What age did you let your child come home to an empty house...

[CovidStoleTheRainbow]

... after school? And wait a few hours until the first parent got home? 5ish pm.

Watching with interest! Great question!

12 occasionally. I work from home so it's not really an issue but I waited till' they were 12 until I felt comfortable going anywhere that meant I wouldn't be home when they got in.

Mine don't really like it...coming in to an empty house.

Almost 13 but rarely even then.

Thanks to Covid and the dramatic loss of reliable childcare I have noticed 3 children in our street are now latch key kids. I think the 10 year old is too young. Secondary school as a minimum seems about right. But I get that you need to know the child.

13

I was doing this at 11 (from Y7)

Year 6 for a Sept born sensible child (just 11) with a short walk. It wasn't regular (occasionally DH and I needed to be in the office) and their 15 year old sibling got home 40 mins later.

No problems.

What if it was a 9 year old but he's only on his home for half an hour until his 13 year old brother came home?

I'm fucked for childcare and I really don't know what to do.

Mine are in years 7 and 9 and do this currently.

It depends on the child but I remember my brother and I being alone occasionally from age 6 and 9. I'd walk home from school from age 8-9.
I expect to be fine with it with my oldest in a year or 2. She is 9yrs old and goes to the local shop and back by herself.
I am not sure it will be the same with my second DD as she is much more of a day dreamer but she is only 6yrs old so plenty of time to see.

Before all ‘this’ gestures at Covid shit show my son would let himself in every day and be alone for 30-60mins, then one night a week I’d leave him for about 1.5hours while I took his sibling to sports. He’d do homework and then watch tv in his room. We would speak on the phone/I’d expect a selfie every 30/45 mins. I didn’t particularly like it, and when it was really dark we didn’t do it, but he loved it!

Forgot the important part of his age 🤦🏻‍♀️ He was 11 and in y7.

13 but only for an hour or so very occasionally.

My 9yo DD does this. She's home alone for about half an hour til someone else gets in. She gets changed and puts the telly on and has a snack. No issues as of yet.

My daughter is 10 and is currently doing this 2 nights a week she has to wait an hr. She is very sensible thou not sure I would trust every 10 yr old

My son is 9 op there’s no way I’d allow it at that age
are there no clubs or family that can help?

@CovidStoleTheRainbow

What if it was a 9 year old but he's only on his home for half an hour until his 13 year old brother came home?

I'm fucked for childcare and I really don't know what to do.

I think 9 is too young. Mumsnet will tell you it's fine for your child to walk 5 miles home, do their washing and have a 3 course meal prepared for your return though

As it's just half an hour is their no chance they could go to a friends?

I'd be ok with a 9 year old for half an hour. Can you have a neighbour on standby?

I used to be home alone from being in y6. Single mum and all that. Probably 9-10 year old.

I was pretty sensible though and she did tell me if I was hungry I could only get cupboard food. By the time I was in y7, she let me use the kettle and microwave.

She wouldn't let my 15 year old brother stay home alone though because he's just got no common sense and the street would probably burn down.

Needs must.

As a one off probably around 12. Regularly never, but we are very lucky. Dh and I have always managed to ensure one of us is home, eg, he worked nights, I worked days. When he worked ridiculously stupid hours in the day, I worked evenings. My parents are close enough to help when needed, so we could tell them to go there instead of home.

My son was in year 6 and 11 years old. And he loved it.

I was the one constantly checking up on him, and he was absolutely fine.

I started off by leaving him alone and I popped round the corner in the car - he thought I had gone elsewhere. Just to make sure he wasn't worried or anxious. I did this a few times. And I checked he followed instructions I had left. And he followed everything to the rule.

If you are both comfortable then do it. Just have a back up plan in case anything ever goes wrong. Such as a friendly neighbour, friend close by that can jump in an absolute emergency.

Good luck.

Harder in current times I know, but at 9, my DC just played out after school. So if you encourage the 9 year old to play out for a minimum of 30 minutes, he has no time at all his own at home.

I would say age age 9 is too young . I feel for your circumstances though and hope you are able to find a solution

I think 9 is to young. Could he go to a friends for a bit? Otherwise child minder if no after school club.

I was going to let DS have a key from year 8 but at the end of year 7 he was assaulted on the way home and arrived bleeding and crying. I would not have wanted him to come back like that to an empty house age 12.

He is now year 9 and almost 14. I would give him a key but it hasn’t been necessary yet as I am currently wfh.