Would you keep a 13 year old at home?

[lamalama]

My daughter is 13 and I have to work as a key worker. I'm really struggling to decide whether it's best she attends school or stays at home on her own. What would you do?

Don’t ask random internet folk. They don’t know your daughter or her needs or anything else. They’re all enjoying thinking they’re dictators and are frothing at the mouth to call people morons and idiots for daring to send their kids to school and venture out in public.

You know your daughter best, you judge where she’s safest.

If she is quite mature i would keep her at home, much safer

Home

She's 13 keep her at home.

Christ, keep her at home. Poor girl.

There are young teenagers in the ICU's in several countries. I wouldn't risk school personally.

Honestly, my 10 year old is quite sensible. In these strange times, I would rather leave her at home on her own than send her in to risk cross infection.

My daughters stayed at home on their own together from the time my eldest was about 11 and my youngest 9, because I was a lone parent and needed to support our household. I only worked part time so it was 4 or 5 hours at a time, and they were just fine. They were both very sensible though, and got along well, and I could trust them to do what I told them to do, and not do what I told them not to do. I taught them from quite a young age to be independent and safe, so they could make their own breakfasts/lunches/simple dinners. We also lived in a house on a cul de sac in a market town so it was a very safe area in general.

What does she want to do?

Depends on her. If she’s sensible, home, definitely.
I leave one of mine at home at 13. The other-wasn’t ready at all.

I think it depends. Teenagers here are still roaming the streets. If you think she'll stay home then home 100%. If you think she'll just go out and meet friends etc anyway then I'd rather send them to school where they will be guiding them to follow safety guidelines

I think if she is an only child and you're a single parent, you could send her to school a couple of days and leave at home the rest of the time. I'd be worried about her mental health if she's to spend all her days alone.

School.

stay at home

I agree with @klh99

If she has siblings or another family member in the house, then keep her home. But if she's alone for hours & hours every day, send her in. Not good for her mental well-being.

my only child 14 will be staying at home - it's safer

Definitely home.

Home, if she’s sensible.

My DD had to do this when she was 13 and I work 12 he shifts.She was OK and did phone her at around 4pm to check in.
If she's a typical teen she will be safe in bed all morning.
What I did and still do was optimise things we do when we are together and when I have time texting banter about daft things keep it fun .
My DD is sensible(ISH) so we did a run through of what to do in any given emergency.
She is 16 and still thriving.

Home
The childcare being provided is meant to be an absolute last resort. Normal curricilum suspended.
I am leaving my 14 and 12 year old at home.

Home, without a doubt!!

Home for sure. Both my DS are at secondary and the amount of pupils going in due to parents being key workers is bizarre. Surely it really only applies to children that are too young to be left.

Normal curricilum suspended.

My DC are all at home with DH and me but what they have home from school so far suggests they are still going to be working through the curriculum as normal. I'm slightly disappointed, I was looking forward to educating to my own interests!

I would keep my 13 year old at home. However, only you know your daughter. Have you left her home alone before?

I think you know your child best. I would keep mine at home to reduce the risk of them being exposed. What does she want? Try an option but keep the other option open incase you want to change things.

while I'm fine leaving my YR8 DC for the odd inset day, I think all day everyday is too much, and I'm sending her in. Otherwise she would be home alone MF 8-5 as neither DH nor I can WFH as both emergency workers.