Jim – thanks for your response - I’m not sure what answer I was expecting but it certainly wasn’t thatJim Wadsworth wrote:In most cases, because the parents in question (having decided to travel with their playing offspring to the relevant events) don't have an alternate childcare solution available for their, typically pre-primary age, other child(ren)...Peter D Williams wrote:Well that does surprise me to be taking non playing brothers,sisters. What is the point of that?
We only have one child so this was something we never had to consider though I hope that if we were in that situation Carol and I would have been able to find some other solution as I don’t believe taking your other children along because you don’t have a suitable alternative childcare solution is a good solution for anyone – are you sure this is the case?
There are several reasons why I think this is the wrong solution, in no particular order:-
a) If rooms were being shared then this could be disruptive to the player
b) If rooms are close together then this could be disruptive to other players
c) Additional costs to the families concerned
d) Young children do not always settle well outside of their day to day environment
e) Parents and players are trying to deal with the hotel, tournament, playing conditions etc and then have the stress of looking after the rest of their children at the same time.
f) The children who are not participating in the tournament can quickly become bored and disruptive and in the case of babies their parents are trying to look after them in venues that do not necessarily have the facilities needed. I do remember one instance where Carol looked after a baby for the mother while she went into the playing hall to make sure her other child was ok
I have always advocated and actively campaigned for more players to attend these events but if as a result of more players attending we end up with this situation then I think I will have to seriously consider my opinion. Yes we want to send more players and we should want them to do well but if we are going to treat it as a crèche then in my opinion we defeat the objective before we board the plane