To think a three year old can’t do this?

I think it must be very child dependent - mine will happily either watch tv for an hour after nursery or can spend hours playing with her dolls, feeding them, giving them a tea party etc without even noticing I’m there. 7 seems very old IMO to be able to play somewhat independently for a short period of time

After a day at nursery, mine would have happily sat for an hour watching tv.

I work full time with part time childcare - flexible job (thankfully). They get home from nursery at 2 - DD1 watches TV for an hour while DD2 naps and I do an hour of work, the last 2 hours of my working day is done once they’re asleep, so the only work I do when I’m with them is that hour (so the same as OPs DH but everyday not just once a week). It’s one of my most productive hours because I blitz through knowing I’m on a time limit (no calls though at that time). To date none of my employers, colleagues or clients have ever complained and my work is always done on time and to a high standard. There are many different circumstances out there - OPs DH could work for an hour (depending on his work) once a week without causing any damage to the 3 year old or getting sacked.

Had to manage it in lockdown, and that was all day every day not an hour a week.

To be fair, it was pretty terrible…

Nope, I think age 6 is the very youngest kids can manage without quite a lot of attention, more like 7 or 8 for most. My youngest was 8 when COVID hit and was only about a year into not needed a lot of attention and help when at home.

But he should not be doing childcare and working at the same time. Nobody should. And it is not allowed in most companies.

An odd hour and there is ok but i have to say i agree with this. Its not great for kids to be ignored/parked in front of tv the time while mum or dad work.

With a favourite program, snack/drink to hand and taken for a wee first, neither of mine would have moved from the tv, especially not tired after preschool on a friday.

That said, we generally don't watch it loads, i think in some homes its on a bit more for background noise & kids slightly get in a habit of tuning out

Depends on the child. One of mine even from about 2 would happily play with trains, cars, watch a bit of tv, look at books easily for an hour whilst I worked in the same room as him. The other - even at 6 - would have the curtains down / oven on / front door open / shouting when I’m on calls- wfh is impossible

Of course he should be able to handle his child (for 24/7 if necessary). But he should not be doing childcare and working at the same time. Nobody should. And it is not allowed in most companies.

Depends on the child. My eldest would sit and watch TV for an hour (though I still wouldn't leave him alone, DH WFH from sofa or something), my youngest would probably try stick his fingers in every plug...

Just leave the house a tip or one of you tidy up when DH has finished work. Don't do it when you're straight through door with needy 15mo, bored 3yo and full bladder 😉 Or, what alternatives do you have to the current set up?

Oh god no, mine wouldn’t have the attention span either ! They just don’t at that age in my opinion (with some exceptions)

Or WFH is amazing for family life, no commute eating into your day, more able to equally split school runs and after school activities between the parents, seeing your kids and spouse throughout the day, the list goes on. It really doesn’t have to be that deep. Things can be simple and nice and work well.

@shakemyheadatyou it sounds like youre bloody exhausted, sorting the kids in the morning, working, sorting them after, doing dinner, tidying up... no wonder you've lost your rag.

Is this really about this hour, or more that even if your DH is at home you're still doing everything and clearing up the carnage?

Sounds like you need some help, and not just on Fridays.

And on the Friday, what where could ds go instead after nursery if he didn't come home?

My 3yo would happily play with her toys or colour or watch tv or eat a snack for an hour. I wfh and would do this. I wouldn’t book in any important meetings but I would expect that she’d let me get on with my work and not do anything dangerous. If playing or colouring she’d be in the same room as me.

You do what you need to do to get through sometimes. It's one hour a week. It's not a big deal.

This is what I do but I thought I was going mad reading some of the replies on here 😅

No thanks, I'm not paying for extra childcare for one hour a week when it's totally unnecessary.

Neither of my kids have been given attention every waking minute. They're quite happy watching TV for a bit or playing with some toys or doing some drawing without me hovering over them. I can't imagine the kind of horror created with a child who is hovered over constantly.

Tonight my 2yo happily played in the same room for over an hour while I worked on my laptop, she watched some TV, she played with some blocks, I gave her a snack, we chatted from time to time while I did some admin bits. She does that every Friday while my DH takes my older DD to an activity as otherwise she'd be just sitting in a car for most of that time 🤷‍♀️

It does depend what exactly your DH will be doing though. I don't work while DD is resting (I clean the house and prep the dinner, generally). If DH needs to do phone calls, for instance, then it's a non starter.

Again, it’s one hour once a week. If he can’t handle his own child for an hour a week there’s far bigger problems!

Don't be silly. It's an hour with his dad.