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Original poster

5 year old for 1 hour while WFH

25 replies

mvmvmvmv · 14/10/2020 08:12

Hi,

If you have a 5 year old I'm keen to get your opinion.

What do you think of collecting your 5 year old from school (2.30), walking them home, getting them set up with a snack and then logging back into work to do another hour (3-4pm). During this time they could have their snack, watch TV and play with their toys. This would be 2 days per week. The other days they are at a childminder.

Money is not an issue but the availability of the childminder is.

OP posts:

BeautifulandWilfulandDead · 14/10/2020 08:14

Absolutely fine. Needs must.

motherf88 · 14/10/2020 08:15

We do this occasionally. It's not ideal, but if I end up disturbed I can log on again later.

ChessieFL · 14/10/2020 08:15

Depends on whether your 5 year old will sit nicely for an hour or cause chaos, and also what you would be doing for that hour i.e. would you be stuck on a client call or would you be able to break off if needed by child?

Assuming they can be trusted to play nicely and you will be free to help if needed I can’t see an issue.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

5 year olds Behaviour & development Childcare & nursery Families

IncludeWomenInTheSequel · 14/10/2020 08:16

Of course that's fine; you will probably be interrupted every five minutes at first but 'remember this is Mummy's work time, ill be able to do Lego with you in 20 minutes' is completely ok.

TitianaTitsling · 14/10/2020 08:16

I did March-August with mine (3 yo) and currently doing again as no cover over Oct hols- work thankfully accepting, did say would take a/l but couldn't as too many colleagues off already!

Idontgiveagriffindamn · 14/10/2020 08:16

It’s irrelevant what we thing - what does your employer think?

raspberryk · 14/10/2020 08:17

I had to do this all day some days during lockdown working 8.30-5.30 it’s fine.

FairFriday · 14/10/2020 08:17

How hard to you need to concentrate? If you are able to take a 5 min break every half hour or keep an ear/eye open then it’s fine. They will be tired after school anyway. An hour is nothing!

Stompythedinosaur · 14/10/2020 08:18

This is how I got through lockdown, and the dc were alone for more than an hour.

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 14/10/2020 08:19

Depends on the 5yo. Many would be perfectly happy with a film, snack etc for more than an hour

lpchill · 14/10/2020 08:19

We done it over lockdown while I done lunch cover at school and when DD was off ill on Monday. We do it for two hours and I set her up with a plate of food, large drink and iPad and switch. She only needs input to unlock the iPad. She knows she's not allowed YouTube kids (as we watch it with her) but Netflix and games are fine. Been working really well with our 4 year old

Original poster

mvmvmvmv · 14/10/2020 08:19

@raspberryk my employer will be ok with it, they are super flexible, I was more asking from a child safety point of view. This is likely to be the situation for us when DS starts school next year. Since I don't have a 5 year old yet it is hard to judge!

OP posts:

SellFridges · 14/10/2020 08:19

We do that every day. If we can, one of us tries to not have meetings after 4 but it’s not always possible.

Way better than earlier this year when both kids were prowling round the house as we tried to work from home.

Mumdiva99 · 14/10/2020 08:20

Absolutely fine. (If i promised mine iPad time they would think it a massive treat.) You are not abandoning them every night after school until 5:30....which would be tough.

You can line up a couple of treats.....a saved programme or movie, a drink and a snack, a couple of toys they haven't seen in a while.

You are around and available in an emergency.

And you get to collect your child from school...which they will love.

burglarbettybaby · 14/10/2020 08:22

I could totally so that with ny five year old as he enjoys a film and at once hw had snacks etc he would be fine. You have the rest of the evening to play. Needs must.

AugieMarch · 14/10/2020 08:23

My DH, who is senior management in a large organisation, did this today. He picked our two sons (5 and 10) up at 3, brought them home, gave them snacks and let them play while he then worked until I arrived home an hour later. Arrived back to two happy boys, everyone calm and content.

ritzbiscuits · 14/10/2020 08:31

I've started doing this one day per week with my near 7 year old, employer super flexible. The only thing I do is avoid Zoom meetings once we return from school, but can jump on one at worst if I have to.
May not be an issue for you, but worth thinking about.

Original poster

mvmvmvmv · 14/10/2020 08:43

Thanks to everyone for commenting - sounds like this will work fine and isn't something I need to stress about. Childminders are so in demand around here there is very slim chance I'd get 5 days after school care. Also no after school club.

Thanks!!

OP posts:

MotherPiglet · 14/10/2020 08:46

You know your child best. Do you think they'll be happy with the idea? Are you happy to do it? Does your employer mind?

shinynewapple2020 · 14/10/2020 08:47

Possibly depends on what you will be doing in that hour - if you have to take part in a meeting or client call it may be difficult to get to your child if they need to . If you are just completing admin tasks in your own time it will be absolutely fine . A lot of other people are having to do this with school closures and for longer than one hour .

EllieQ · 14/10/2020 08:54

Should be fine - I found my daughter was very tired after school in that first term so was quite happy to just sit and watch TV. Lots of us had to do this over lockdown!I would avoid meetings at that time if possible, and try to do something where it doesn’t matter if you’re interrupted a few times.

HeIsNotTheSun · 14/10/2020 08:58

I do this with my five year old two days a week, when I can’t get her into after school club.

To be honest I have accepted that my day ends at half three on those days and I log back in at night. She interrupts me constantly.

tempnamechange98765 · 17/10/2020 21:16

DH and I do this with my nearly 5 year old most week days. We are both working from home and it seemed pointless paying for an after school club for what would be an hour (as we'd collect him around 4:30 anyway). DH collects him (I drop off in the mornings) at 3:15, home by 3:30, quick hug, snack and he watches TV for about 40 minutes while DH finishes work.

I think it's better than him being in an after school club, at least we are there. Neither of us tend to have any meetings at that time.

Just2MoreSeasons · 17/10/2020 21:21

I have a 5 year old and I do this. Dad also working from home and older sister in the house but first port of call is me. I'm interrupted a bit but not enough to cause any real issues. I try to make sure that Tv time is a bit of a treat to that he can really focus on it. I also don't start work until 20 mins after pick up (live right next to school) so I can sort any grumps or celebrate with him about his day first.

ArchbishopOfBanterbury · 17/10/2020 21:30

How focused do you need to be for work? Can you see the 5 year old while you're working? (Even on a baby monitor if them seeing you would be too tempting to interrupt.)

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