10 year old alone after school?

Just to confirm as I assume others are confused. I assume your daughter can’t go from September and she turns 11 is September (so will be year 6). I looked after myself from year 7 after school. I’m sure it will be fine. Does she have a friend she could walk home with? Especially in winter. I think being at home is fine, I’d be more worried about her getting there.

My parents left me home alone at that age. Sometimes my older siblings were there and sometimes not. I was fine. It wasn’t even a big deal. I wasn’t even the most sensible kid either.

Can’t see any harm for a ten year old who is sensible, locking the doors, getting a snack and turning on the tv until an adult comes home within the hour.

You know your own child. I would definitely have left my daughter at that age but definitely not my son, to be honest I’d be reluctant to leave him now and he’s 16 😂.

I haven’t read RTFT but have you asked him? If he’s happy with it then give it a go .

What? You have to be joking!

Probably because he needs to, and its normal in Sweden where he lives.

I'm Gen x and at 10yo once a week caught the train into the city ( about 40 minutes) by mysef to meet up with my parents who had a business there they couldn't leave until 9pm on Thursdays. The other days I walked home , and stayed there until my slightly feckless 6 years older sister put in an appearance about 5 minutes before my parents did ( after 3 hours). Also brought in the washing, started dinner, watched a shedload of TV , ate everything crap I could find and talked to friends on the phone ( landline! gasp) for at least an hour.

Thing that always saved me was we had an old-fashioned key in our back door ( long , silver - don't know the name) and as I regularly forgot my front door key I would go straight around the back and use this trick I had read in a book.

Slide a piece of newspaper under the door ( see I am old - newspaper we had it everywhere, stashed in the shed to start the BBQ etc) Poke the keyhole with a stick until the key falls out and lands on the newspaper, then slide it back out under the door.. Worked like a charm until my parents renovated and got a new door with a normal lock. No idea why they didn't just leave a key under a potplant or something.
OP - if your child is sensible and confident to be on their own then it will be fine. Perhaps work up to it in stages though, Starting now. 10 minutes then 20 minutes next week etc.

I think it is totally fine. Where I am from kids are home alone earlier than in the UK. However, I understand the societal norm is different in the UK and we are working with that. But if you think they're ready. I don't really see the issue

So much hysteria on this thread! I regularly left my kids from about 9/10 for a couple of hours. My youngest (11) is allowed to leave school five mins early to catch the bus home in a mid size city. No one asked me if that was ok, just assumed she is sensible.

I grew up in Scandinavia, but even in this country there are kids literally caring for adults and kids from earlier ages than this. As others have said, you know your child, you know your set up. You know what feels ok for you and them.

I wouldn't think twice about it tbh, so long as they could walk back with another child from school, and text you when they got in. Then they're accounted for the whole time. Once they're at home, presumably they can get themselves a slice of toast and know to not let strangers in?

No, far too young. Even a Year 6 left alone every night after school is a bit sad tbh

I think if you did this you'd want to give them a phone and be able to be contacted/to contact them whilst they were alone - does your role allow that? If not I'd be worried he would need to contact you and not be able to. I would also see if school have any after school clubs so he gets an extra hour of adult supervision before getting home or maybe an arrangement with a friend/school friends mum, that they keep an eye on him walking home, or once a week he goes there for a play/dinner for a little bit of cash maybe? I think at that age some kids are fine (mine wouldn't be, he'd lose his key, get scared, accidentally break something, forget how to make a snack etc but he is neurodiverse which has an impact) but you might just want to break his week up a bit and put some safety measures in place so it's less of a shock to the system... it depends how they feel about it too and if they feel OK with it

Childminders may also offer flexi care to bridge the gap between support and independence. That's where the child has a place but it's their choice whether they use it and the cm is the first point of contact between 3-5 rather than calling mum.

Another arrangement would be sharing care with another parent who needed support eg you do the breakfast and they do the after school care.

Also could you pay or recompense a parent on a casual basis just until the end of the school year? Some parents appreciate a little extra income.

@Simonjt why on earth are you frequently leaving your 8 year old alone like that?!! Dear lord.

From year 7 I was home alone with my brother after school. It’s only a year younger than I was so I’d say if they’re sensible then it’s fine.

Are there not clubs run by the secondary school? Ours has a homework club and lots of extra curriculars that run after school for an hour, so he'd get home what 4.45ish?

Children need money for food, clothing, activities and experiences in line with the accepted norm for their community. They also need to learn independence and responsibility.

Are there any after school clubs they could go to so they are only home for a short amount of time?

Your saying you are only £30 better off working a 7 hours shift? Surely your childs safety is worth more that £30. And no childminder charges £16 an a hour she would have no one use her. Usually its about £15-£20
for after school
care

I looked after an adult with motor neurone disease who intellectually was fine, but could not do anything for herself. She could not be left alone or she could have choked to death. She needed far more care than a 10 year old child does.

We don't know this adult's needs. A family member needs to keep the house locked and the gas hot water permanently off for her partner's safety. He has the care needs of a toddler.

10 year old children can be left alone in circumstances that vulnerable adults can not be. A 10 year old can get snacks and water from the fridge, go to the toilet and not do anything dangerous. Some vulnerable adults can not even wipe their own saliva away from their mouth.
To equate a 10 year old with a vulnerable adult is nonsense.

Surprised you say a childminder is too expensive. I charge £4 an hour for after schools, plus with tax free childcare you get 20% off. That’s not an extortionate amount for peace of mind and your child’s safety.

Have they said the child is vulnerable for their age, do they have SEN or another vulnerability? Many adults are less able to be left alone than an older child.

this us disgusting. Even worse hes allowed to fo to the park with freinds.

and shes considering leaving that child alone but cant the adult