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AIBU?

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Original poster

To think kids can come home after school when we’re WFH?

150 replies

Sleepdeprived42long · 01/04/2022 22:21

My two DC (age 9 and 7) both go to grandparents after school twice a week but it’s getting quite a lot for GPs as they also have my nieces. Eldest is now able to walk home by himself (10 min walk). DH and I WFH both days. Our jobs are very full on and we couldn’t supervise them after school but DCs could watch TV etc and obvs if there was an emergency we’d be there. At what age do you think it’s ok to start letting them walk home and entertain themselves for a couple of hours till we finish work?

OP posts:
FlyingPandas · 01/04/2022 23:18

As others have said - fine to have 9yo and 7yo in the house whilst parents wfh. But not to walk home alone-far too risky. I’d be surprised if the school would allow it tbh. Most schools round here say y6 at the earliest for dc to walk home alone.

Velvian · 01/04/2022 23:37

My Year 6 DD walks home, while my yr4 DS goes to after school club. On Fridays, I take my lunch late to do school pick up and do another 1.5/2 hours while the entertain themselves.

DD is fine while I'm WFH, DS would not be everyday, he would interrupt me too much.

Eyerollerhighroller · 02/04/2022 00:04

@TheHoptimist

What does your work say? I used to wfh pre covid for a large national company. We were not allowed to have children under 12 at home unsupervised by another adult whilst working (ie you could have a nanny at home). We were not insured and we had to sign an annual contract to say no children at home

DH had similar- Uk bank
One friends said no under 15

This seems ludicrous. What sort of role were you doing? My husband was a home worker for various companies long before covid and he never had to sign anything like that.

I assume the insurance point was a cover for them not wanting your potentially looking after the kids rather than working.

To answer the OP, our children are home before we finish work. We have a few mins with them and then they might start homework/read/play or watch the tv for a while. We’ve never had a problem. But I suppose it depends on your children (and it would seem how much control your employer likes to have over your life!).

thenewduchessoflapland · 02/04/2022 00:10

If GP's cannot manage anymore how about a paid childminder?

What do you do during school holidays when your DC's aren't in school?

Flickflak · 02/04/2022 00:45

This reply has been withdrawn

Message from MNHQ: This post has been withdrawn

RowanAlong · 02/04/2022 01:09

It depends if they’d get more out of their time at grandparents? Ie would the little one be better doing homework/reading done with GP while the older one can walk home and just be trusted to crack on with it?

CelestiaNoctis · 02/04/2022 01:39

12+. Definitely not while in primary school.

Norma27 · 02/04/2022 02:18

I take a late lunch at 2.30 to pick my 7 year up then she entertains herself whilst I work. No way I would let a 7or 9 yr old walk home. I have a 15 yr old who finishes school later than the youngest and I would be reluctant to let her walk the youngest home. I am probably over cautious but as someone who lost someone when they were knocked down and killed crossing the road I would rather be too cautious over road safety etc.

Muppetlove · 02/04/2022 02:33

How will the 7 year old feel knowing you are all home and they have to go to their grandparents? If grandparents are getting older it won't be at all fun for your child

RustyShackleford3 · 02/04/2022 02:54

I wouldn't be comfortable with the 7 year old walking home from school without an adult.

However I'd be perfectly happy for them to be in the house whilst I worked in another room for a few hours. Unless there are some SN issues I can't see any problem with that.

Stressedout65 · 02/04/2022 03:10

When mine were that age they used to entertain themselves for a couple of hours at the end of the day whilst I carried on working at my computer nothing wrong with that at all. At the age of 10 (in 2007) my son used to come in from school, dump his stuff, grab whatever finger food he could find then be more or less straight out the door again playing with his mates in the village.
I get that times are different now, more traffic than even in 2007 so you wouldn't want them to walk on their own. I don't get why children can't entertain themselves for a couple of hours if in a safe environment though.
My primary school years were in the 70's and we just played at that age indoors & outside, without too much supervision, but knowing mum was close by if needed. I think we learnt to be responsible at a much younger age than children do today.

Canuckduck · 02/04/2022 03:16

I would let them come home and my kids walked to and from school together without an adult at 8 & 10.

We are not in the UK though and it’s very normal here. The route is also through a residential area and there are loads of kids walking. We have to sign a paper allowing it at the beginning of the year.

