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Secondary education

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Original poster

So that the school holidays don't become one endless long lie-in...

54 replies

Joshpoodlehamster · 16/07/2012 11:23

what 'structure' do you suggest? I have managed to enrol one for a 'Gym Zone' that takes youngsters 14 -16 in the afternoon but other ideas welcome.

OP posts:
racingheart · 17/07/2012 14:50

13 weeks Maryz? The one thing I dread about DC going to indie schools for secondary is the very long holidays.

I understand wanting to let them slob around for a few days in pjs but not for the whole summer. They'll have much better memories if they get out of bed and go and do something challenging and worth their while, imho. Volunteering or part time work, or summer camps. Or just physical challenges. One summer a friend and I set each other a challenge to swim a mile a day and we did. It was monotonous but it turned me from a really weak swimmer into a strong, confident one and I lost weight too.

When I were a lass I spent most summers at endless youth theatres - away from home from age 14 for most of the summer. My niece goes off and looks after horses at a stables 100s of miles away from home, and my nephew did a work placement at a sound engineering firm. DCs in their teenage years need a bit of adventure. Much more fun than lying in all afternoon.

Maryz · 17/07/2012 15:21

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wordfactory · 17/07/2012 15:27

13 weeks...faints...

Fluffy1234 · 17/07/2012 15:32

I have managed to find a drama workshop thing for my 12 and 13 year old for the first week. Then we have 2 and a half weeks of slobbing, watching Olympics at home and the odd day out/trip to cinema and going to two Olympic events. Then on a cruise for 11 days with lots of activities and excursions and then 1 and a half week of a mixture of slobbing and days out.
Can't wait actually and am quite hoping my boys will lay in bed all morning so I can watch the gymnastics in peace.

wordfactory · 17/07/2012 15:33

I should say that well in advance of the summer holidays (but also Easter which is 4 weeks), we discuss what we all want to do.

Putting our minds to it, kind of ensures it doesn't turn into one long slob.

But let's be honest, a lot of the activities are expensive and require me to drop off and collect. How DC whose parents are skint go on, I do not know...

TantrumsAndBalloons · 17/07/2012 15:38

I very much doubt my teenagers will emerge before the afternoon in the holidays.

Quite frankly I don't really care.

As long as the house is tidy when I get home from work, the dog has been walked and at least twice a week, dinner is cooking I'm happy.

Me and ds2 on the other hand will not be getting a lie in, he will be at holiday club and football camp, and I'll be at work until August 21st.

I feel quite sorry for us :(

SecretSquirrels · 17/07/2012 18:01

I used to organise the life out of them when they were little but I also had school holidays off. I miss it really but I still love not having to get up. Now they are 14 and 16 I'm available for lifts but that's about it.
DS1 finished school a month ago and had, by last weekend, become nocturnal. He ended up feeling ill and has learned a bit of a lesson hopefully. I have suggested that one or two very, that is 3am, late nights a week is enough and he has agreed. For now.
We have a family week away and a weekend away.

Cynner · 17/07/2012 21:45

I did not plan a thing for my dcs summer hols..except my daughters gymnastic camp end of August..other then that it will be all lie ins, lolly gags, and loitering..

racingheart · 17/07/2012 22:48

Maryz, I'd forgotten that thing about insurance. A friend runs a catering co but said she couldn't take on some lovely teens I know because of insurance.

Is it a new thing? I used to work on market stalls, in pizzerias, I was a (totally untrained and ineffectual) childminder. We were never at home. We came home for meals then scarpered until midnight. We earned our own money then spent it on all night film festivals and disgusting cheap English wine for parties. But it was fun.

Are there no local summer schools of any description? Drama or sport or music?

Maryz · 17/07/2012 22:52

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bruffin · 17/07/2012 23:19

DD volunteers for a similar type of club Maryz and they only have to be 12.
We are really fortunate in our are as there is a mariners base that offers climbing, caving and water sports which used to be really reasonable at about £14 a day but in the last couple of years the price has shot up but it takes them 9-16. There is also a Shokk gym for 8-15 yr olds.

To be honest my DCs have organized themselves this year. DS 16 has got lots of shifts this week at the sport centre, so wont see him as he is going out to work before we come home from work.

