What age would you let a child have a key to house for after school?

[LutherLover]

I’m hoping to do this when my eldest goes to secondary school. So 12 I think which is many years from now.

She’d be home for 1.5 hours on her own.

Is this the done thing? As I say it’s well over 5 years away, I’m just forward planning and don’t really know the ‘rules’ regarding older children yet!

both our kids had keys when they started secondary school. They knew 'the rules' (no friends round, don't leave the house and ignore all callers). We also convinced them a neighbour was watching out for them. We were in London and their journey involved buses and trains.

Of course, it depends on the child - but you'd be the best judge of that.

We did the same at 12, maybe 6m after starting secondary school. Pretty standard around here.

Thanks very much for that! She is really sensible but no guarantee it will stay that will till then!

I think it’s child dependent but I’d expect most secondary children to be capable of this. Personally I’d be aiming for earlier. Maybe last year of primary?

That would be ideal but unfortunately their primary school is in a different town and I need to drive them.

The secondary school is in the town we live in. When the big one goes to secondary her sibling will be in p7 so it might work out cheaper to book her a taxi home every day rather than pay for after school care club.

Just means I can go full time at work

My 11 year old year 6 does, there is no after school childcare for secondary kids on the whole so you kind of have to let them come home and look after themselve!

Secondary school

My ten year old year 6 does.

There's no after school childcare at secondary. I work full time so had no choice. I started when my DS was in year 5, but the bus journey and my working hours meant he was only home alone for half an hour. I think they need to be used to it before secondary as the move is enough of a leap already without getting used to letting themselves in and being home alone for a couple of hours five days a week.

I have an 11 year old DD, both DH and I work FT so she is on her own for an hour before school and roughly 40 mins after. She's d9ne this since September with no probs. We prepared her for this from year 6 though by going out abd leaving her for increasing periods on her own to get used to it. She knows not to answer the door and she ususally just makes a drink and does her homework with a bit of CBBC on.

Where do your ten/eleven/twelve year olds keep their keys? Any tips on how to prevent them from instantly losing the doorkey?

I'd say starting secondary schools s the right age. We have a keysafe with a code, so they don't have to carry around (and probably lose) keys.

dc1 is 11 and has a key. 2nights a week we have no alternative to her letting herself in. She's forgotten it once and had to go home with a mate as neither DP nor I can always leave work instantly. TBH it was good lesson and she's more vigilant since.

First and second year at secondary are fraught with lost possessions, coats, PE kits, bus passes....house keys.
We had a fake rock key safe hidden alongside the front path which they used.
I tried to talk them into the benefits of a moneybelt but such things were deemed unfit (until they took up running and saw the benefits).

Where do your ten/eleven/twelve year olds keep their keys? At secondary- in the inside blazer pocket. At primary- attached to the inside of the front pocket of the backpack with a carabiner. Some school trousers have a zip pocket too.

Another year 6 here, ahead of secondary school. Her key lives in her school bag, attached to a shoe lace which is tied to a loop inside a zip compartment, so she can get it out, use it and pop it back whilst it never actually leaves her bag so cannot lose it. I think I read that tip on Mumsnet.

Inside blazer pocket, on a sturdy chain because neither of my kids look after things

We have a key safe with a code. DD walks home twice a week since she was 10, this was the best way of ensuring she couldn't lose the key.

Thanks very much for all the replies!

A very good point about the change to secondary being a big one and to maybe do it a year in advance. Maybe when they’re in p6 and 7 I’ll start letting them get a taxi home.

Key safe is also a fantastic idea. I lost so many keys at secondary school

Secondary school . But wouldn't fancy leaving older one in charge of a younger sibling after school for another couple of years!

DS1 has his keys on a chain which he clips to a belt loop. Zipped blazer pocket is for bus pass.