what do you do with secondary school children after school?

[Soopermum1]

bit early for me but an wondering exactly what kind of care is out there for secondary school aged kids?

D's will be too young when he starts secondary school to be left alone from 3.30 until 6 every day.

what does everyone else do? could do with some inspiration

How old is he now?

I'm a CM and look after two siblings. The eldest is in yr 8. She catches her school bus to my house twice a week. Sometimes she does her homework and sometimes she plays with my DS (10yrs) and her sibling (mostly fighting ). She did go through a phase of being a bit awkward. I think she thought she was too old to have a CM but her parents insisted she continue coming and she's a lot better now. I've looked after them both for nearly five years.

Are there any after-school activities at your dc's school? At our local secondary school, there seem to be different activities every lunch time and every afternoon. I can't wait for DS to start in September !!

D's is only 9 at the moment, but thinking ahead as I don't think work situation will be any different when he's in year 7. at the moment he goes to breakfast and after school club

I think most secondary age children just take themselves home and sort themselves out with a snack and homework .

A lot of secondary schools have clubs after school. DS1 doesn't get home till 5pm two days a week because of music theory class and tech club. He has friends who sit in the library after school one or two days a week and do their homework till 4.15-ish as they get more done there than they would at home.

DS is young for his year and just comes home, has a snack, does his homework and then whatever takes his fancy.

He gets home at 4, I get home about 5.30, so slightly shorter hours than you are anticipating, but still. I fretted loads to begin with, but he took it all in his stride.

My mum phones him most days and they have a good gossip!

I look after a senior school boy who is 11.

He does lots of drawing, loves it. I provide lego, board games, books for varying ages. When the weather finally gets warmer I will again venture to the recreational ground...

I find that sometimes kids want to hang out with their mates. Mum does allow him to do this sometimes instead of coming to mine.

I have an after school nanny for this purpose; my year 4 DD is collected and looked after by her, my year 8 DS is fed by her and she ferries him around if necessary.

I personally would not take on a senior school child unless they were with me before they started senior school.

Sometimes you can have challenges from older children. They are not little but not an adult, if you see what I mean!!

Trying to carry out the wishes of a parent and facing the tug of war with the child. I guess you can have this with any aged child.