get booked up

Local childminders may be your answer.

Christmas is really the k let holoday you might find it a problem to find holiday clubs etc. Most holidays the leisure centre do sports camps, all the primary schools do holiday clubs (that you can go to even if not a pupil), there’s science camps, and other sports camps run by private companies, the nurseries also take school kids during the holidays too.

You generally need to think in advance for each holiday and book clubs as soon as the booking opens.
Is the father around? Can he take some days?
Do you have family that she can go stay with? Mine always went to MILs in Devon for a week of the summer. Other holidays she would come stay with us for a few days to do childcare
Swop days with other parents eg I would have someone’s kids on my day off and they would have mine on theirs.
Local uni students home for holidays may welcome some extra cash.

Christmas holidays are difficult for childcare, some childminders do have spaces available but might charge a premium.
don't forget you can claim up to £646.35 back in childcare costs through UC so this may help you.