What would you think to a year 3 child, walking to and from school alone everyday, coming home to an empty home till about 5.30pm, and spending all the summer holidays at home alone

[Lardlizard]

Apart from the odd week or two the mum could take off work for holidays rest of the time the child is home alone

Walking home is fine, kids here start walking home alone from school from 6 or 7. Being in the house alone til parents get home is also fine, but the summer holidays part would have me worried. Can you see if the mother needs help? I doubt she's doing it for fun.. perhaps she has no support and no money to cover summer clubs and a helping hand could be what she needs.

I'd say that at that age I did that, with my younger sister in tow. Rural village, almost all kids did the same. We all relied on the SAHMs to 'be there' for us all!

These days though, that would probably get an immediate referral to SS.

Quite clearly not okay

Age aside, I'd feel terrible for the child basically living out their childhood basically alone with so little interaction with anyone close! Kids remember that shit. Forever.

This is very sad and I would raise it with someone. Got me thinking though, I was walking to and from school at that age and going home to an empty house from 10. My brothers were 9 and 7 at the time. In the holidays we went to nan 's 3 days a week but apart from that....I am ok

I'd be worried about a 7/8yo walking to school alone - are they left to get themselves up and ready for school? Do they have the responsibility of locking the house/making it secure for the day too?

I also think being left along at home for 2.5hrs every evening is too much for that young a child.

Certainly shouldn't be left alone for the whole school holidays. Just the isolation/loneliness/boredom factor is bad enough, never mind safety issues.

Ok, what's the story Op?

At our school the child wouldn't be released from school without an adult present to collect them.

Neglectful and I would have to do something (report, or chat to mum first and then maybe still report, depending).

This is what Universal Credit and benefits “reform” is pushing people back to, though. In the 70s this (“latch key kids” of that age) was common because single mums were forced to choose between parenting and putting food on the table.

We are going backwards.

Is this historical? Back in 70s/80s I think this was more acceptable, especially if there was a relative or neighbour on hand nearby.

My 7 year in year 3 old cant cross road safely - she sometimes walks a little ahead of us to / from school and I realised that we still need to work on road awareness. She was would be scared, bored and lonely alone - no way could she do all day.

The walking to/from school is a judgement call on circumstances.

Home alone until 5:30, far too young. Alone all summer holidays is actually tragic.

First thing I’d think is the poor parents must have limited options
Second thing I’d think is why are the school letting them leave without an adult

I would say it's wrong , but It rather depends on the circumstances . For some people on universal credit it may be the lesser of two evils the child has food and a home.

Plus, bored kids go looking for/cause trouble ime!

I would be devastated for that child. My eldest, most confident child would have managed the walking and after school alone around yr5/6 but would have struggled with weeks alone in the summer until secondary. My middle and youngest- no way in primary at all!!

My dc's school definitely wouldn't permit it. It's way too young and is dangerous.

Is there no one who can support the mother who is obviously in a pretty desperate situation? Usually, there is someone who can oversee a child until mum gets home, a neighbour or a friend’s mother. Is there no one who can walk with him to school.? It is obviously wrong but what is the situation? Whatever it is, help is needed.

Not ok. As pp have said I’m also surprised a 7/8 yr old is allowed to leave school without an adult.

I’m surprised a child that age is allowed to leave school on their own.

Our school only allows lone walking home from Year 5 so this child would not get out of school without an adult to collect them. The idea of such a young chil rattling round at home in the summer is an accident waiting to happen.

This was me in the 80s. We lived next door to my primary school but I would walk myself to and from school from the age of 7 or 8. I had an older brother (3 years older) but we were trusted to be home alone for about an hour and a half after school and during the school holidays. We were capable of looking after ourselves and neighbours were there to call on. My dad would also drive home from work mid-morning/lunchtime to check on us.

I think this was quite normal in the 80s but no way would I leave my own children alone (my eldest is now 8).

I imagine millions of children across the world grow up in just such circumstances. But elsewhere they’re more likely to be part of a community.

The English cleaving to the exclusive nuclear family must make many children lonely and many parents desperate.

(FWIW I quite often walked home alone from school at that age. Ten/15 minutes maybe. Home Counties. Everyone did. Was quite safe and happy. But on the very rare occasions that neither parent could be at home they generally arranged for us to go to a friend/neighbour. I only remember two or three latchkey days ...)

Oh come on OP! Spit it out fgs.

I think it’s really sad that they have actually had to think about doing this with their child. They might not be able to afford childcare/after school clubs and have no family to fall back on.
It’s in no way acceptable to do this, but is she desperate?