Parents: letting go for the first time on holiday

•    Visit the kids’ club together

Help settle everybody’s nerves by going along to check it out together. Your little ones can meet the team and start getting excited about the toys and activities on offer. It also gives you the chance to chat about any worries with our highly-skilled staff. Better to do this in advance so you can enjoy your me-time knowing all of your concerns have been addressed and your child is having a ball.     

•    Try not to sweat the goodbyes

Saying ‘goodbye’ on holiday can be emotional, even if it’s only for a couple of hours. Whether your child runs off to join in on the action without a backward glance or clings to your leg, parents often find it harder than kids. Rest assured that even the most reluctant kids soon settle in. We often see tears dry as soon as parents have left, so try to keep the goodbyes short and sweet and they’ll be just fine. We promise.

•    Be positive

Kids reflect our emotions, so try and stay upbeat and calm – even if you are a little nervous. Help ‘sell it’ before they arrive by focussing on the friends they’ll make and the exciting things they’ll do. 

•    Let them bring something comforting

It might be a blanket, a cuddly teddy or a favourite toy car, but a little something familiar can help children feel secure and at ease. Just let the staff know so it doesn’t get put away with the other kids’ club toys. 

A great kids’ club gives children a safe and welcoming space where they can make new friends, get stuck into exciting activities and have all kinds of adventures. It should feel like a brilliant treat – and a far cry from school! And that’s certainly what our kids’ clubs are: a treat. 

Our lovely kids’ club team know just what it takes to plan action-packed days that engage young minds and help them burn off all that excitable energy. Whether they’re building a sand castle with the babies in our Starfish crèche or setting sail on a pirate adventure with our Sea Badgers (4-5 year olds), they combine fantastic care with plenty of fun.  

Your little ones will get to:

•    Try new things: from tennis and treasure trails to kayaking and sailing, children get to have a go at a wide range of age-appropriate sports and activities.  

•    Be creative: we like to get outside as much as possible, but there’s also plenty of time for getting messy with some arts and crafts.  

•    Make new friends: kids like nothing better than the chance to play with other children. And our cheerful team will make sure even the shyest newcomers are soon happily included.

•    Grow in confidence: it’s a real joy seeing children develop and become more self-assured as they socialise with their friends and learn new skills. And maybe even show off a little as they tell you all about their daring feats of the day. 

As much as we love our kids, day-to-day life can be busy and stressful. Everybody, and we mean everybody, needs to take a break now and again to recharge their batteries, cast off their worries and return to daily life refreshed and energised. And sometimes the only way to achieve that is with a bit of child-free downtime. It’s your holiday too, remember! 

Whether you use the time to relax by the pool, spend some quality time with your other half or try your hand at some new activities, some adults-only time can be just what you need to get your parenting mojo back. Because happy parents make the best parents. 

Use a kids’ club well and you’ll still have plenty of time for fun as a family, it’s all about finding the right balance. Spend a little time apart doing your own thing and your quality family time can be all the sweeter. Our holidays are flexible, so there’s no need to be apart all day if you don’t want to be.

Even with the promise of so many fun activities for their children, many parents still feel worried or guilty about using a kids’ club for the first time. It’s totally natural, but we want to help put your mind at ease. 

Neilson kids’ clubs offer:

•    Qualified, experienced and attentive childcare staff
•    Safe environments
•    Great child-to-staff ratios
•    Fun-packed programmes of activities
•    Flexible hours including evening care and sleep clubs

And all included in the price of your holiday. What have you got to lose by giving it a try? Our holidays are tailor-made to ensure that leaving the kids to get on with it is as pain and guilt-free as possible.  You have to do it at some point, so you might as well do it here, with us. And now, time for you to relax.