Eight red flags to watch out for at your hotel’s kids’ club this summer
A great kids’ club has the potential to be the making of your holiday: your children spend the day having adventures, perhaps trying something new, and you spend your day doing something that you enjoy. By contrast, a bad experience threatens to ruin the trip. But how can you assess the quality before you go away, and when you’re on the spot?
My own children, who are now teenagers, have had wonderful experiences across Europe, Africa and Asia in kids’ clubs, with our greatest successes sharing a few common threads: good communication, research ahead of time to set realistic expectations, and appropriate activities.
“A good kids’ club is one that balances a safe and secure environment, and also offers a properly fun experience,” observes Lee Evans, the director of customer experience at Neilson Holidays. She advises that parents “choose a club that offers a range of activities, and keeps children entertained, rather than one that’s just about drawing for hours on end indoors”.
She says, “Parents should look out for ratios of staff to children, staff experience levels and provisions available at the club. This can be anything from the menu, and any procedures to manage food allergies, to what kind of sun protection the club offers for children and how frequently they top up their water bottles to make sure they stay hydrated. Ultimately, kids should want to be in the club.”
So, parents and clubs share the same goal: happy, safe kids.
Katherine Atkinson, the chief executive of the Safer Tourism Foundation (STF), the charity dedicated to the prevention of holiday accidents, agrees that both sides bear responsibility: challenges with kids’ clubs arise because of how parents use the club, as much as the clubs themselves.
Atkinson advises parents: “Make sure you diligently follow all signing-in and out protocols as these are designed to keep your child safe [and] avoid the crisis response of a missing child who isn’t really missing but had just been taken out earlier than expected. Holiday plans will inevitably change, so make sure your kids’ club is able to cope with that, without compromising your child’s safety and security.”
Follow this checklist to evaluate your child’s club this summer.
Do your research
“It may sound obvious, but look at reviews of people who have used the clubs (kids and parents) before you arrive or book,” says Atkinson.
Consider staffing and equipment
Standards and staff-to-child ratios vary dramatically from country to country; determine what you are comfortable with and look for that. “Not all kids’ club staff will have childcare qualifications, but you might see these as more important for very young children and babies,” says Atkinson.
She reminds parents to review safety equipment, too: “Some clubs may provide protective gear and suncream, but not all will – make sure you send your child along with everything they need, including rash vest, water bottle, hat.” Make sure that you’re ready to cope in the heat by reviewing this guide from Safer Tourism.
Check the environment and pool safety
I am always a bit suspicious of kids’ clubs that don’t move around; sitting in a classroom for too long is boring for young people when they’re on summer holiday. From a safety perspective, consider water rules (are pools fenced?). For help navigating this space, use Safer Tourism’s advice on holidays with kids and our guide to staying safe around the pool.
Building friendships
Summer is the perfect time to make new friends. Figure out what the lingua franca in the club will be, and determine whether this will be a pleasant challenge for your child, or not. Ask the staff how they handle language barriers – my children, who speak no German, have made great German friends at Austrian kids’ clubs, thanks to the clever translating work of well-trained teenage staff.
Set your own screen plan
I see no need to rely on video games and films to entertain young people, and I resist any clubs that boast of gaming rooms. But each family should set its own rules – make a plan with your children and then share this with the club to avoid tears.
Consider individual needs
“Make sure the club has watertight policies around allergy communications and allergen risk management if your child lives with a severe, life-threatening allergy,” says Atkinson. “Kids want to be like all the others and may not be able to articulate the nature of their allergy, or spot a risk when they see one.” Safer Tourism has a helpful guide to travelling with food allergies.
Be aware, too, that many clubs do not cater to children with additional needs and disabilities. However, one father, James Leyland, recently described in a Trustpilot review of a Neilson holiday, how his seven-year-old, who is “on the ADHD/autistic spectrum, doesn’t mix with other children well, and has high nervous anxiety”, had enjoyed the kids’ club so much that he “swam for the first time, sailed, windsurfed and played all week”. It is well worth ringing ahead to discuss any special needs your child may have.
Explore the culture before you book and speak to staff
A place like Club Med, where at least 75 per cent of guests are families, absolutely expects almost all families to use the club at some point. If the club is more of a sideline to family activities, your child may resist. Remember that clubs aim to please; this isn’t a “get what you get and don’t regret” situation. If your child wants to make friends, improve football skills, or work on their diving skills, speak to the staff and see how they can help.
Be aware of costs
Some hotels include the cost of the club in the room charge; others do not. Many larger hotels have different levels of clubs operating for various fees. Be sure to note this and plan accordingly.