School holidays childcare for the over-12s

[GeorgeEliot]

I have always managed school holidays so far with a combinations of annual leave, holiday clubs, grandparents and cleaner providing childcare for my dc. Having a variety works well for us - doesn't overburden the gps (who do not live near enough to come every day, the dc have to stay overnight) and isn't too horrendously expensive.

The eldest is now 12 though and holiday clubs only go up to age 12 - but I really don't feel he is old enough to leave at home yet in charge of younger sibling.

What do others do about this? We are at private school so have extra long holidays to cope with.

I will watch with interest. I have exactly the same conundrum. My eldest is 12 next year which seems to be the last year where Holiday Clubs will accept him. The only possible exceptions are some specialist sports camps and he's just not sporty.

I have considered whether I should be leaving him aged 13 on his own (I'm thinking particularly of the 8 week summer holidays we have - private school too). It's not particularly because of any safety issues as he is incredibly sensible even now aged 11 but 9 (assuming there's no work related emergency which would keep me on) hours on his own seems much too long.

I certainly wouldn't be leaving him with his youger sibling (who would be 8 by then) which will cause problems in it self as youngest will be very unhappy having to go to a Holiday scheme without his brother.

Sorry no help but I was discussing it with DP today and I'm really not sure what we'll do.

I think mine would be fine on his own too - but I'm pretty sure that without an adult around he'd spend the entire day glued to the computer or the wii, apart from the loneliness factor. We are in a rural area so leaving the house to go somewhere or meet friends isn't really an option.

Am thinking might have to come to an arrangement with a friend with a child of the same age who is happy to have him - but it seems a lot to ask someone, especially as he'd need to be dropped off at 8.30 am.

Or finding a student who'd be happy to do a few weeks helping in the holidays.

Some childminders go up to the age of 14.

I've known families with older children get an au pair (usually a student on holiday), or an English student who lives locally and can drop by each day to stay with the DCs/take them out for the day/generally hang out etc.

It's worked very successfully, especially for boys having an older cool friend around. One family had a girl who was a maths student and helped the DD with her maths, which she was struggling with.

WWWY:That's an idea. We don't have room to have a live in au pair but like you say there may be one living close by whom we could 'share'.

George: In same situation re friends. We live on the outskirts of a city but his friends are miles away and not easy for him to go and visit even if an invite was on offer.

I don't think you'll find it difficult to find a student who can help out. Maybe there is one who will be doing a PCGE next year (teacher training course). Ask at your local Uni/College?

In London, projects are run during the holidays for young people. It might worth calling up your borough's childrens' services and enquiring what similar provision exists. That might help with the middle part of the holidays.

It may be worth a look at makespace.org.uk They're a network of clubs for older children. Similar to after school / holiday clubs but with a different style for 13-16s

Sorry - 11-19s