what do working parents do with their kids during school hols?

[o8sp]

my eldest daughter starts school next week and my husband and i don't get enough holiday to cover all the school holidays. we don't have family that can help and it seems that it is a struggle to get a place at clubs during the summer hols (not to mention the cost). what do others do?

[Sweet cheeks]

Either one of you gives up work,or you plan ahead and put the kids name down for holiday clubs in good time!

[puzzled54]

What does she do at the moment while you are at work?

[tigerthecat]

Pay someone else to do it - childminders do

[padders]

Previous answers haven't been much help, have they?

When my kids were this age I would look after my friends two (similar ages) for a couple of days and then she would have my two for another couple of days. THe kids get someone to play with and you know they're in good hands. They used to love it. Nowadays they sort it out between themselves as they only really need an eye keeping on them.

My friends part-time nanny would also do a couple of paid days to supplement her income.

The worst thing was all these un-necessary inset days which were odd days here and there. I used to get fed up especially with the winter ones as who wants to use a day of their holiday when its too cold and wet to take advantage of the fact that everyone else is at school.

Good luck

[tigerthecat]

Padders I don't understand 'un-neccessary inset days' a friend of mine works 70 hours a week - In work from 7.30 till 6.00pm every week day plus working weekends and evenings, inset are for inservice training - important for teachers to be trained properly to teach all our children.

[mollymandy]

Hello

Speak to other mums in the same year as your child , they will also be struggling . make up a pool of say four of five mums/ dads and agree a schedule . This can also be used on a evening , chip in with the costs ( you could arrange to have a bouncy castle to be delivered at one home and share the cost , you could also hire a trampoline its a heck of a lot cheaper to split the cost with other parents . )

If you are shy ask the school head teacher to help you . Speak to the school pta ..

or just pin a flyer up on your local supermarket notice board , asking local parents to attend a meeting , that are struggling with child care and loby your local councillor for free help in your area .

Or you could job share with someone that had kids and when your not working , look after each others kids ..

Dont GIVE UP ...

[a master]

some peaple takes a sick day of work and takes there kids to a park or somthing that dosent need money to have fun with

good luck i hope i have helped