to consider dd being a 'latch-key kid' at the age of 7?

[Rhubarb]

Here is the problem.

dd finishes school at 3.35, same time as I finish work. I have to pick up ds and get back here, latest I arrive here is 4.30, but it's usually more like 4.15.

At the moment we are paying £10 per session for dd to attend after school club including her tea.

She has her tea at 4pm, which I feel is too early. She misses out on her meal with the rest of us. The £10 is a flat rate until 6pm but obviously she doesn't stay until then.

I feel ripped off paying £10 for my dd to be looked after for 45mins, especially if I tell them not to feed her as I want her to eat with us.

The days I am stuck for care for dd are Mondays and Tuesdays, the other days are taken care of with after school activities, which run until 4.30pm and are free.

We are considering, just considering, the possibility of giving her a key. Opinions?

[BIWI]

I would say that it depends how sensible you feel her to be. With ds1 I would definitely have considered this, given the situation you're in, but with ds2 I wouldn't.

Do you have any helpful neighbours who could at least be on call for her on those days until you get back?

[dilbertina]

for me that would be too young no matter how sensible she is...is there a neighbour or schoolfriend parent that could help out?

[Getyourownjuice]

I wouldnt give her a key at 7, more likely I would leave at school club till 6 and get my moneys worth

[lulumama]

i wouldn;t feel comfortable, i know it is only for 45 minutes, but what if you were delayed...

can you ask a neighbour / friend to help out for those two days and you do soemthjing for them in return

£10 for 45 minutes is ridicolous..would be cheaper to have a CM for an hour

is a tea time girl or au pair an option?

[EscapeFrom]

A childminder?

Check out chilcare students at local college? Sure they would be capable with one 7 yo for 45 minutes!

[SueW]

How will she get home? Does she usually walk home alone?

If she will have to walk with a friend/friend parent, could she not pop into them for 20 mins?

[Mercy]

I wouldn't trust my 6½ yr old dd to come straight home from school adn let herself in tbh.

Are there any childminders who could pick her up from school and then you collect her from their house (and that surely would be cheaper than £10 for 45 mins care?)

[Rhubarb]

We live just across the road from the school, you can see it from our window. The school have said they are happy to let her go home by herself. She is very sensible and has road sense, the road is a cul de sac and quiet but of course it is busier when parents are collecting children.

We do not live near family at all, most of the other children live out of our village. We have 2 neighbours we speak to, one couple are elderly, the other is a single man who is rarely in.

There is an ex-childminder up the road who now only looks after her young grandchildren, I will have a word with her to see if she can look after dd, but we need a back-up in case she says no.

[brandnewhelsy]

No no no no I wouldn't, much too young. Can she go home with a neighbour or friend some days, stay at afterschool longer the others?

[cornsilk]

Why not ask a childminder instead? Mine charges £5.

[Getyourownjuice]

I cant believe any school would be happy to let a child of 6 walk home on their own no matter how near they live to be honest.

I would have to find another way, as I said would most likely to be leaving her in the school club and get what I pay for

[charliecat]

Would the elderly couple like to have her for those 45 mins? They might like playing cards etc with her, boring her to tears with tales of old.

[belgo]

too young. I was at senior school before I had my own key.

[kslatts]

My dd is nearly 8, but I wouldn't leave at home alone even for a short period. £10 does seem a lot, could you not arrange to finish work early on those 2 days, maybe make the time up in your lunch break.

[Rhubarb]

We are still fairly new to this village and I don't know that many people.

Yes I could be delayed getting home of course. These are all things we need to consider. She was 7 in July. What other concerns would you have? Supposing she is sensible enough to walk the 100 yards back home and let herself in, what is the worst that could happen to her?

[OrmIrian]

Not yet. My eldest children are very sensible, we have great neighbours and the can easily walk home from school. But it wasn't until DS was 10 and DD was 8 that I let them do this regularly. I can see the temptation but wouldn't a neighbour be prepared to oblige for 45mins, 2 days a week?

[Rhubarb]

I cannot finish work earlier, I work in a school.

Leaving her the full session is not an option. I want to be with her when she is at home and I want her to have the family meal with us, not sitting in an after school club.

So basically the answer is no, she is too young?

[Getyourownjuice]

She could try and make some toast and burn herself

She could think she was grown up now and boil the kettle and scald herself

She could leave the door open and god knows who walks in

Someone could notice that she is going home alone and follow her

Shall I go on.......

[Mercy]

dd's school has a little network of childminders (some of them look after the teachers children). Would any of the teachers have any contacts?

[Getyourownjuice]

Can her dad help out? is his job more flexible?

[cornsilk]

My childminder has my ds's for 45 minutes. It works out really well.

[charliecat]

I think shes too young. My 9 year old wont be left, she comes with us, even nipping up the shop for 3 mins. I would be happy leaving her sat on the Sims, but she wont be left.
You dont really want a worst that could happen list do you?

[Rhubarb]

For the first three there is no chance. She wouldn't even try touching anything in the kitchen when we are around.

She would never leave the door open. She's a very very sensible 7yo.

But yes, the latter one is always a remote possibility. As it is with anyone I guess?