Why do kids have 6 weeks holiday?

milliebear00001

I'm a teacher too, but in Stockport we only get five weeks in the summer.

I wouldn't mind spreading the longer holiday about if it was the same nationally, but agree that children (and teachers!) need a proper break. I have really fond memories of the 6 weeks holiday stretching in front of me - they were golden days and I'd like my kids to have the same memories.

tigzem

My daughter has been on summer holidays for exactly a week now, and goes back 6th Sept, so it's 5 weeks and 3 days, I think that's the shortest summer hols I've heard of!

globetraveller

Whilst I understand the argument about spreading the holidays throughout the year, don't you all remember the beginning of your summer holidays as a child? Remember all the excitement? How come I always remember sun though?:) They can at least get out and about and not worry about freezing weather or snow.

Gingham_R

Can you imagine everyone trying to book their holidays over the same 2 weeks!?

ruthber

My kids broke up on the 22 July and start again on 7th September. It is about 6 and a half weeks and I am finding it difficult to entertain them. I work part-time and have to take all of August off as there is no reasonably priced childcare (3 children). The childminder charges £40 per day per child. When I was a child in Poland yes some kids helped out on the farms but we lived in a town and were able to go to very cheap 2 week long residential camps in lovely parts of the country. We had a great time every year. they were subsidised by the state so cost very little. I guess by today's standards they were run on a shoe string and health and safety or insurance were non-existent. My kids just went to PGL activity camp but it was during the term time I would have preferred if they went during the holidays, but that is not how the schools organise it. It cost £370 for 4 nights per child so obviously I cannot afford to send them again now.

globetraveller

Isn't it a sad state of affairs when adults say they are finding it difficult to entertain their children? I was never "entertained" and holidays never seemed long enough. What is wrong with the children playing outside or even inside? Have we raised a generation who have lost the ability to play?

MoneySavingMamma

I think the economy needs the holidays, for tourism etc. If the holidays were in the winter no-one would go out & spend.

SandC

I can understand that it's difficult for households with both parents working to juggle things over long summer breaks.

But I would never begrudge the kids having the long break that we did - plus I think the teachers need it too. It was exciting breaking up and even more exciting going back again in September - new uniform probably and certainly new shoes. Often, people had really changed in that short time! For me it was always a time to set myself some new goals (shallow teenage ones that they may have been) for the next school year. Yes, I did get bored, no I didn't need entertaining, even at primary age, but my memories are good ones. Kids need to know about being bored, imagine never having been bored until you're an adult. It might set you off into some kind of downward spiral of mental health issues!

As for the rest of Europe, well our french staff are off for a month right now and that's the adults!

Fly_Baby

dane-katie wrote: »

I dont have any children myself yet, but i have often wondered why kids have such a large amount of time off in summer? wouldnt it be better for them to have 2 or 3 weeks off and spend more time in school or distribute the holidays more over the year?

Surely it must be hard for parents who work having to find child care for there children during these holidays?

Any ideas?

I come from a country where children have 3 months of summer holidays. Whenever I visit with my children in August my friends are horrified that English kids "only" get 6 weeks.

On a balance, in my mother country children get much more homework and generally much work harder in school (only studies and a short recess after each class, very little play time) during an academic year.

All is relative, I suppose.

vanilla

Over here in Northern Ireland it's 8 weeks, i find it hard keeping them busy. I remember always being outside when i was wee and playing. Now all i hear from my lot is how bored they are and they have nothing to do (insert rollie eyes).