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If you want to try to re-program my wife to enjoy an active sporty holiday centered around something that isn't snowboarding then please be my guest.
So save up. So don't go to Whistler. So do something your kids enjoy and get over yourselves.
Oh so Daddy wants to go cycling? I get the distinct impression that the needs or wants of your kids aren't figuring too highly
Nope, it was my wife's idea as she thought the kids would enjoy it. I'd rather be riding up Alpe D'Huez but I recognise that my kids come first.
I really don't care. Nothing will ever persuade me that my 7 year old needs to be assessed against some arbitrary yardstick set by the government.
They don't assess your kids for your particular interest and amusement.
Yes it [b]can[/b] be.
My bold.
- Local authorities tend to have different half term periods (no bad thing, it's a start in addressing the problem) which means arranging to go away with other families on holiday (skiing or not) can be a pain if the half-terms don't align.
Nightmare - maybe they should arrange to have the thirteen weeks of annual school holidays synchronised across the whole country.
I'm taking my kids cycling this year. Much cheaper than a skiing holiday - you could probably afford it.
If the snobbery around skiing is based on how much it costs, that's the whole bloody point, we're trying to bring the price down!
I'd love to take my kids on a cycling holiday, but they prefer skiing, and the 7 year old wouldn't get very far on a bike to make it worthwhile. It's my fault admittedly for taking them skiing in the first place, but I remember begging my parents when I was young to take me skiing and they refused and instead took me on numerous boring beach holidays where all there was to do was get sunburnt and bitten by mosquitoes.
do something your kids enjoy and get over yourselves.
Did you miss the bit where I said my four year old had been going on about wanting to go skiing again ever since our trip last year? I'm pretty sure she enjoyed it.
And what is wrong with getting kids into sports that you enjoy like skiing? Or cycling?
Surely it's a lot easier to sell to them if they see you having fun doing it too?
So don't go to Whistler.
Erm... why??? I'm not following your logic here.
Did you miss the bit where I said my four year old had been going on about wanting to go skiing again ever since our trip last year?
And your one-year old?
And what is wrong with getting kids into sports that you enjoy like skiing? Or cycling?
Absolutely nothing.
Surely it's a lot easier to sell to them if they see you having fun doing it too?
If you have to sell it to them, perhaaps they're not quite as keen as you make out.
So don't go to Whistler.Erm... why??? I'm not following your logic here.
You were complaining about the cost of a skiing holiday. The solution seems obvious.
Erm... why??? I'm not following your logic here.
Because they're jealous. That's it I'm afraid. Like I said, miserable judgemental sods!
Why would they need to do that, beyond what they usually do?
Sorry - talking in terms of, when you pop in to pick up their homework for the time off.
No, but I'd hope a teacher would have enough in the way of rough lesson plans that they could tell me what topics they were planning to cover next week. (i.e. having agreed that I can take my kids out then they can let me know what I need to cover with them a day or two before I actually take them out).
I'm sure they would, if they didn't mind getting in early or hanging around after work to pass it along.
They have to do that already, but currently they also have to chase the parents who DO give a toss and take their kids out with plenty of notice.
Then don't take your kids out. 🙂
Because they're jealous. That's it I'm afraid. Like I said, miserable judgemental sods!
You can believe that if it helps you.
Though complaining about being judged seems pretty odd, given the OP.
Nowadays, it seems to be more for the benefit of the schools themselves - to get higher up league tables, therefore attract more pupils, which gives the school [s]more[/s] enough money to survive.
FTFY.
"The education system in this country is creating a generation of children who are unable to think for themselves. Since the introduction of league tables in 1992, there has been a shift in priorities in schools away from traditional teaching methods towards teaching exam tactics to help schools to advance up the league table rankings.
League tables were created to try to give parents the information that would allow the forming of a free market within education and school choice. However, this objective was never achieved. Instead, the tables have given the government greater scope to intervene in schooling by the introduction of various target and policies. As a result, not only has the quality of education decreased, but the league tables themselves have ceased to represent the actual relative quality of schools."
- from [url= http://www.adamsmith.org/blog/education/the-perverse-incentives-of-league-tables/ ]Adam Smith's blog[/url]
And your one-year old?
She didn't express a preference, but she does enjoy time with her grandma and liked the sledging and general playing in the snow so I'm happy to assume she is a yes until she tells me otherwise.
If you have to sell it to them, perhaaps they're not quite as keen as you make out.
Statements like that make me doubt you actually have any kids. 😀
You were complaining about the cost of a skiing holiday. The solution seems obvious.
Your solution is to sacrifice a different holiday, something meant as my 40th birthday treat, so that I can afford to pay two grand more for the same holiday that we had but a week later, in a crappier hotel, at a much busier time, with poorer lessons?
Why would I do that?
Why would I do that?
So you don't have to take your kid out of school
HTH
She didn't express a preference, but she does enjoy time with her grandma and liked the sledging and general playing in the snow so I'm happy to assume she is a yes until she tells me otherwise.
