How do you do it?

[Beansandneedles]

I'm currently working PT, but when our youngest goes to school it would be financially much better if I went back full time (I think, still need to work it out taking into account after school clubs and holiday club costs for multiple children).

The issue is I just can't see how the holidays work?! Most of my friends are the same stage as me, so don't really have anyone a few years ahead to ask. Can't believe it took me till now to think of MN!

Things to note:

• We don't have grandparents or family to take the children during the holidays. At all.
• I've suggested to friends about holiday swaps, but everyone around us has family to lean on so they're not feeling pressured to discuss this stuff in advance. However for me it's important to know my options before I start considering FT jobs.
• A lot of the holiday clubs around here need children to be 5+ which won't work for us for the first year (summer born!)
• OH gets 5 weeks holiday and I assume I'd get the same, which still leaves us at least 3 weeks short.
• I'd assume at that point we'd both take a week or two parental leave...and just not have any time together?! How do people get this to tally up?

Secondly, how do your kids feel about going to clubs for the bulk of the holidays? My teacher friends mostly say kids need a rest during the holidays, which doesn't seem to match up with being in back to back clubs, but I can't see how else it would work.

It has to be possible, and there has to be loads of you out there doing it. So turning to magical MN for the answers!

Thanks in advance for helping a total novice with something which is probably by now second nature/totally obvious to you :)

DH and I have a few days at Xmas and a week in the summer where we're off at the same time, otherwise we take it in turns to have leave on the school holidays, saving back 5 days each for emergency leave - school closures, inset days randomly scheduled, Xmas plays, sickness etc.

Other than that it's holiday clubs, we've found one that DD mainly enjoys although there are the odd days she doesn't fancy it and resents going which is unfortunate but unavoidable. Costs a bloody fortune though £55 a day for one child.

I was able to sign up for childcare vouchers before the scheme closed and built up a cache during Covid so use those to pay the bill.

Childminders can often take kids for a bit during the holidays - they're limited on the number of EYFS age kids they can take at once, so it's hard to fit in an extra 3yo for example, but for 5+ year olds they can take them on more easily so many would provide school holiday only places without you needing a year-round contract. They're a home-based environment, so with the right person who has the right mix of kids (ideally another couple of school-age so they're not just with babies and toddlers) you'd probably find a good balance of someone who can provide some fun activities as well as chilling out on the sofa/in the garden time like they would if they were at home with you.

It is really difficult. I would agree with PP that little ones can’t cope with a full week of holiday camp so remaining part time for as long as you can is best for them. We have no support. How we did it was childminder in the early years to year 2 and now a variety of holiday camps and splitting leave. It isn’t ideal as my DS is exhausted after the term and increasingly so as he gets older, so I’m now looking into a holiday nanny so he can have some time to chill out at home. I can’t WFH much.

We do 3 days per week holiday clubs, vary them. Then save up leave for holidays. We don't have regular help. If he doesn't want clubs when he's older I think we'd just have to say there's no other option. But I bet we'll end up having to find more specific ones and driving further to tailor to his interests ie one with swimming and the most cool activities.