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Original poster

Kids Club

19 replies

Tw1nkle · 12/04/2012 12:04

Hiya,
Off to menorca soon and my DD is 3, soold enough for the kids club!

I wouldn't want to put her in it that much - maybe just a couple of times during the two weeks.

What does everyone think of them?
I think I'm a little nervous to leave her with strangers.
It's a First Choice resort - only First Choice guests inclusive.
Arethey safe enough?
Am I being silly?

Any advice appreciated!!!

OP posts:

rufusnine · 12/04/2012 17:25

Over the years our 8 year old has never been a fan of the kids clubs abroad due to the fact that almost all of the reps weren't English and she was worried either she could not understand them or vice versa. However we went to a first choice village last year where all the reps were English and after a bit of persuasion she had a whale of a time and the club rooms were all safe and secure. You had to sign your child in and out and leave a mobile number for contact. My advice would be try it and see! Just leave her for half an hour/ an hour the 1st time and see if she likes it! As long as its the same kind of set up as I've described (We have been to hotels that just let the children leave the club to go and find their parents - nightmare!!)

Stilla · 12/04/2012 19:54

I've worked as a First Choice kids rep - our kids club was (of course) fabulous!

We were always very strict on the signing in and out of club and ratios ( I would think ALL FC kids clubs are ). As rufusnine said - you don't have to leave her the full session . If there is a point where you can see in with out going into the club room - ask one of the reps if they can give you a 'thumbs up' if you pop back to check . Our club was easily viewed from the outside and I was always happy to do this . Also if she does get really upset - someone will bring her back to you .

If you are only going to do a few sessions - check the notice board and pick the ones you know she'll enjoy - chocolate party was always very popular !

Original poster

Tw1nkle · 13/04/2012 10:33

That's great - thanks both!

It is First Choice hioliday Village that we're going too, so the signing in/out sounds perfect. If it's close to where I can see it, them we'll definately give it a go - we're obvioulsy not going to force her, but she adores nursery and I know she'll be bored after a while around the pool!

A couple of mornings will do her the world of good!

Chocolate party sounds interesting!!!!

OP posts:

kickingKcurlyC · 15/04/2012 10:12

When are you going? I'm going to PM you!

Original poster

Tw1nkle · 16/04/2012 15:25

Thanks KickingKcurlyC !!!!

I'm going in May!

OP posts:

pud1 · 16/04/2012 15:28

We ar also going to a fist choice holiday village in Portugal on the 29th of April. I am thinking the same as you.

Just as a mini hijack. What are these holiday villages like in general.

Original poster

Tw1nkle · 16/04/2012 16:02

We went to a thomson equivalent last year - and it was brilliant! hence we're doing another one this year!

The resorts are soley for people from the UK, all UK entertainment, and the kiddies are really well catered for.

Plenty to do etc. Put you're never felt under pressure to participate in anything if you didn't want too.

OP posts:

kickingKcurlyC · 17/04/2012 19:46

I'll be there in May too. PM sent! We can do the secret mumsnet handshake and share a packet of pombears by the pool.

Hersetta · 18/04/2012 08:56

We've been to the holiday village in Egypt twice (in our winter) and DD who was 3.4 yr last time adored the kids club. She used to go to 2 sessions during the day (lots of crafting, playing games, beach treasure hunts etc) and sometimes one at night as well. We never forced her or suggested she go, she just loved it and loved the fact that when we walked around the grounds all the staff knew her name and would say hello. She had daily swimming lessons (which you pay for), went to the mini disco in the evening and then sometimes when that was finished she would ask to go to evening kids club (from 9pm to 11pm) and they would do more crafting and watch a disney film usually. We could have a relaxing dinner and a couple of drinks at the adult only bar and then pick her up. They were very careful about picking them up - you have to sign for them and they check the signatures against your registration card.

We are trying the holiday village in Turkey at the end of may and hope it as good as the egypt one.

startail · 18/04/2012 09:24

Thomsons' are fine for littlies.

My two DDs complained they were too safe! They stayed indoors in the shade colouring and playing games.