Moody123 · 02/04/2022 03:37

We split our lunch so take 1/2 hour at lunch time then 1/2 hour at home time to pick DS up, he then watches TV/IPad and eats snacks for 2 hours while we work ... sometimes he 'helps' us work by using his iPad as a laptop and pretends he's in meetings

1forAll74 · 02/04/2022 03:45

if you know how your children behave when walking home from school, and its safe, as in roads etc then I think it would be ok to come home together and get occupied with something or other, while you have to work. Children need to have a little bit of responsibility, its good for them.

123cupcake4 · 02/04/2022 04:16

Can you take your lunch late or half at lunch half late to pick up youngest from school. Ofcourse they can entertain themselves at home. They aren't babies. I do wamder what parents do all the other times. Are your kids supervised continuously? Mine play all day and only pester me for snacks and if they need help with something. Mine are 2, 4, 7 and 9. I'm around. The 2 year old is with me at but will still go off and play in another part of the house.

Moser85 · 02/04/2022 04:41

@TheHoptimist

What does your work say? I used to wfh pre covid for a large national company. We were not allowed to have children under 12 at home unsupervised by another adult whilst working (ie you could have a nanny at home). We were not insured and we had to sign an annual contract to say no children at home

DH had similar- Uk bank
One friends said no under 15

Not insured for what?
BritWifeInUSA · 02/04/2022 04:52

I have been permanently home-based for many years, long before COVID. And we also are not to have anyone under 12 in the house during our work hours unless another adult is with them. During COVID this was relaxed as the office had to close and schools were closed so people had no choice. But now we are back to the original requirements and if you want to work from home you have to sign an agreement that there will be no children under 12 unsupervised.

LBFseBrom · 02/04/2022 04:53

Not at 7. 10 onwards.

LBFseBrom · 02/04/2022 04:57

PS: I mean 10 to be at home alone. If school is nearby I think it would be all right for a child to walk home alone younger than ten in an area with many children doing the same but they shouldn't be unsupervised at home for two hours. As yours are currently aged 9 and 7 you have a while to go; the eldest has to be fourteen to be legally be responsible for looking after the youngest.

ilovepuppies2019 · 02/04/2022 04:59

@Sirzy

How would the 7 year old get home? I don’t think lost schools would be happy releasing a 7 year old into the care of a 9 year old.
Releasing. Sounds like they're hostages Grin. I would have thought it would be fine for a 7 year old to walk home with a 9 year old into the care of their parents. If not then at what age are they allowed to walk home with an older sibling? Certainly by high school so 11 maybe? I would have thought that a responsible 9 year old is fine to help their sibling on the walk. If not then could the GPs walk the kids home a few times and help them get settled? Then the kids would be in the routine. As long as you think your 7 year old would sit quietly and watch T.V for a hour or so then I think that would be fine. Will that happen though? Or will they fight or will your 7 year old come and talk you during meetings? If it's longer than 1 - 1.5 hours then I would say that the 7 year old is better off at grandparents. It's a long time to be quiet and quite boring.
custardbear · 02/04/2022 05:55

@gemloving

A lot of my colleagues take a late lunch break (half hour at 1, the other half hour for school pick up), so the kids don't have to walk alone but entertain themselves - similar age to yours.
Yep we do this too, then give them sone toast and milk, they watch telly and sometimes pop into a Teams call briefly to say hi (if it's an informal one) My cats are more disruptive than my children to be honest 😆
Julesfools · 02/04/2022 06:07

Mine are a little bit older and just go on screens for an hour or two. I wouldn’t let 7’year old walk by themselves but it depends where you are I guess and what the norm in your area!

Yesiknowyes · 02/04/2022 06:24

It’s too early. I know how you feel because my children are similar ages and I do feel that the moment when they can be a tad more independent is coming, but not yet. Especially not for the 7yo. Mine will be walking home from school in the year 6. That’s common practice where I live, approx half of the children go home alone in the Y6. There’s no problem info they entertain them self for 2-3 hours, also still need directing, supervising and a good routine.

JustJam4Tea · 02/04/2022 06:26

We have members of staff who take half a lunch break to pick up kids from school. Quite happy with that.

Sushi7 · 02/04/2022 06:45

How far is the school from your house? Is it a quiet area? If so I think 9 and 7 are ok ages to walk home unless the 7yo can’t be trusted to cross the road (need to teach him if not). The only issue here is if they argue at home! Alternatives would be only the 9yo comes home or GP drop both dc off at home or GP look after the 7yo.