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Looking forward - afterschool care

Posted: Fri Nov 23, 2012 3:50 pm
by muminbrum
Hello all,

Although we won't know until March which schools our DC are heading for I have been pondering logistics. I know how DC will get to and from the various schools but with all of them he will be back 30-75 mins before I get home from work. What do working parents do in this situation? Currently we have the luxury of an after school club and I collect DCs on the way home. It seems to me that if he can travel half way across the city on his own to schoool and back then he is okay to have a drink/snack and get on with his homework (or more likely watch TV :roll: ) until I get home. Wonder if there are legal implications too?

Re: Looking forward - afterschool care

Posted: Fri Nov 23, 2012 5:30 pm
by ginx
Hi

I'm not in your position regarding after school care, however the legal situation seems blurry. I think you can leave your child at any age (yes, any!) so long as he/she isn't looking after anybody else. I don't think 11 or 12 would be considered illegal to leave a dc. I think it is up to how you and your dc feel about it - is he confident about letting himself in and looking after himself for a while? As you say, if he can travel so far on his own, he should be fine.

My dc don't like letting themselves in. They are afraid of burglars, and used to be afraid of the phone and door bell.

Re: Looking forward - afterschool care

Posted: Fri Nov 23, 2012 5:39 pm
by hermanmunster
Agree with Ginx - you can actually leave a child at any age but are responsible if they come to any harm - but can only look after others from the age of 12 or 14 (can't remember exactly).

Most people find that they can let the kids let themselves in, prepare a snack / drink - askthen not to answer the door and perhaps only answer a mobile phone that only you have the the number too. Worth identifying a friendly neighbour they can go to if there is a problem.

Re: Looking forward - afterschool care

Posted: Fri Nov 23, 2012 5:54 pm
by Fran17
Agree with Herman and ginx.

We have phones that can have different ring tones for different people. They are inexpensive. We have programmed in a very distinctive ringtone for family members and of course most phones have call recognition these days just in case you want to contact DCs when you aren't at home. You know your DCs best and know if they would be happy letting themselves in and being home alone until you get in. Mine are all older now and perfectly capable of looking after themselves. However, they all have numbers for friends of mine, who live nearby, programmed into their mobiles just in case I'm not home and they have forgotten their keys.

Re: Looking forward - afterschool care

Posted: Fri Nov 23, 2012 7:46 pm
by Muggle
Most schools have a homework club daily after school which may be worth considering if your DC isn't comfortable about being home alone.

Re: Looking forward - afterschool care

Posted: Sat Nov 24, 2012 12:49 am
by mike1880
Ours are brainwashed that they're not to answer the door, but will answer the phone. We organised that they could go round to one of the neighbours in an emergency (I bet they don't remember that though) who also have spare key should anyone arrive home without.

In theory, they get themselves a drink and snack and get on with homework, and indeed one of them does. The other slumps on the sofa until someone turns up to wait on him (or, if it's me, to snarl unsympathetically at him to get his act together, it's now too late for a drink and snack because his dinner will soon be ready, and to stop whining and get on with his homework).