6 weeks off is so good for kids.

[Fraxinus]

Agree or disagree?

I agree! My kids seem so much more themselves after only 10 days off school. Less stressed, more communicative, more fun, less whinging. LOVE it.

I am enjoying it for the purely selfish reasons if no uniform to sort out or packed lunches to make.

Should we ask you again in six weeks Fraxinus?

So far so good here, my DD (8) is knackered and needs the break

I think there can often be a big difference between the experience of 6 week school holidays for those children who have a stay at home parent and those who have working parents. I'm a single parent, lucky enough to only work 3 days per week, but only able to take 2 weeks holiday in the summer. So for four weeks I am trying very hard to strike a balance of activities for my DD that enables me to work but gives her a sense of doing different things from school routine etc. if anything, for me it is probably more stressful because I am juggling even more activities and options around my usual working hours but I try to do that so my DD feels she is also having a break from routine. I am always very envious of posters at this time of year who talk about the wonderful days they spend in pyjamas just pottering around the home.
Please don't get me wrong, I still think 6 weeks off is good my my DD, it just takes a bit more organisation on my part to ensure she feels it is 6 weeks of holiday...even if it isn't for me.

Well OP did say good for kids...

Quite right!

well we have had a lot of shouting and misbehaving but it is great to see my kids getting time to play together. DD2 has really missed DD1 when she has been at school and they do play well together (most of the time). Whilst yes 6 weeks of them can be stressful in many ways I do think they need it, I think it is good for them, it gives them a chance to switch off for a bit, be themselves, be with siblings, play with their toys, mentally consolidate stuff they have learned in the last year and have a rest. I would quite like kids to get a bit more holidays in the year - personally I would quite like 3 weeks Christmas, 3 weeks Easter and 6 weeks summer as well as the week long half terms BUT as has been said I am lucky that I am managing to still be a stay at home mum.

My dcs often go back more tired after the holidays

The pattern tends to go

2 days with grandparents
2 days holiday club
1 day with either parent
2 days with other grandparents
2 days with a parent

And repeat

There are 80 miles between grandparents and the holiday club is a sports one so they get tired and tend to only sleep in their own beds once a week

We are divorced parents and both work full time shifts so we do the best we can

Disagree. I've still got to go to work and make sure the dc's keep on top of their reading / writing / maths. Mum isn't as strict as me so she lets them play all the time unless I make a fuss about doing a couple of work book pages or summer project.

DS forgot how to spell his name in a card today , and we have another month to go.

Roll on september.

I'm with you.
Plus DD is getting to learn a load of stuff that there's not the time for when there's school: tying laces, bike riding, climbing, swimming is improving, nature etc
That makes it sound like we're doing great activities all the time and we're not by any means - me and DH are still working (albeit I'm part-time).
And, without that school run after work, we're all eating better. There's just more hours in the day.

I like that DD sees more of her baby sister too. On a school day they only see each other in the evening and get too giddy playing when it's supposed to be quiet down time - so even the baby's sleeping better now that it's the holiday.

i think 6 weeks is too long. 4 weeks at summer and the other 2 added on to other holidays would make more sense IMO.

Depends on so many things and cicumstances it's impossible to generalise. For my children it's good and for that I and they are fortunate.

I work 4 days a week and yes, sorting out childcare so the kids can enjoy their holidays is hard work, but I love the long summer holidays. DD has already regained her holiday persona, she's shy at school but not in the holidays. And it's time for the whole family to have 2 weeks away soon, I can't wait! Lots of playing outside, making dens, getting wet in the sprinkler, walks locally, trips to the swimming pool, etc.

No. Too long. Agree with Sirzy. Also I think it affects their ability to get back into it in September.

Some of the points in this article illustrate how different an experience a long school holiday can be www.theguardian.com/travel/2013/jul/26/summer-camps-school-holidays

Well both me and DD are enjoying it.

I'm in week 2. DD is in week 3. All going well so far. Getting to be out and about, seeing friends, doing stuff we don't have time for in term time. Love not having the strict routines that cannot be broken.

Off on holiday for a fortnight end of next week too. Can't believe they'll only be a week left when we get back though!

Sorry, link here

In many other countries the summer break is far longer than 6 weeks too. So def don't think 6 weeks is too long.

If you have a reasonable amount of money then the summer holiday can be a fanastic experience for children. A reasonably well off family with working parents can afford holiday camps to keep their children amused. A SAHM parent with a reasonable family income can afford a range of interesting days out.

However life is dire if your family has a low income. Some kids are just stuck inside playing on the computer because there are few places to go and play. Some parents use poor quality childcare or worse still leave their older kids to roam the streets.

I don't believe the answer is to shorten school holidays. Prehaps there needs to be subsidised holiday schemes in areas of social deprivation.

Agree Reallytired.

not necessarily doing anything thrilling, but just able to relax with the thought of a long break. ^^ agree that they don't have to have 6 weeks of 'holiday' just 6 weeks off school.

Alien attack.. I am also a separated parent who works 3 days per week, and I am doing a lot of juggling to sort the childcare out. I am taking 2 weeks off, plus the bank holiday. it is stressful I sympathise, and in previous years It has not worked out so well for me.

I posted this thread because I was so happy to see my daughter happy and relaxed instead of stressed an uptight.

LEM is disappointed..... Yes, please do ask me again at the end of the holidays!

When the weather is nice and dry then round here we are pretty lucky. Lots of great parks with great facilities all for free - playgrounds, gym stuff, water play, paddling pools, bike and scooter tracks, sports stuff like nets and hoops.... All on bus routes if not walkable.

Our libraries offer various events too.

Oh and the local council do various free activities - there is a programme online of where they will be and what they are doing each day. They are normally outdoor events though.

We have a pretty good museum which is geare dup for children visiitng - again free.

Today is the first day that I have found tough.

My DC (7 and 5) have been off for nearly a week.

I am lucky in that my DC school do football coaching in the holidays (£50 for a whole week) and DS is booked in to do the week after next but it is tough finding things to do when budget is limited tbh.

We are doing a few things at the childrens centre, local library and the youth club they both go to has trips in the holidays.

I do want my kids to relax/chill but at the same time keep on top of their school work/learning.

I am enjoying the lazy mornings though

We're in week 5 here and loving it, don't want them to go back.

We've had some great day trips, visited friends and just chilled out. I'm a SAHM there is no way I could find holiday clubs for 4 DC over the Summer and have no family.

I work term time only.
I love the summer break and so does dd.

This week she is at a performing arts summer school, next week we will visit various friends, have a potter around York, go for lunch one day at Yo! Sushi (which dd loves).
She has already had friends to sleepover, and in 2 weeks we go to Portugal for a fortnight.
It's perfect for us.

But...I work in an inner city primary school where 80% plus are entitled to FSM. Many live in inadequate housing, and will go without breakfast/lunch some days. There will be no trips out, and in some cases very little parental interaction.
Many play out on the street until dark and we have had police visit school after children had broken into dangerous abandoned buildings used by drug addicts.

For these children, 6 weeks is too long.
Apart from all the reasons mentioned above, come September their learning and knowledge will have significant gaps due to the lack of input and stimulation.