My youngest is lonely on holidays. Ideas?

[Tigerlily888]

Huge age gap means my 4 oldest kids don’t come on hols with us now leaving DS 8 so lonely with just his crusty parents as company. Face in a screen most of the time ☹️. Are there places in France where you can buy a modest gite (as opposed to rent) and there’s a shared pool so he can play with other children and they’ll mostly be the same kids year after year? Don’t want to rent something. He’s too young to take friends on holiday we’ve got quite a few years of this. Thanks everyone!

All my friends who were only children bought a friend on holiday..and every where really. Thats my plan for my daughter.

Would you consider a Euro camp holiday. We stayed in Italy a few years ago at one and it was brilliant.

Could you go away with another family (that you are friends with) that has kids a similar age? That’s what we did when I was young (I’m not an only child but my brother is nearly 10 years older so we had similar situation). It’s what we plan to do for our son if we end up not having another.

@Madmoxxi

All my friends who were only children bought a friend on holiday..and every where really. Thats my plan for my daughter.

Bought a friend?! How did you get it back through customs?! 🤣

Absolutely Eurocamp. The kids always make friends on those holidays. One day in Holland I woke up and opened the curtains to find four little girls sitting on our deck waiting for my daughter to come out to play.

Is there a uk equivalent of eurocamp? We are in the same boat .. if only there were only child holidays where you could guarantee some playmates!

Aww, I was that child, seven and nine years younger than my sisters so they stopped coming on holiday by the time I was 9ish.
I vividly remember the loneliness, of trailing around after DM and DF, who would only have mid 40s then but seemed ancient.
No screens then so I took refuge in books.
Our holidays were usually self catering. And I was a shy child so I wouldn’t have approached others to make friends.
I’d have loved the chance to take a friend away.
Alternatively is there a cousin of a similar age?
Or could you bribe (pay for!) the siblings to go?

Eurocamp style holiday but book direct with campsites as you get a better accommodation/pitch. We have an only 6 year old but he's happy on his own and doesn't want to play with others. Those holidays are great for kids making friends with others but I'd also say to be cautious they're not 100% safe. Children still need watching (many parents don't) there are kids clubs they can go to as well.

We love Le Serignan Plage in South France but it's very expensive in August, Whit time is better. I used to work in the industry so happy for you to DM me if you want some suggestions to look at.

PS my comment about safety is less about being aware of incidents. I'm very conscious it's easy to let your hair down and let kids go off on their own. One year I saw a 5 yo girl at the bakery on her own with a 3yo brother, completely unsupervised. Those types of holiday have a lovely feel to them but at the same time wouldn't let my child play too far out of sight.

You could go on a more child friendly holiday that’s more fun for him maybe a tui holiday village in Spain where there’s lots of other English children in the pool and kids entertainment etc for him Obviously not this year with Covid but for the future maybe. No offence but that holiday you described sounds quite boring for an eight year old especially an only child

Eurocamp/Canvas with kids clubs are your friend at that age.

Yes we hope we can In the future but his friends are 7 turning 8 and too young to spend weeks away from home for a few years to come.

Thank you we might look at that.

Thanks for helpful advice seems Eurocamp gets a lot of votes.

@ritzbiscuits

Eurocamp style holiday but book direct with campsites as you get a better accommodation/pitch. We have an only 6 year old but he's happy on his own and doesn't want to play with others. Those holidays are great for kids making friends with others but I'd also say to be cautious they're not 100% safe. Children still need watching (many parents don't) there are kids clubs they can go to as well.

We love Le Serignan Plage in South France but it's very expensive in August, Whit time is better. I used to work in the industry so happy for you to DM me if you want some suggestions to look at.

Thanks!

We just go to big all inclusive hotels where there are lots of kids around, kids clubs etc. DD has always managed to find friends there.

@Skyla2005 I think you are right.

I’ve been travelling with DS my only child from being a toddler. We have booked holidays with TUI splash worlds are fabulous. I always look for a kids pools, slides, disco and kids club.
Although I do holidays like this because I don’t want him to bored... lots of other kids to mingle with too. For adults and kids so I’d say it’s win win.

Yes I always think of the children are happy then the adults are happy too

What about PGL Disney holidays www.pgl.co.uk/en-gb/family-adventures/family-holidays/paris-and-disneyland

Neilson holidays are also great, our 16 year old (also an only child) loved them so much we went back the following year, in fact DH & I would go on our own another time.

Definitely take a friend! When we had young kids they ALWAYS took a friend wherever we went. It was wonderful, no arguing. lots of happy smiles from them and us. My daughers do the same now when they go on holiday. Go for it.