Are summer holidays outdated?

[emkana]

So Caitlin Moran says in the Times today. She says they would never be invented now and are a relic (sp?) of the time when children had to help bring in crops etc. Totally impractical nowadays with work etc.

But I would hate for my children not to have that experience of six weeks stretching ahead of them...

I think summer holidays should stay.

[NKF]

Anna, you never got back to me with ideas for Paris. Shameless hijack here. I'm planning another trip soon and I need to know.

[NKF]

All suggestions gratefully received...

[Anna8888]

One day - if you were walking around the centre of Paris you could have lunch at a very small restaurant called Aux Bons Crus on the rue des Petits-Champs just behind the North exit of Palais-Royal. Or if you want a fantastic view, try the Café Marly in the Louvre (on the terrace overlooking the pyramid) - this is great because the terrace works all year round as it's covered/heated. Or go to Café de Flore on boulevard Saint-Germain at Saint-Germain des Prés metro.

[NKF]

Thank you. Much appreciated. Insider knowledge always the way to go.

[figroll]

I love the 6 week summer break - it gives us chance to catch up on being a family again. The children love it and I think when they get up to GCSE level, they really appreciate the break from all the coursework and homework.

[Nymphadora]

I was already to type a long response but now I have read the thread I can just say I agree with MartinBishop

Especially the 2 weeks in Oct though as that term always feels so long and that wouldn't be a bad time to go away (better than going abroad in the summer anyway)

[AufishFeQueen]

Not long enough for me! I enjoy having the kids home on holidays.

[superalienstitch]

we had three months off for th esummer holidays. i was horrified to learn kids only get six weeks in this country.
andhalf term? what is that all about. i mean, why? no point to it at all.
i'd rather have proper summer holidays, and a decent time off at christmas, rathr than the laughable two weeks we get, and dispense with the waste f time half term.

[Judy1234]

it depends on the school. Private schools are 8 weeks+ in the summer and usually 3 weeks Christmas and 3 Easter etc. Some have a 2 week half term in October. State schools have longer terms in the UK.

[twinsetandpearls]

Have not read all the posts but I can see this from 2 standpoints.

1 a teacher - I can see that the children may regress and that perhaps the holiday could be split up more equally.

As a parent though I love the six weeks, as I get quality time with my own daughter as during term time I can get so tired that my time with her other than at weekends is very minimal and not what I would call quality time. However I would perhaps like three weeks at Christmas so we could have longer at home before to do Christmassy things together. We have two weeks in October as we have twilight INSET - I think those two weeks are really important as that first term drags and is really hard especially for the new year sevens.

[Eliza2]

Anna8888--I can certainly see how well it works in France (lucky things to have those Alps). Ski camps sound like a good solution.

[Eliza2]

Anna8888--I can certainly see how well it works in France (lucky things to have those Alps). Ski camps sound like a good solution.

[Wordsmith]

I agree with Hurlyburly. 6 weeks is too long, my DS was climbing the walls at the end of it. The only parents I know who enjoy it are teachers - they need the break too and don't have to worry about childcare.

Any school hol is difficult when you WOTH but from a kid's point of view, weeks and weeks of childcare is not much fun.

Anything that gives families more flexibility when to take hols etc is good from my POV. And as for the school not being childcare argument, well yes of course, but schools are part of society. Employers have had to get used to being flexible when they employ parents, and as a working parent myself it would be nice to have some give and take from the school instead of being made to feel like you're an oddity.

[Anna8888]

Eliza2 - if ever you are looking for a ski camp, UCPA are the big providers.

[snorkle]

I love the long holidays my children have (private school, so 8 weeks in the summer) - it's one of the things that really sets childhood apart from adulthood imo. I also agree with scienceteacher (miles down the thread) that it's only after a good break that they get bored and start doing really creative stuff.

[Eliza2]

Thanks, Anna8888!