What age did your child come home to an empty house after school?

[Maztek]

As in, let them selves in with a key and was home alone for half and hour- hour and a half. At what age would you feel that was appropriate?

Started to let her occasionally in year 6 to get used to it then every day from Year 7. Both work outside the home and no childcare for secondary-agws children.

Year 6, but to be fair I was always right behind her. 20 mins was the most she had to wait for me.

Never thank God.

Honestly, hardly ever if there is any way at all to avoid it. It is so much nicer not to also they would trash the kitchen then retreat to their rooms.

11

September born so year 6.

From high school age. For the 1st year we were working round the corner but at Yr 8 our office moved 35 miles away so not great but ds loved his independence.
Tbf we then did start wfh 2 or 3 days a week between us so it worked out ok

year 6. Age 10/11. Ds comes home on his own now and lets himself in as younger dc enjoys going to the park after school and ds(11) didn’t always want to (especially in winter when the PlayStation was much more appealing). I’d happily leave him for a couple of hours at the weekend but only if I remain local, ie town centre. I wouldn’t go 20miles away for example, without him.

Never.

My DS didn't until he was much older because he would do his homework in the library and walk to meet me at my office. But he would occasionally do so when he was about 15. I used to leave him for an hour to get groceries from age 11. From about 13 I used to let him be at home during the day alone.

I let myself in from 8 but my DM didn't give a shit despite not working so I wouldn't be a "latch key child".

It depends on the child and you really.

She could quite happily move out and live by herself I reckon! She so independent and very sensible and well behaved. She has an iPad she can phone and text me from and my office is only 15 minutes away.

Dd is 10 and sometimes home alone for an hour once a week- she’s dropped home by a friend’s dad and then I’m back an hour later with DS.

I was eleven, but only because before then, my school was a 20 minute car ride away so I had to go to after-school care and then got picked up.

DS was 9, it was under an hour two days a week, that plus a couple of hours another two days a week at 10.

Never, my working hours fitted around school times.

Not mine yet, but I was 11 and my little db was 10. 20 min walk, two bus rides, train ride, then another 20 min walk.

DS14 is occasionally alone after school for just a few minutes. He does stay home alone for longer at other times. DD10 starts secondary this year and my working hours are changing soon after, which means they'll both be home for about an hour before I get home from work.

That was a problem for me with my second job, it was in the opposite direction to school so I couldn't have collected in time if I had used an after school club. DS couldn't have got home himself anyway as he normally got a school bus.

The rules did mean I couldn't put him in holiday care (a five minute walk) the summer before year 7 as it started the same time as I started work and he couldn't sign himself in, so he was home alone instead. They cam walk to and from school themselves so it seems silly.

Mine were 5. The eldest used to bring the youngest from school when the youngest started.
The eldest was eight by then, and then they would wait for me getting home around an hour or so later.

DD since she was 10.5, but it only happens sporadically due to me mostly WFH, so I am usually at there when she gets back from school.

16

All the posters saying ‘never’ as in…. Never ever? Your kids are over 18 and still haven’t let themselves in the house? Or ‘my eldest is y8 and hasn’t yet’?

I find the ring doorbell gives us reassurance that she’s got in safely.

11 - a few weeks after starting secondary school.

@DonnatellaLyman

Never as in not when they were in school.