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Parenting

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Original poster

parents of "onlys" do they go off to kids clubs on holiday, or does the lack of a sibling hold them back?

14 replies

evenhope · 29/06/2008 14:55

Worrying in advance really. We've just come back from center parks on the continent and saw the little gang of kids having fun on their activities every day.

Our older kids were always off like a shot to anything like that, but there were 4 of them so they always had someone else to go with.

DD2 is likely to be an "only" as she grows up (15-21 year gap between her and the others). Obviously it depends on personality so she might be the sort that thrives on new challenges, but I've got visions of her always wanting to hang around with us and miss out on the fun (plus we won't get a break either )

Can anyone with an only reassure me that their child loves to go off and play with strangers? [hopeful emoticon]

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MaloryIsCrossWithJohnnie · 29/06/2008 15:06

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MaloryIsCrossWithJohnnie · 29/06/2008 15:06

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Onestepatatime · 29/06/2008 15:07

Ours has always happily gone off with kids and is v sociable getting to know others. But I think it gets harder for them as they get older, so I worry about this too. Different matter for a young teen to go off with other young teens they don't know - can't see it happening, really. I worry about her being lonely /bored in her teens in school holidays.

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Lazycow · 30/06/2008 12:17

The answer in their teens is to invite one of their frinds to go on holiday with you.

I have a friend who has 8 children and who happily lets us parents of onlies borrow any of her children (who are willing of course) as a playmate for our only. The children from the larger family often enjoy the peace and quiet and the relative ease with which they can have access to the toys.

Original poster

evenhope · 30/06/2008 17:48

Ah but Lazycow that's why we had lots of kids originally- I can't bear other people's children and he thought of having to take them on holiday makes me go

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Ledodgy · 30/06/2008 17:50

I was an only child and I always made friends when on holiday with my parents. It's a skill you have to learn as an only child and one that's carried me well through life.

OverMyDeadBody · 30/06/2008 17:53

My DS is an only and has always been happy to be left by me and go off to sports clubs, friends' houses, parties and activities. He quickly makes friends with other kids and gets stuck in.

Lazycow · 02/07/2008 10:49

evenhope - Weird thing is I like other people's children generally. I always have. Obviously I like some more than others

I would enjoy having a few children on holiday and they don't all have to be mine at all - - different strokes and all that

bigTillyMint · 02/07/2008 12:36

I was (am!) an only child, and I was off to everything going so I could be around other kids!
My DC are the same, even though they already have each other, and my DH was too. But one of his brothers was very nervous of joining in, so maybe it's to do with personality?
It's always good to give them little phrases they could say to help them break the ice in joining in with others

wheelybug · 02/07/2008 12:40

My dd might possibly end up as only - and we certainly expected a sibling before now. She is 3.5 and the thing that is beginning to make me think she won't lose out being an only in childhood is the fact that she bumbles off, finds a friend wherever we are and joins in. So, yes, she will go to Kidsclubs (and did for the first time last year and loved it, making friends etc even at 2.5) and tbh I think there is even more reason for them to do so if you are away with just them. However, I do envisage, if she does remain an only, taking friends/cousins on holiday with us as they get older.

That said, I think it porbably depends v. much on the child rather than the fact they are an only.

branflake81 · 05/07/2008 07:08

I have one sister a year younger than me. She would always go off to the kids' clubs (alone) while I refused to go because I didn;t really like things like that. So I think it's a personality thing.

DelGirl · 05/07/2008 07:14

I have an only, she is only 3 but I think i'd feel lucky if she stayed with me . In that, I mean, she's never at my side, she takes off as soon as we get anywhere with not so much as a backward glance!

She is staying the night with another mumsnetter tonight, 1st time i've left her so it will be interesting to see how she is.

DelGirl · 05/07/2008 07:16

I imagine when she is older that I would probably take one of her friends on holiday.

heronsfly · 05/07/2008 07:17

Im an only child and was always in the middle of a large group of kids,had no problems at all,even now I like to have company,unlike my dh who was 1 of 8 boys,he likes solitude and is not really much of a mixer.I think its more the child/adult personality than family setup.

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