Also they got huffy when we said here's our mobile well be at the restaurant 5 mins down the road.
Seemed you were meant to use the evening one to stay at the hotel bar. Don't think we were meant to go to the beach during the day either. Seemed rather pointless paying for childcare if we were on site. DDs will swim all day so don't need entertaining.

My DDs much preferred the hotel run kids club with games in the pool and laid back hotel entertainers running it.

Stilla · 18/04/2012 14:33

Hersetta Its children like your DD that used to make club for me - its no fun for anyone when children are 'made' to go !
startail In my first year we allowed people to leave mobile/restaurant name during our really long ( Too long for little ones IMO ) evening clubs. People started taking the absolute piss and heading off into town (15 min taxi ride) when they had stated they were in the restaurant 5 min away , and it was usually parents with little ones - so we stopped allowing people to go off site at all .
Although , once the company put an end to the long club we did start ok-ing it for the couple of restaurants / bars outside the hotel for 6-8pm club and 9pm-11pm video session.

If I was still doing it - I'd stick a pom bear bag in the club room window as a 'sign' to mn-ers

Hersetta · 18/04/2012 14:42

Thanks Stilla - she really loved it and would have gone to more if we'd have let her!

If was very cute though as she developed a little crush on one of the kids entertainers and used to sidle up to him and hold his hand - only problem was she did it a couple of times when he was on stage - just went over and held his hand whilst he was running a quiz on stage.She had very good taste though...he was cute!

pud1 · 18/04/2012 14:52

My dd2 is 2.8 so I don't think she will be able to go into the kids club which is a shame as she would like to be with her dd1 who is 4. Does anyone have any experience on the crèche

Hersetta · 18/04/2012 15:40

I think it is really set up for babies to be honest. We first went the first year when my DD was 2.4 yrs so couldn't use the kids club. We didn't put her in the creche at all. They did run some organised activities for under 4's which she went to, did swimming lessons, mini disco and games in the evening and was happy to play on the slides and swings in the playgroud so we didn't feel like we needed the creche.

When we go this summer we will now also have DS who will be 10 months and have booked him creche sessions in advance - if we only use them to keep him out of the hot afternoon sun they will be worthwhile.

Stilla · 18/04/2012 16:11

Hersetta We had a male rep one summer , he was mostly with the teenagers but if he was ever in club the little girls would be practically attached to him !

pud1 no she won't be able to go into kids club . Fingers crossed the other creche children are of a similar age .
If there are a lot of creche children in resort there isn't really much you can do however if there are only a couple and some creche sessions (that run alongside 3-5 yr club) are empty you could always ask if the creche nanny would be willing to take your DD into the club room .
Where I worked if the child was the only one in creche (obviously only with 'older' children not a 1year old) and the club kids not too boistrous - the creche nanny would bring him/her into kids club for some of the session . Not saying every club would do it and not suitable during some sessions but if they are doing art things , singing or circle games etc it's not really a problem .

pud1 · 18/04/2012 16:29

Thanks. That sounds promising. I am not bothered about her not going to crèche but don't want he to feel like she is missing out.

Original poster

Tw1nkle · 18/04/2012 20:30

kickingKcurlyC I didn't get your PM - have PM'd you though too!

OP posts:

startail · 19/04/2012 11:54

Stilla it's a real pity people take the piss and I can imagine they do. Running kids clubs must be a pretty thankless task.

I simply had no babysiting at home, so was determined to get one night out with DH. DD2 is a bugger about food so nice dinning with her is still a pita. I'd been there BC and knew it wasn't suitable for the DDs, but had very happy memories.

My DDs weren't tiny 4 and 7 possibly a year older and used to late bed times and had done the day club a few times.
Except in the case of a real emergency they would not cause a problem.

The restaurant was just round the corner and the club wasn't long. In fact DH ran back to collect the girls while I paid.

Stilla · 19/04/2012 13:11

Thankfully startail the lovely people who DO appreciate the job the reps do outnumber the ones who moan and can't even be arsed to say thank you at the end of their holiday !
Luckily some people only go on holiday for 7 days

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