Maryz · 17/07/2012 23:23

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mumeeee · 18/07/2012 00:09

I agree with viper let your teens have thier lie ins.

bumpybecky · 18/07/2012 00:29

trouble with letting the teens have a lie in is that is squashes the useable time in the day for the younger ones

if I let dd1& 2 have their way they'd still be in pjs at dinner time, I can't leave both of them in the house by themselves (they're either very close friends or worst of enemies!) and dd3 and ds want to go out and do stuff

I normally let them have the first few days for a lie in, then start insisting that everyone is dressed for lunch

Maryz is 13 weeks normal for Ireland summer holidays then? or is it that yours are on study leave / have taken exams this year?

CointreauVersial · 18/07/2012 00:43

The slobs in this house are DH and me. Grin The DCs are usually up early (although content to lounge about in PJs staring at whichever square screen passes their line of vision).

The DDs are under 12 so go to Holiday club over the summer, which they love. DS will have a few days left to his own devices but is taking a couple of weeks of football training courses. He also has to endure a couple of days with granny!

If you have active children under 16 have a look at PGL residential adventure courses. They have a lot of great offers at the moment (3 for 2 etc). My three, together with six friends, went away over October half term last year and had a ball.

Maryz · 18/07/2012 01:00

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bruffin · 18/07/2012 09:40

I also saw an offer on groupon for pgl for £199.

racingheart · 18/07/2012 09:54

Ah - you solved it Maryz! Stick em in the fields, yoked to an ox or two. That'll keep them out from under your feet.

We are very lucky here. A local sports camp runs long days for only £15 per day. That's affordable childcare and they get exhausted running round all day long. But they're not yet teens... Sounds like there's a big difference once they hit 12-16.

SecretSquirrels · 18/07/2012 15:28

Another age related problem is fares and admission fees. When DS turned 16 he suddenly has to pay full fare on the bus £2.80 to go into town (one way). He is also an adult for leisure centres and so a swim costs £4.50.
Holiday clubs are aimed at much younger children. He would have loved an academic summer school, did a Chemistry one in Y10 summer but I couldn't find a suitable one this year.

Honestyisbest · 18/07/2012 16:10

Ooh like the sound of the language course for next summer. Hows it working out?
Mine have been off for two weeks and have been happy to chill/recover from the end of term madness. DS nearly 14 also asked me to teach him how to cook! He said,' Otherwise I'll be leaving home and I won't know how to cook for myself!' Fair enough. He hasn't asked me to show him how to tidy his room, but when he can't get through the door for dirty washing, wet towels etc.........
Must admit to be being shattered myself as the end of term involved a huge amount of to and fro to various school events so have been happy to be relaxed. One of the upsides of that is that the kids have been picking up their instruments and twiddling around/ been catching up with local friends and been a tremendous help with our puppy!

KatyMac · 18/07/2012 19:33

DD has a week at Ballet school, 2 weeks at Theatre school and week with us (in sunny Hunstanton do you think we will need a dry suit?) & maybe 3 days in Cambridge at an advanced commercial/modern/ballet class

KatyMac · 18/07/2012 19:33

Did I mention I was broke?

greyvix · 18/07/2012 23:36

Whatever happened to being bored? It was a revelation to me when my mum came to stay- when I had just had DD3- and spent her time cooking and cleaning, while DDs 1 and 2 hung around next to her, chatting and helping out as appropriate.They were 2 and 4.
It is good to be bored- you have to use your imagination and invent games etc. Most of us turned it into an art form in the long sunny summers of our youth. That said, I'm a teacher so off for the next 6 weeks, and my DCs are all old enough to occupy themselves, and leave me to potter and be bored on my own.

boschy · 19/07/2012 07:37

I veer between allowing the long lie-ins (lets me work quietly before they appear) and worrying about the lack of constructive activities!

so last night I made a list of jobs they can do for money over the summer, with a view to a shopping trip somewhere special towards the end. things like rubbing down and priming outside paintwork, weeding the patio, helping clear out the chicken run etc etc. they are quite enthusiastic about it.

but I guess we will do a few days out, they'll go out a few times with friends/sleepovers etc, maybe friends will come and stay with us and if the weather ever improves we might get to the beach (ironic, beach is 30m away but has not been a 'day at the beach' type summer yet).

KatyMac · 19/07/2012 08:14

DD is in an odd position as she 'lives' at my work - so even if she wasn't going out a lie in could be hard (noise) and being bored tricky (lots of under 5s) so going out is definitely preferable