Letting come home to an empty house.

[Frequency]

I started a college course today. The timetable once it was set differed from the times given online.

Thursdays we are in 1pm until 4pm. My kids finish school at 3pm and 3:30pm.

The after-school club is extortionate and I'm not sure I'd get tax credits towards it as I'm working and the course I'm doing is not related to my job. It's like £16 per day and is miles away. I don't drive so I'd have to add bus fairs to the £16 a day which I simply cannot afford.

I'm toying with the idea of asking very sensible, mature 14yo DD to come straight home from school to let slightly dilitary but mostly well behaved 10yo DD in and stay with her until I get home around an hour later.

Would that be okay? They stay at home alone together while I pop to the shops but it's never more than thirty minutes. I usually come home to find them exactly where I left them (playing on their ipods)

They both walk home from school normally. DD1 gets in around the same time as DD2 (sometimes 5 minutes earlier or later). They get on fairly well and rarely fight.

Christ, why can't we edit yet?

Letting children* come home to an empty house.

I would be happy with that set up.

I can't see that being a problem. Obviously all children are different but my now 11 yo has been letting himself in since he had just turned 10.

I also leave him in charge of his 7 yo brother if I pop to the shop.

Seems fine to me, its a fairly short period of time and once you're out of class you could call/text to check in if you felt the need.

Oh, good. My instinct was that it would be fine. They're both really good kids but I started fretting about whether it was fair to ask the 14yo to be responsible for her sister.

Oh absolutely, plenty old enough.

Wouldn't concern me at all OP. Go for it!
About 2hrs would be the maximum though and I'd ensure they had access to a meal they can confidently and safely cook and if they can't teach them leave them with some leftovers to heat up.
Do it!!

Definitely ok. At 14 I was babysitting small children for full days

I would have a chat with them both about behaving and doing as older one says etc so the ground rules are set

I think that sounds fine. I would. Does 10yo normally walk home alone? Just thinking about our school, children can walk home alone or be collected by siblings under 16, only if the parents have let school know beforehand. Just something to consider. But I don't think there would be a problem at all.

Yes, DD2 normally walks home alone.

I've spoken to them both about it and they're both fine with it although DD2 has asked if DD1 will meet her outside her school instead of her going home as if she has to wait a few minutes for DD1 to get there, she'd rather wait with her friends.

DD1 can cook. DD2 is learning the basics and can make sandwiches, but I can't see them needing anything more than a sandwich or bit of toast. I'll be home by 4:30 at the latest.

I would definitely do that.