Kids club - will I get to relax??! Single parent

[outthereandbeyond]

So I’ve booked a very expensive holiday for my child and I at a chic all inclusive in Turkey this summer. Hotel offers a kids club that gets great reviews.

I’ve basically hinged the entire holiday on the fantasy that my kid will play with children all day long and I will get to read a bloody book for the first time in 8 years (yes she’s 8). Those who have gone on holiday with one child - so they actually leave you alone and go to the kids club? How does the hotel kids club work??

OK Supper Nanny

@outthereandbeyond My 2 DDs loved kids clubs. On board ships, in summer hotels, ski resorts, game lodges - anywhere really. DD aged 9 even went on a residential one in the uk and went for 4 years running . Dc like different things and no, I didn’t need dc with me all day long. Most clubs have am and pm sessions but booking systems vary. I would check this out.

The clubs in the hotels had activities outside, games etc. By 8 you probably know if a club will work . Mine started at 3 and always enjoyed them and company of other dc. Carried on in teen clubs too if available. Some dc just like this type of holiday and they get pool time too, obviously. Time out for exploring too.

Mine absolutely loved kids' club. It worked perfectly for us - she'd usually go after lunch when it was v hot and couldn't be outside so she'd go and do fun stuff with other children for a couple of hours instead. She also loved joining in with all the evening entertainment.

I've been to several of the resorts you're probably heading to in Belek, Antalya, and you'll be advised to download an app where you'll be given an itinerary of what's on offer daily at the resort. As your DD is confident and outgoing the resort's Kids' Club should be fine. I did try dropping mine off but they were too little and didn't want me to leave. Not an issue for me, though, as I wasn't after lots of relaxing 'me' time (also in-laws, parents and DH were around so I understand your dilemma).

I hope she likes the club and you get the rest you deserve. You'll have the best time doing Ultra AI in Turkey. If you don't mind my asking, which one are you off to?

This has been my experience of holiday kids clubs too, they don’t actually “keep” them for you to come and sign them out, they can just go whenever they’re ready. So, it may well entertain your child for ages but you can’t EG book an hour in the spa or take a nap because you still have to be nearby and ready to spot them when they wander out.
also, is it a predominantly English speaking hotel? She may struggle if the other kids in the club don’t speak English.

Although not a single parent I usually travel abroad alone with ds. Have done for 11 years. He loved kids club in hotels morning and afternoon sessions. Some may do all day idk. Like yiu I just read all day

Just at airport now with him tho kids club years long gone .

You'll have a fabulous holiday.

Kids club are great your kid will love it if shes outgoing they usually do planned activities so she can pick which ones she wants to go to. They're usually 2 hours ish so enough time for sor some down time and to recharge and read a book. I hope you both have a great time

That sounds like a recipe for disaster and also completely pointless. When mine have gone to kids clubs on holiday it’s been much more like nursery - a big safe area with a code to get in the door, trips out and activities for the kids, signing them in and out and a big focus on sun and water safety/hydration. I couldn’t relax in a hotel where any child could just wander out of somewhere and potentially access water unsupervised.

This, iv never known a kids club just let kids wander off. Parents had to come collect them

To manage your expectations, the kids' club will be open for prob 2-3 hours in the morning and 2-3 in the afternoon so not the whole day!

I'm on holiday right now in a lovely hotel in Turkey. I thought my 5yr old would spend a bit of time in kids club but she asks to go each day as she loves it! We've been having breakfast together, then she runs straight over to do the morning activity. I pick her up when it's done, we have a long lunch, play in the pool etc, then most days she's gone back for the afternoon activity.
To be honest I think it depends on the kids club. This one is fantastic! It has a great outdoor covered area with lots to do, plus indoor centre. The activities have been great. I sign her in for the activities and she's supervised but I can also stay with her inside the club to play together.

My advice would be check the kids' club. I've been to a resort that had the kids' club next to the lobby and pool and just let the kids wander in and out, and decided against leaving my 4yo non-swimmer there for obvious reasons. I was completely shocked tbh. There was a younger child, and I was just thinking of the safeguarding risk.

