What do you do for childcare for your 11+ year olds in the school holidays?

[cadburyegg]

Just thinking ahead for when DS1 goes to secondary. I know most holiday clubs don’t take kids after the age of 11. i work hybrid and on the days I’m in the office I’m not sure I’d want him at home by himself for 10-11 hours.

So what do people do? Is it just a case of juggling wfh/annual leave/grandparents etc? Or are some 11 year olds ok with being left for that amount of time?

keep an eye out for holiday clubs as near me they do run ones for 10-13 year olds. Alternatively are there any friends near to where you live so he could maybe go there for the morning or have a friend round to your house for the day etc. I personally don’t think they’re quite old enough during their first year of secondary to be left that long but some people probably do leave them! Is there an option for yo in to just work the mornings maybe so you aren’t out of the house so long?

I left my eldest from that age but only around 1 day a week during holidays and she has people nearby she can contact in an emergency.

Holiday clubs for that age group
Get together with others hire an older teen or student to take them out etc

What does he like to do? Near(ish) to us there are some more specialist holiday clubs (music, theatre, art, coding, specific sports, etc.) that focus on late primary and secondary school pupils. Our DC will have to travel into our nearest city for most of them (but on an office day, I'd be going that way anyhow) or be dropped off for some of the sporty ones, but might be an option?

When my DS was that age he went to Sports clubs, or a club at the school or his friends parents and I would tag team. I took 2 weeks off every summer and we would be away for a week. He also went to my DA's for a couple of weeks. It was such a juggle

Do you have flexibility to do more days at home over the holidays?
Or maybe arrange something with a friend so he goes to a friend one day and the friend comes to yours another day when you’re home.
I also think a day alone here and there isn’t that bad at that age, leave a lunchbox or cold snacks and call them a couple of times to check up. I wouldn’t like to do it often but one day a week would be ok for most 11 year olds.

There are a lot of holiday clubs round here for secondary age children. Multi activity, watersports, climbing, tennis, football, coding, science ... Some are a bit of a drive but worth it to follow the child's interests.

My parents used to send me to PGL type weekly camps in England/abroad

DH and i often juggle office days so we always have someone WFH or on leave with the children. I don't like to WFH much when the children are on holiday.

If I am WFH and DH is in the office I tend to either let them have a friend round or take them out for a long lunch somewhere and make up the hours later.

I think we have only left them once or twice when we both had to be in the office and one of us went in late and one finished early so it wasn't a long day

I’m also a hybrid worker with a 10.5 year old who goes to high school Aug ‘26 (Scotland) so I will be juggling this soon too.
Im lucky I can largely manage my own diary. However, although I dont think I’ll mind her being on her own for an hour or so after school till OH or me get home, I’m like you, holidays are a different matter. I will try to wfh as much as possible but where I can’t, I’ll probably ask my dad to help out. I’m sure our local authority run some clubs and activities for high schoolers as well but I’m not certain. I do think this is an under catered for age group when it comes to childcare. It’s like it’s assumed the minute they hit high school they can just be left alone for hours on end, but I’m guessing most parents don’t think their 11-14 year olds are quite ready for this yet.
Even if they were relatively responsible and safe being home alone, they don’t want to be at home! The thought of mine out and about in the community for hours at age 12 without me nearby gives me the fear, but I also don’t like to think of her stuck at home either. It’s definitely tricky.

There are holiday clubs for secondary aged teens as well. Grand-parents/family can be useful as well. I'm not working so we will invite friends over to go to the pool/sea. I wouldn't leave an 11 year old home alone unless I really had to. And in that case I would prepare cold food in fridge so they don't have to use the oven/stove.

Mine stays at home (12 next month), he’s capable of making himself food etc. He tends to go out with his friends some days, sometimes on his bike, sometimes I leave him some bus fare and they go into town.

I can usually wfh 1 day per week and sometimes take another day off if I have enough leave, but he will often go out with friends anyway

I’ve left my DC1 from that age. Although I have plenty of family nearby if they needed anything. They never have though. I built it up over a year so I knew they could be left for smaller amounts of time. I taught them to use the microwave, boil an egg and use the air frier. It depends on the child but my DC has always been absolutely fine.

Mine sleeps in till about 10/11. Staggers out of his pit to let the dog out & have brekkie or lunch (I make a lunchbox up for him) then he’s free to game until I get back. So although he’s alone he’s only awake alone for 3/4 hours. Any longer days he goes to my parents or has a friend round/goes to their house. & the dog walker always checks on him too which is sweet of her. He has a phone & can contact me anytime. He also knows which neighbours to go to & is naturally a rule follower & to o lazy to get up to anything.

Mine started staying home alone after starting high school, but I’m a SP and I got a job near where I lived, which I appreciate isn’t always feasible - I used to go home at lunchtime just to check in.

You’ll probably be able to gauge if yours is mature enough, personally I don’t think it’s that problematic. I started staying home alone when I was younger and we never had any issues either.

There our holiday clubs for that age. Most seem to only run 9-3.30ish, but can usually make it work. There is a sports one near me that does full days and goes up to 14 ( though think my year 8 child will probably refuse to go after this summer).

He stayed home, I left him his lunch and checked in with him through the day.
He would have just been in his room anyway even if I was home. So little difference.

DH can WFH more than I can. Grandparents. Stagecoach holiday club where they do a play in a week.

One day in the first Oct half term I think we left dd in bed, then she got up and dressed and ate, and I came home at lunchtime to take her out to meet her friends. That was the day she messaged to ask if she could make popcorn on the hob, I thought I was going to come home to her having burned her eyebrows off 😅

My son at that age came with me to work in the morning had lunch then he could go home. He would be alone 4 to 5 hours till hubby got in.

I work hybrid. Yes juggle grandparents, annual leave and wfh more in school holidays.
They can also be left for a few hours and maybe grandparents can come later in the day rather than have them all day.

We do a juggle - work from home, play dates, half day clubs. She usually has a week of dance camp or art camp or both. We take random half days off and do something together. We don’t have family here so we just figure it out. She’s 12 and isn’t ready to be alone an entire day but is happy for a few hours

Me and DH both hybrid so we share where we can. Or split with friends, as they largely look after themselves but I still prefer an adult in the house atm (12yo).

PGL
one week at each of the grandparents
art camp took them until 13.
I took some days off and invited half the class round and we got some reciprocal invites.

It’s hard but I’m glad I can WFH-no idea how people manage who can’t. I need to go in one day a week so have another child round for a day or two when I’m home then they reciprocate on my office day. It really helps and keeps them occupied up have a friend there.