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AIBU?

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Original poster

If you work FT...

116 replies

kravestix · 21/08/2021 08:36

What do you do with your kids?

I have a three year old starting school next September. I've been looking at FT jobs but coming up blank about what to do with my child. There's school holidays and once he starts School, the school day is much shorter than FT jobs which typically finish between 5pm and 6pm.

So what do people do with their kids?

OP posts:
Robostripes · 21/08/2021 08:38

You pay for childcare, obviously … Hmm

nc8765 · 21/08/2021 08:39

Can't speak for myself as I'm SAHM but both my parents worked FT.

It was before and after school care for me until I was old enough to walk home and wait for my parents to come home. Around 11ish I think!

ChrissyPlummer · 21/08/2021 08:40

Nursery, childminder, family, after school club….

Original poster
kravestix · 21/08/2021 08:41

@Robostripes

You pay for childcare, obviously … Hmm
I realise that's what a lot of people do, obviously Hmm but it's expensive and a FT minimum wage job if paying out for childcare is crap.
OP posts:
Kithic · 21/08/2021 08:42

Are you a single parent?

44PumpLane · 21/08/2021 08:43

@robostripes it's not "obvious", don't be so snide.

There are a variety of options, one of which is paying for childcare, wraparound clubs, holiday clubs etc.

Another option is reaching out to family and seeing if you have anyone willing to help you. We are hugely fortunate and have two sets of grandparents who will be doing 2 pick ups per week each. We do understand how lucky we are to have this option.

Do you have other friends in a similar situation who you could share holidays with? You take 1 week annual leave and have the kids, they take the next week annual leave and take the kids.

You can speak to you employer about flexinle working if you work in a role that would allow this. For example you may be able to finish your working day in an evening so you can do a daily pick up.

I'm sure there will be others along with more suggestions but those would be my top areas to explore.

TheKeatingFive · 21/08/2021 08:44

We have good after school provision in our school, thankfully.

Holidays are much more of a pita. It’s a juggle. Camps, grandparents and DH works for himself so can be flexible, which makes a difference.

Melonportal · 21/08/2021 08:44

A mix of after school club, family and holiday clubs. We also work around each other as much as possible, so DH starts work early and me later, meaning I can do drop off and he can sort pick ups.

Unmute · 21/08/2021 08:44

Pay for before and after school care and holiday clubs.

I also dropped my hours slightly when ds started school so I worked shorter days during the school term, and 4 full days with a day off each week in the school holidays.

Hesma · 21/08/2021 08:45

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KleineDracheKokosnuss · 21/08/2021 08:45

If you can afford it you pay a childminder/nursery. In The holidays as they get older you use summer camps to keep them entertained and under supervision. You also use all your vacation allowance for childcare/covering sick days/etc.

When they get old enough you leave them home alone.

If you can’t afford it, you use grandparents/aunts/uncles/the old lady down the road as necessary.

Melonportal · 21/08/2021 08:45

And tax free childcare helps with the cost of after school and holiday clubs.

Robostripes · 21/08/2021 08:46

@kravestix well you didn’t say any of that in your OP! Yes, minimum wage job is likely to make childcare unaffordable. In that case I would suggest looking to work part time or compressed hours. Holidays you can use annual leave for part, do you have parents or other relatives who can help out, some more deprived areas have free holiday clubs, do childcare swaps with another friend or school parent.

PeonyTime · 21/08/2021 08:46

Well, personally, I worked FT til DS(2) went to school, at which point we caved as it was all too much, and I took 5 years out.
Now I've found a job that is TTO, so it's just before and afterschool childminder on the days DH isnt working from home (I'd use school, but breakfast club starts at the time I start work, and afterschool wont do ad hoc). Tracher training days are our biggest headache.

CatFaceCats · 21/08/2021 08:47

If you don’t have anyone to help, you just have to pay for childcare. If you’re on universal credit, you can claim back some childcare costs.
I’m a single parent but lucky enough to be able to afford to work part time between universal credit and maintenance (but I will be looking to go full time once the kids are old enough to have a key and let themselves in after school)

AnonymousCheerleader · 21/08/2021 08:48

My husband is self employed so is flexible. He was going to be in charge of drop offs/pick ups but the pandemic meant I was at home anyway.

I also have a great boss who let me tweak my hours so I was home earlier (again, pre-pandemic so went to shite anyway).

CatFaceCats · 21/08/2021 08:48

And for holiday cover, a few weeks with their dad, a few weeks in a holiday club, a few weeks with my holidays and a week at home as I worked (wfh this year, but hoping to be hybrid next year so less time to have to cover)

mstroutpout · 21/08/2021 08:48

Once you're there you can make friends and share some of it. I started off with a childminder 8-9 and 3-6 so around £20 a day. It took quite a bit out of my wage to begin with but I worked my way up and by the end of school I was earning quite a lot more. Plus I'd managed to find a couple of people who'd have dd in return for me taking their kids for a few hours at the weekend and school club a couple times a week which was cheaper.

You'll make it work and even if the finances don't seem great, it's better ego get ahead now than take another 6 years out of your career

Stuckhere2021 · 21/08/2021 08:51

@Hesma

Get yourself a job paying a decent amount and pay for childcare or get a job in a school…it’s not rocket science 🙄
Is this a joke? If only it was that easy…..OP, why don’t you just open up your own private dental practice - you will make a fortune and can employ a live in nanny 🙄

On a serious note - you will need to research everything that is available in your area, any sources of financially supported places in child care - try local parent Facebook groups for advice specific to where you live. It’s a total nightmare trying to work and earns decent wage when you have childcare issues. Good luck.

cancancan · 21/08/2021 08:53

We both WFH so she is home with us before and after school.

School
Holidays she goes to a holiday camp/club or grandparents and we use annual leave.

It's a juggle

If we didn't WFH she'd have to go to a childminder or school clubs, just as I did as a kid.

It's tough and it can cost a lot but you have to think long term. They won't always need childcare.

ScarletLake · 21/08/2021 08:55

Very unhelpful remarks from some people. It’s not that easy to just get yourself a better paid job.

Is there a chance your child might qualify free school meals? If so then he will be eligible for Pupil Premium Grant (PPG) and the school should be able to offer you assisted places at wraparound and holiday provision. Many schools are now helping out families who are struggling even if they don’t qualify for PPG or free school meals so it’s worth checking the school provision. Good luck.

CrazyNeighbour · 21/08/2021 08:56

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

wedwewerpink · 21/08/2021 08:59

I use the after school service.
Also both me and my husband work flexi time so we both do drop off on difficulty days and then one of my parents will do another day.

SuddenlySusan · 21/08/2021 09:00

Our school have a wrap around, so breakfast and after school which is from 7.30 - 9, 3-6.

In the holidays they have a holiday club, which is basic and I think gets boring after being there for so long. So we mix it up with other holiday clubs. You need to be mindful of hair as some don’t take kids until they’re five and a lot don’t do full time days like you had for wraparound, it mirrors the school day.

Alternatively, your three year old could stay at private nursery until their four and then go to school nursery?

Mindyourbusiness22 · 21/08/2021 09:03

Pay for childcare.