Working parents what child care arrangments for year 7 children?

[silver73]

My son is going into year 7 in September. We both work full-time.

What do other parents do childcare wise for secondary school age children?

Do older siblings look after your year 7 child? Is that allowed? He has a 15 year old brother but I have my concerns....

Husband refuses to have an au pair and nothing in our area for secondary school age children after school. At wits end..

[TheFirstLady]

What time would he get home and how long would he spend alone? What are your concerns specifically? Him being lonely, doing inappropriate stuff, inviting all his mates back?
My DD1 has always been fine about being alone for a couple of hours since she started secondary, but she does quite a few clubs after school also. Are there homework clubs/sports clubs etc that your DS could attend after school?
I think you need to ask yourself what your specific issues are with your DS being alone after school. - secondary school age is a bit old for ordinary forms of afterschool childcare IMO.

[Monty100]

Mine were coming home as latch key kids by then. Not ideal...

Nothing ever happened, they're in years 12 and 9 now.

I get in by 5.30/6.00pm it's only a couple of hours after all.

However, I have spent a small fortune getting keys cut as ds has lost so many!

I always kept a spare key at neighbours'.

[silver73]

Thanks for the replies. No specific worries as he is sensible and so is his older brother who is 15.

They would be alone for about 2 hours or less if they do after school activities.

It is good to know what others have done

[silver73]

Sorry just to add my concern was a 15 year old and 11 year old alone in the house not their behaviour but happier since it seems that it is not unusual to leave secondary age children alone for a couple of hours.

[silver73]

When oldest went to secondary school I was working from home but now have to go into the office so this is a new problem for me.

[mummytime]

My DCs secondary has extended library hours 8-5, so that can provide some child care. There are also after school clubs, which are useful if they are a club joining type.
Mine are fine in the house by themselves (and I usually phone after they are due in to check everything is okay.

The biggest issue is how do the 15 year old and 11 year old get on. Are they likely to fight? Are they both happy? Have you set rules that they can both cope with?

[silver73]

Luckily both boys get on really well and are very close so they will enjoy being together.

15 year old is very mature and sensible and younger boy seems to have a lot of respect for him...

[toccatanfudge]

watching this thread as this is an issue I could face in a few years time.

I don't mind the "latch key kid" for after school - but what about during the summer holidays? What would you do with a Yr7 or 8 child when they're not at school most of the day?

[silver73]

Luckily between my husband and I we can take enough time off to cover holidays so not faced that problem but it is a problem as year 7/8/9 children don't have holiday clubs or if they do they are very expensive.

[cory]

Only reason dd wasn't a latch key kid last year in Yr 7 was because of disability; otherwise, I wouldn't have had a problem. And with an older teen in the house I certainly would go for it. I used to love the afternoons when my Mum worked and I had the house to myself.

[toccatanfudge]

you see I don't mind about latch key kid in Yr7 (just as well as he almost certainly will be).

It's the holidays I'm more concerned about -

[BarkisIsWilling]

Toccatanfudge, in London the boroughs organise activities for the young peopls. I know that in Lambeth there's stuff for those aged up till 18 to do from sports to media to trips and youth clubs.

Is that not the case for others on this thread?

[solo]

To avoid the key losing problem, have a key safe fixed. They are excellent and I'll definitely be having one when I allow Ds in the house alone.

[toccatanfudge]

BIW - sadly I'm not in London and most of the holiday schemes stop at 11 (one or two at 13)yrs old.

[fsmail]

Most of the kids round here come back on their own from secondary and stay on their own until the parents get back. We did the same at that age so I would not see a problem with this. My DS will be doing the same next September.

[trubloffthemouse]

Toccata, when ds was end of Yr7, I worked four days a week and arranged either for him to go to a friend's house or for a friend to come to ours. They always enjoyed themselves and the worst that happened was thay all the food in the house would be eaten & there'd be no clean plates left.

If no friends available, he'd play ps3, watch a bit of telly, go for a run or a bike ride. He quite liked to be by himself for a bit occasionally.

Really, by end of Yr7 they'll be 12 years old and more than capable of looking after themselves. Try not to worry too much.

[foureleven]

For holidays you can just make sure the diary is filled with visits from their friends and to their friends. You''l find lots of the parents are in the same situation.

When I was a teenager Id fill endless days just sat in friends bedrooms talking about boys and painting our nails... Their easily pleased! I dont think theres the need for expensive holiday clubs at this age.

Id go for it OP, Its definitely normal to be a latch key child in year 7.

I do worry a bit about the walking home in the dark business though in winter... I suppose it depends on where you live.