To think a three year old can’t do this?

[shakemyheadatyou]

Ds finishes preschool at 3. I don’t get home until 4.

DH thinks ds can just watch tv and entertain himself (dh wfh Fridays) I think he’s too young, what do others think?

Mine would have been fine with this tbh and they weren’t particularly easy kids.

Some businesses have rules about not being in some charge of children under a certain age when wfh.
That aside it surely depends on child and his job.
If he’s had a busy week at preschool there is a chance they will just watch tv.
If husband isn’t in meetings and is just catching up on emails/admin and can sit in sofa then it might be fine.

Knowing a 3 (almost 4) year old girl, a 4 (almost 5) year old boy and an 8 year old boy - the only one who could definitely be left alone in another room for an hour is the 8yo. At 3yo you need to help them go to the toilet, they climb on windowsills or start thinking it would be good to turn the sofa into a trampoline park, and they just can't focus on anything for more than about ten minutes. Even the 4yo sat on a tablet playing a game or watching a video will press the wrong bit of the screen, minimise things or have clicked an advert and be on the Play store stuck, and be shouting for help.

Lol

So presumably DH will have to go collect DS from preschool? So by the time they get home there will be under an hour left befor you get home?

I think my DD would have managed to play at by herself for a little at age 3- especially if the TV was on.

Came here to say this. My employer would not be ok with this.

it’s also a ridiculous idea

It’s only a couple of minutes away so doesn’t take long. I just find it really stressful!

Should have said sole charge but you got the gist.

I get a lot of people say no, but my 3 yo would be fine with this. I quite often make dinner or work on my laptop in the kitchen while she chills out in the lounge watching a cartoon or hosting a birthday party for her toys!

I just find it really stressful.

I come in and the breakfast things are all out and toys are all over the lounge and dining room and I mean all over. So have to start clearing up: meanwhile dd (15 months) is right in my face, won’t let me put her down and if I do ds is in her face annoying her. Somehow clear up and make dinner juggling a toddler and trying to have a wee myself. Feed ds and bribe him to eat as he’s snacked!

And DH is STILL on a works call!

I’ve got 3 kids, all mine would have sat and watched TV for an hour at 3. They were never allowed TV before nursery so it would be their first viewing, & they would be tired.

Ds doesn’t really do tired!

Actually my (otherwise bloody difficult) DD would have done this

I was pretty strict about screen time and she was knackered after a week of nursery - so yes she probably would have zombie’d out in front of the TV if given the chance. Although if something boring came on or ads she might well get up and do something —feral— unpredictable.

I did this with my kids. It can be stressful and some days it's totally fine but others they might be having a meltdown or need stuff from me. What if he's got meetings or has to take a work call then I can guarantee that your son will be making an appearance on Teams

Dd1 totally fine, ds 2&3 would probably burn the house down.

I think it's fine for an hour so long as your DH doesn't have work calls or meetings during that time. He might not get much work done during that hour, but presumably if his work isn't too inflexible then he can work a bit later when you get home.

If he's actually working (as opposed to casually "working" at a laptop and sending a few emails in desultory Friday afternoon fashion) and expects to ignore your DS and close the door on him, then I agree that this is not possible. Your DS doesn't need top-quality parental interaction for that hour - TV is fine - but he does need adequate supervision.

I’ve just completely lost it at them all so I don’t think we’ll be doing it again.

Would your DH’s work even allow it? At mine, all primary school aged and younger need to be in childcare to WFH.

😂

Sounds like you have a pretty chilled out puss 😂🙈

My son is 3 and he'd be ok with his trains and the TV for about 10 - 20 mins. He'd need a drink and a snack and a bit of help with the loo - turning the light on and putting the seat up.

I don't think he could do a full hour with little input- he'd get lonely and want to come and find us!

3 is maybe a bit young. Depends how much of a tv zombie the child is I suppose?

Does your husband spend any time with your child? Three year old are unpredictable, my friends child cried because the sun went behind a cloud, her drink was wet, & she can't eat cat food same child likes to practice what she calls happy falls ( like leaves happily falling from trees) by throwing herself backwards from the sofa/ anywhere high she can get on to.
What could go wrong?
Also show your husband this thread

Hmm depends on the child I guess. I have 2yo DD2 sitting watching TV right now while I work, she's been no bother. This happens every Friday.

DD1 was fine with it too. Depends on the job too, if he's in meetings and has to phone people etc then no but if he's just doing admin-type work with no comms with others then it'll probably be fine.

🤣