If you work out of the home and leave year 7, 8s alone from 4.30 to say 6.30 what do they get up to ?

[Lilaclily]

I'm facing this dilemma

Dd year 5 will be in afterschool club and by the time we both get home it'll be 6.30 , and ds will have been home since 4.30

I know lots of kids do this but it'll be about 4 times a week and I'm wondering if he'll get Lonely once the novelty of going on the xbox and eating the contents of the fridge wears off

[Lilaclily]

Plus I won't be around to tell him to do his homework and unpack his bag etc

[Cucumber5]

Put the dishes away or start cooking the family meal using a recipe.

An hour of screen time relaxing.

[minionsrule]

youtube, youtube and more yuotube. DS Y7 has about an hour on his own 3 or 3 times a week, he doesn't get lonely. Sometimes he will do homework but prefers to wait for me till he does that

[KirstyJC]

DS is only left for 1 hour here (we're usually back at 4.45) but he tends to eat lots of chocolate, leaving the wrappers on the floor. Then leave his shoes on the floor, his blazer on the floor and all the downstairs lights on and doors open.

He then finds both his phone and tablet in whichever hiding place we have attempted to use then disappears into his room where he watches Terraria. He doesn't seem to register when we are there or not and doesn't seem bored.

He is still a work in progress.......

[OublietteBravo]

DD (year 8) does her homework and then watches TV. She gets home at around 16:15 - I get back at around 17:45. I think she enjoys the time on her own.

She seems upset by the idea that DS (year 6) will be joining her once he moves into year 7 (he currently goes to afterschool club). Presumably because she'll have to negotiate regarding what to watch.

[katedan]

Hi I faced this dilemma since DS has been in year 8, he is now year 9 and it has def impacted on quality/ quantity of homework although he does go to homework club every night so not home till 4.30 he is still alone till about 6. I have hidden x box but he just watches TV. Does not ever do the chores he is asked to do but has never lost his house key, is safe and warm at home and I feel far more guilty about it than he feels lonely.

[mightymole]

My nearly 12 yr old ds is at home on his own 3 days a week from 3.45pm till around 5.15-5.30pm and he does any homework that needs doing and then watches tv or goes on his iPad!
I expect his stuff to be put away i.e. School bag and uniform not just dumped in the conservatory like he was known to do when we first started it.
He does know if he abuses the rules then he'll be at homework club at school.
Probably a bit too strict but he knows how it works and we don't have many if any problems. He always phones me when he gets in and let's me know what homework etc needs doing.

[YelloDraw]

Are there any clubs he wants to go to after school like sport or something?

[HarrietVane99]

Is there some incentive you can offer that would encourage him to do his homework before you get home? So he gets in, has a snack and relaxes for a bit, then gets on with homework, and by the time he's done you'll be nearly home.

Does he have to come home? Does he have the option of doing homework in the library or going to an after school club or activity one or two days a week if he wants to vary things a bit?

[ThymeLord]

My 13 year old gets home at 3.40 and I'm back at 5.30. She walks the dog and then messes around on her phone. I feel guilty about it but I try not to let myself.

[Oddbins]

walls the dog
makes himself a snack
gets changed
plays football in the front garden with his mates (he isn't allowed off the street)
watches YouTube on his phone
starts dinner sometimes
sets the table

[corythatwas]

Dd,when well enough to be left, used to read and listen to music. Ds used to listen to music. My niece used to cook the family supper. (note: SIL clearly better at teen rearing than me).

Whether you get lonely or not is surely a very individual thing. I used to love those short hours when I had the house to myself (large family); suspect ds felt the same.

[Lilaclily]

Oh yes obilettebravo I can imagine ds will be like that in a few years with dd

[Lilaclily]

Agree katedan it's the guilt

He does one club a week at the moment, not keen on doing any more

[Lilaclily]

It's actually harder these years really isn't it may not nursery, childminder etc

[SavageBeauty73]

Screens.

[DimsieMaitland]

Homework, piano practice, making snacks, watching tv. DD1 used to love this time to herself!

[corythatwas]

other nephew did music practice and fixed himself something to eat

[ghostyslovesheets]

my year 8 and 9 do nowt except watch bad TV and eat crisps

BUT if they want pocket money - they need to sweep, mop, hoover and dust once a week

[Redcrayons]

Xbox
Phone
Eats his own body weight in toast

occaisionally does some homework.

[Lilaclily]

Does any one on here work full time so they're alone each evening? I should say I'm a nervous anxious person at the moment so having massive angst about everything!

[DiegeticMuch]

Reading, TV, internet, chores. Much the same as adults, really, plus homework and a bit of gaming.

[minionsrule]

I do work full time OP but I can wfh 2 days a week and DH does one day a week. To be honest, even if it was everyday he was left he would be fine, he barely looks up when I come in anyway!
One day there was a bad accident on the motorway and me and DH were both stuck in it, I was 2 hours late getting home - kept in touch with DS to let him know I was on my way, made sure he got something to eat, he was fine

[Lilaclily]

Thanks minions rule that's reassuring !

[minionsrule]

OP, if you are concerned, are you able to call/text him sometime when he is at home alone? Sometimes just a few minutes contact is nice.
Also (admit I should start doing this) I like the idea of giving him a job or two to do to top up his pocket money, that will focus him for a bit.