At what age did your children become independent enough to make working easier?

[MucozadeOnLucozade]

I don't want my child to grow up, and I do work what I can self-employed when he is at school.

Just wondered at what age they were able to go back/forth school independently and helped with independence with working?

In regards to going back and forth to school; my DD only really did this in her final term of year 6 (so 11 ) but I can't see my DS being sensible enough to do this at the same age. I guess it depends on your child and the distance.

In terms of occupying themselves at home so I can get on and work; both of mine now can spend hours in their rooms happily and they are 10 and 13

12

I noticed a bit of a difference in year 6 but by the end of year 7 I noticed a huge change in independence.

Same as pp, when my youngest was 11 and could go from home to school independently. A surprisingly old age, and something you Don't really consider when they're v little.

Beginning of year 5, though I didnt leave him for inset days for another year.

DS is nearly 9 and I've had to work with him around a couple of afternoons this week. It's been totally fine for a one-off as he can amuse himself around the house. He'll start walking home from school a few times when schools go back. So when DD is 9 (in 3 years time) I am assuming I can worry a bit less about holiday clubs and wrap around although ideally they'd be doing something.

At 10.5, my ds's after school club decided they wouldn't work Fridays 🙄

Ds was able to cope with me collecting him from school at 3pm, dropping him at home, and going back to work for two hours. It was only for the last term of primary.

At 12 things got much easier because I didn't feel guilty leaving him for two and a half hours, to get my hair cut. (I have no help at all).

At 14, I could leave him at home for the day in the summer holidays, while I went to work.

Year 5. Walking to school alone in year 6, in preparation for secondary helped.

About 1/2 a term into secondary school.

Don't get me wrong, there is a subtle change before that.
They get to an age (perhaps 7 or 8) when, once you've collected them from school, they can then occupy themselves for a couple of hours whilst you are in the house, but they don't need constant supervision / entertainment.
Then (depends on the route) there comes a time when they can walk home independently to you (if you are in the house), or walk up to school without you - for most that probably doesn't become a regular thing before Yr6, but it will depend where you live.

In secondary, they would normally be able to travel without you, so you have the freedom at that point, but there is something very nice about being able to have a 5min break when they get in and just see they are okay. I wouldn't want them to be coming home to an empty house and being alone for 3 hours x 5 days a week, myself.

My 9 year old walks too and from school with her friends (we live literally next door) and she lets herself in after school for an hour before I get home.