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AIBU?

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Original poster

10 year old alone after school?

309 replies

Picklelicklemk · 03/04/2024 15:46

In a bit of a pickle. Our DC becomes too old for a local nursery we use for after school in a couple of months. I don't finish work until 5pm and home for 5.30pm.

School finishes at 3.15pm what am I supposed to do to bridge the gap? Is 10 too young to be alone? DC is fairly sensible and trustworthy but just seems so young!

No family or friends we can rely on.

What do other people do for after school care when their DC hit this age? TIA

OP posts:
titchy · 03/04/2024 15:56

And no you cannot leave them to get themselves home and then be left alone for two hours. Childminder, nanny, babysitter, change hours at work, leave early, work from home. All options working parents of year 5 kids have to use. Fending for themselves is neglect. Quite shocked you have to ask tbh.

AtrociousCircumstance · 03/04/2024 15:56

titchy · 03/04/2024 15:54

  1. It says so twice.
Show quote history

It originally said eleven, which has now been edited.

whatkatydid2014 · 03/04/2024 15:55

I’m in the office till about 4. My 9 year old (Y5) goes to an after school activity (cricket) till 4:15 and gets picked up by me on way back and she walks home and waits till I get home with her sister at 4:40 one day (in the house about an hour alone). She has an air tag on her keys, can contact me via iMessage from her iPad when she gets in to confirm she’s home ok and knows 3 neighbours she can check in with if she’s worried (we have a reciprocal arrangement where their kids can come to us on my wfh days). She started with shorter periods at home and then first term she went to activities both days I was at the office. Any way you could trade drop off/pick up with a friend from school or does he have any friends nearby who have parents in where he could go for help if he needed?

titchy · 03/04/2024 15:54

AtrociousCircumstance · 03/04/2024 15:47

Are they ten or eleven?

  1. It says so twice.
Original poster
Picklelicklemk · 03/04/2024 15:52

Thanks sorry typo 10 will be 11 in September. Childminder is not feasible as the only one in the area charges extortionate amounts and over the week it would eat away at the little I earn.

OP posts:
notnowmarmaduke · 03/04/2024 15:52

11 year old should be fine. 10, is a bit different, especially if they are just 10, as in nearer to 9

NotSmallButFunSize · 03/04/2024 15:50

My DD is yr6 but was 11 in September so she has spent this school year so far letting herself in after school on the day I am late back. Is here until a similar time as you said.
Until end of yr5 she went to after school club with her younger sister

legosnowqueen · 03/04/2024 15:49

Childminder?

AtrociousCircumstance · 03/04/2024 15:47

Are they ten or eleven?