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Holidays

Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

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Original poster

Only child holidays

8 replies

Jank8 · 03/08/2023 07:47

We have an only DS and he usually makes friends on holiday, this time we seem to be in a hotel with lots of bigger families or groups. Any thoughts on places/holiday types that might cater better to onlies? We don't have friends or family to go with, he's too young to bring a friend and we're not a sporty family. Breaks my heart seeing him watch other kids play and then not include him 💔

OP posts:

MinnieMountain · 03/08/2023 07:49

Play with him and not worry? That’s what we always do with ours.

DustyLee123 · 03/08/2023 07:53

We always played with our kids. Only once did ours make a friend, and they never went to kids clubs.

Franklin2000 · 03/08/2023 07:59

We have a large gap between ours, one now 18 so doesn’t come away so both of mine have been only children when we travel. As above have said, we normally play with DS, sometimes taking it turns so the other can chill, read etc. There will be other only children there though, I’m sure it won’t just be you. Look out for them, I’m sure they’d like to play too. DH is really good at involving other children in the game and introduce DS, then boom! Friendship made. No advice on places with holidays clubs I’m afraid as we’ve never used them.

twistyizzy · 03/08/2023 07:59

With an only you have to be the playmate until they find a friend. We always did a couple of hours of holiday club per day and that way she would end up making friends but yes as a parent you have to put the effort in. The other thing is that we always booked trips and went exploring (and is the reason why we stopped doing all inclusive holidays by the time she was 7 years old) so we were then all happy to spend a few hours playing in the pool/on beach together.

itsamedicalmystery · 03/08/2023 08:06

Get in the pool and start talking to other parents with kids who look similar ages. That's how I've always got my kids talking to other kids. Failing that, there are usually Facebook groups associated with a hotel that guests post on. I've joined two recently and I'm always seeing "I have a XX yo looking to play pool", or I have a XX wanting to go on slides". Quite innovative I thought.

MissAmbrosia · 03/08/2023 10:44

We did lots of Eurocamp type holidays. Dd would happily go to the Kids Club for a couple of hours and usually made a friend or 2 to play with in the pool.

Original poster

Jank8 · 03/08/2023 10:54

😂😂 love the assumption that we don't play with him! 8 hours in the pool yesterday with him, which is great and we all loved it but someone his own age would be nice for him

OP posts:

LeonoraFlorence · 03/08/2023 10:59

We have 5 DDs and they still will make friends with other families/children on holidays. They play together brilliantly but it doesn’t mean they don’t want others to join too!

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