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MNHQ

How does your family manage the school holidays?

40 replies

JustineBMumsnet · 15/03/2023 17:13

With school Easter holidays rapidly on their way, we’re thinking about the various ways parents manage their children being off school for the holidays, particularly during the summer.

What have you already planned for the school summer holidays? What led to you planning or booking in advance? What kinds of activities or plans will you leave until the last minute? How does your household manage childcare during the holidays? Do you enjoy the holidays or dread them each year? What do you think would make them easier for you?

Thanks!

MNHQ

OP posts:
CatCrazyMamma · 21/03/2023 10:01

I have 2 girls, one Special Needs, and I'm a single parent so have support from my Mum and Dad as well as carers who come and help out. When my eldest was younger she went to holiday clubs with 1-1 support but they stopped once she turned 18 a few months ago. During the summer holidays we try and get out as and when we can.

Themaidshandstale · 21/03/2023 12:47

Fortunately childcare isn't an issue as I'm a sahm. I love the holidays and enjoy time the children can spend with my husband as he usually works Tuesday- Sunday until they are in bed. So at least we get one full day together. Although having lots of young ones at home together can be chaos, I try to plan days out in advance to curb the boredness. Play dates are left last minute. If we are having a trying day in, a long wall always lifts spirits.

custardcream1000 · 21/03/2023 17:37

I am currently on maternity leave so the holidays are currently a breeze in terms of planning. Once I am back at work, it will be back to planning each day like a military operation. It's normally a mix of annual leave, roping family and friends in for odd days and holiday clubs. It seems to come together eventually.

I do feel it would be easier to plan if school holidays were equally distributed throughout the year. 6 weeks is a long time to find daily care.

I plan some activities at local venues in advance if they are holding one day events that will sell out quickly. I then have a list of other activities that my children would like to do, such as a day at the beach, swimming, a picnic and woodland walk etc and then choose one of the activities off the list to suit the weather each day.

JacobsCrackersCheeseFogg · 22/03/2023 07:46

My daughter is old enough to look after herself now but I worked shifts, and DH was off at weekends, so on the days neither of us were hone she was farmed off to a friend's house or her GPs looked after her.

UpsyDaisysarmpit · 22/03/2023 11:13

I have older children (teens) but they are both autistic (one with severe stranger anxiety and one has serious MH issues at present and is at home most of the time). Consequently I haven't been employed for years but am registered as a carer for the younger one. DH works full time and has throughout, but I provide 90% of the support and mental load in our house. I have booked a holiday at the start of the summer, and after we get back I hope to plan us a few days out (not theme parks, more thinking long walks and short trips on the train to museums). But also lots of downtime, one DC has summer school in their SEN setting for a week to help with transition.

WashableVelvet · 22/03/2023 17:56

the rest of the year our lovely childminder takes our toddler all day and our older one for wraparound before and after school. That enables us both to work. But the trade off is that she takes the summer school holidays off and no holiday clubs are available for under 5yos here. So that period is tricky for us. We’ll do a mix of unpaid parental leave, and grandparents.

Jenn3112 · 26/03/2023 19:04

I've taken a job where I only have to work 2 weeks of the summer holidays, we will probably use a mix of family childcare and predominantly holiday clubs. More tricky this year as eldest is a young year 7 so too young to be left for a whole day but is too old for holiday clubs locally. I will probably work shorter days where possible.

jellybeanpopper · 03/04/2023 20:37

A combination of family holidays, holiday clubs and help from family during some holidays…. We only have so much annual leave. I’m very fortunate DD is happy with any of the options

MintJulia · 03/04/2023 20:51

Single mum here.

Summer holiday usually involved me taking two weeks annual leave to spend with DS. I've usually booked three weeks with the local council holiday club, which DS prefers to Supercamps, by April 1st, to be sure of the place.

The remaining days are supposed to be available for his df, who will change his mind at the last moment, let him down, and leave me trying to book an activity or two at the last moment. Thankfully I have a supportive boss.

Yes, we enjoy holidays. We cycle and swim together. Picnic. Try new foods. See friends. DS likes archery. I've booked a week in a little cottage in a vineyard.

Life would be easier if ex would stick to his own plans but he won't.

Dizzywizz · 24/04/2023 11:25

I save my holiday just to cover school holidays. We have a scheme at work where you can buy more holiday, so I make use of that. We try to do free things as much as pos - meet up with friends in the woods etc.

thimblewomgee247 · 27/04/2023 19:10

My dh takes one month carers leave. Obviously unpaid. He and the kids enjoy the time together

MotherofPiggies · 06/05/2023 12:34

I was lucky enough to work term time only but still booked the occasional sports/activity week to break up the six week holiday. My sister used a combination of annual leave, family help, friends and sports clubs to cover the holidays.

humblemeep · 17/05/2023 13:37

My daughter used to attend a three day dance group in the holidays ( she's nite too old to want to). I'd also organise lots of play dates. We'd go on outings when possible, even if it was just a nature walk nearby. Sometimes we'd just have a picnic on a blanket in the back garden and I'd put the tent up for her to play in.

IHateFlies · 17/05/2023 13:52

Working term time makes the holidays much easier.
I used to work part time and relied on family to look after dcs.
Our holidays are mostly spent meeting friends and family on days out or trips to the park. Lots of picnics, walks and bike rides.
I'm on a group WhatsApp group with my dcs class mums so someone usually messages to try to get the kids together in the park.

Itsgottobeme · 03/07/2023 22:41

try to not heave so much pressure on anyone. not the kids either. if they are happy to sit and do nothing but lie in and watch tv great. but we try to do something.
due to cost we used to do alot more. holiday deff had more choice and was a given for at least one. now we have to be so much more careful. and it feels horrible not being able to jump at at whatever they might want to do.
so teaching them boredom and imagination and getting enjoyement from just being them is such a big thing for us.
we will go to the parks. picnics and rounders.
for walks often.
bike rides.
sit and make events of things. like movie nights or menu chosen and cooked by them days.
tournaments and obstacle courses.
outdoor cinemas.
camping.
camping in the garden
try to just be more present, so it might be we cant do the extroadinary but we are just more them focused.and always available. they are our focus and they no it.

i think the cost of things is hideous. and people putting prices up beyond what they "need" to profit is quite vulgar.
there needs to be more stuff for free. or spaces where kids can be kids safely.

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