Which could be acheieved at home.
If you have to sell it to them, perhaaps they're not quite as keen as you make out.Statements like that make me doubt you actually have any kids.
I find the eldest is much keener on an activity if we back off and let her do it herself, rather than trying to force her to like what we like.
Your solution is to sacrifice a different holiday, something meant as my 40th birthday treat, so that I can afford to pay two grand more for the same holiday that we had but a week later, in a crappier hotel, at a much busier time, with poorer lessons?Why would I do that?
Because that's what you signed up for, so it's curious that you find the revelation that half-term holidays cost more to be so startling.
I find your use of the word "sacrifice" instructive.
I find your use of the word "sacrifice" instructive.
Is there a rule somewhere that says parents shouldn't do stuff without their kids? And what's this 'signed up for' rubbish? I chose to have kids, I didn't see any contract.
Definitely take the children out of school OP. Don't do it for the price difference do it for the valuable time and life experience.
Little bit of one to one learning while your away and they will come back 3 months ahead of the class.
Teachers posting with their blinkers on by the looks of things.
Is there a rule somewhere that says parents shouldn't do stuff without their kids? And what's this 'signed up for' rubbish? I chose to have kids, I didn't see any contract.
Again, instructive. For the hard of thinking: it's not news that half-term holidays are expensive. It's also not news that skiing holidays are expensive. So if you want to take your kids skiing, cough up, and if that means not doing something else, that's the way it goes. Gee, you could always go for a bike ride instead.
Oh, and if your kids go to school, you have seen a contract.
I find the eldest is much keener on an activity if we back off and let her do it herself, rather than trying to force her to like what we like.
Did she teach herself to cycle then? Gifted child.
..it's curious that you find the revelation that half-term holidays cost more to be so startling.
Not so much "startling" as "annoying but avoidable".
I find your use of the word "sacrifice" instructive.
I find your appetite for martyrdom equally instructive.
Definitely take the children out of school OP. Don't do it for the price difference do it for the valuable time and life experience.Little bit of one to one learning while your away and they will come back 3 months ahead of the class.
Teachers posting with their blinkers on by the looks of things.
You should read the whole thread, it's interesting. 🙂
Did she teach herself to cycle then? Gifted child.
Still on the balance bike at the moment. When she wants help she'll ask for it.
Not so much "startling" as "annoying but avoidable".
Yep, you could've chosen to not have kids. Or home school.
I find your appetite for martyrdom equally instructive.
Your mistake is to assume I see my life the way you see yours.
For the hard of thinking: it's not news that half-term holidays are expensive. It's also not news that skiing holidays are expensive. So if you want to take your kids skiing, cough up, and if that means not doing something else, that's the way it goes.
Conversely it's not news that four year olds don't exactly cover a lot of critical academic ground in five days, especially the ones leading up to half term. Nor is it news that avoiding the half-term break is massively cheaper and doing so means you have a better choice and ultimately a better and quieter holiday for all of the family.
You should read the whole thread, it's interesting.
Liar! Half of it is you talking complete nonsense 😛
Still on the balance bike at the moment. When she wants help she'll ask for it.
You're taking her on a cycling holiday on a balance bike? And this is something she has asked for without any prompting from you?
Your mistake is to assume I see my life the way you see yours.
Actually I'm pretty certain you don't otherwise we wouldn't be having this conversation.
If I had children (which I don't) and they were under high school age, then I would definitely take them out of school.
In a few years we're thinking about taking our nephew, he'll be 13 by then, so it's going to be costly. He had a taster session at Chill factore and loved it.
The head at my sons school has no problem at all with parents taking kids out to do fun interesting stuff. As a school they want the kids to be passionate about all aspects of life and have loads of exciting experiences. Needless to say they still get outstanding SATS as the kids love their learning environment and the culture of the school so pay attention whilst learning.
Did we ever work out if it was ok to take time off school to go to Magaluf?
Can't see why not as long as the same criteria are satisfied
i.e. the teacher agrees that the kids education won't be impacted, the parents are prepared to help the kids catch up, and the trip itself is of some benefit to them (though I'd argue any travel and quality family time is pretty beneficial)
Excellent. Well that's that settled for another year!
We take ours off school fairly often for a days skiing. Scotland so the weather can be unpredictable and the weekends busy. So the occasional bluebird weekday makes up for it 🙂
A bluebird snow day in Scotland should be taken as a divine sign that school and work is cancelled for the day!
I'm sure everyone could cope with missing that one day every three years 😀
😀
I should have added a disclaimer:
I have only ever skied in Scotland so my definition of a bluebird day might be somewhat off
The head at my sons school has no problem at all with parents taking kids out to do fun interesting stuff. As a school they want the kids to be passionate about all aspects of life and have loads of exciting experiences. Needless to say they still get outstanding SATS as the kids love their learning environment and the culture of the school so pay attention whilst learning.
Is tbis a state school? State schools have very little option with regards to this issue these days.