Other kids clubs are like high-security prisons 😂. You need one of those. The way I've swung it with my DC is to be totally upfront and include bribery. "Mummy is going to the spa this morning and no children allowed, unfortunately. So you'll need to go to kids' club so you have a responsible adult in charge. But I'll come get you shortly and then we'll have ice cream and go down the waterslides." My DC copes well with bargains though and understands the concept of us all getting a chance to do something we like, so that approach works well for us.

Mixed experience here

when I took DS2 I kind of had to strongly encourage him. And I got 1 hour peace on two days, but felt guilty as he really just wanted to be with me, so didn’t make him go anymore.

second holiday I took both boys, DS2 decided he loved kids club this time, but my elder Ds didn’t want to go. So I still had one child.

My children are very shy and quiet though. If your daughter is very outgoing And social, it might be different.

I can understand with little ones, but this child is 8, she shouldn't be a flight risk

Depends on the kids club. The ones my children have have you check the kids in and out; they have loads of fun, go on excursions purely aimed at children, lots of staff to help keep them engaged. We would have one day in and one day together. Or half the day in and half out. Mixed it up so we got a great balance of them enjoying the activities with others

They're in a different country and around lots of water they should absolutely be supervised at all times at 8

My 8 year old isn't a flight risk but I still wouldn't want him wandering around a resort unsupervised - biggest risk for me is that he would get lost and upset.

I have never encountered a kids club like that though, the ones I have seen are a check in check out system

I couldn't possibly relax and read a book while my child was playing at the pool.

My dd went to a kids club at a hotel we went to in the canary islands. There were a range of activities and I booked one online the night before. My husband signed her in , she had a fantastic time, and when she was signed out I received an email to say she had been signed out, which I felt happy about. She made friends with children of different nationalities, it's amazing how children can communicate when they speak different languages ! We do it a couple of times on a holiday.

Kids club vary significantly and to an extent is your luck if there are similar children. My 8 year old hated it last year as all the kids were younger and most didn’t speak English.

The second week a child the same age joined and spoke English well so he joined in. By that time my other kids were bored of it though.

I agree - my almost 8yo wouldn't be a 'flight risk' as such, but if they saw other kids running off to find their parents, they might easily follow their example if bored. And then they'd be left wandering around the resort for a couple of hours, unable to contact me and not knowing where I was.

I was amazed to find that the children could just come and go as they pleased and the staff would let little children wander off around the pool. It gave me the chills. Thankfully, the next place we went had a kids club like Fort Knox!

Yes it was a massive disappointment, especially because like Op I’m a single parent and had carefully chosen a hotel with a “good” kids club.

anyway, I hope you have a better experience Op I know a lot of kids clubs can be amazing.

You’ve taken quite a gamble spending a fortune on a fantasy.
I actually have no experience of holiday kids clubs but lots of being a lone parent.
I have 2 kids though so when we 3 have been away together they have hung out together which gives me some space.
The times I’ve been alone with my youngest we’ve spent the day together and then I’ve told him I need some time to myself to relax. At 8 your DD should be able to entertain herself and understand and respect that you want to read your book.

I imagine (hope) you’re being tongue in cheek when you say you haven’t read a book for 8 years. Don’t you get any time in the evening?

I’m going on a package holiday for the first time this year. DS2 is doojng GCSEs so we can go outside of school holidays (cheaper). Holidaying alone with a 16 yo boy brings its own challenges!

I knew that as soon as a mother said she'd like a break from her child after eight years with no break, that some posters would seek to shame her.

I wasn't wrong. These people would like women to be a robotic 'mum bot' with no feelings or needs of her own.
Honestly, it's just how men sometimes treat women - sub human. Once you are a mother, you are considered fair game on here.

We use TUI kids clubs who have very strict collection policies.

My nearly 6 year old loves a kids club but my 9 years old can be very hit and miss. Just different personalities. They’re both also happy now to chill on a sun lounger in the shade for 20/30 mins with a book/audiobook/magazine or activity book.

I hope you have a lovely break OP
We have generally had very good experiences of kids’ clubs especially with my older more outgoing dd. My children enjoyed this aspect of the holiday in addition to time with parents which I’m sure you’re looking forward to as well.
The best one we used had evening sessions in addition to morning and evening. A mix of outdoor and indoor and some excellent leaders too.