childcare for 11 yr olds and up?

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

The local Job Centre advisor says 'leave them indoors - they'll be fine as long as you lock the drinks cabinet'.

GobbledyGook

Are there any other Mum's in the area in a similar position? I know at my daughters school there are a group of Mum's who work the holidays between them so that they all only have to take 1 week each off.

I wouldn't be happy leaving an 11 year old all day, every day for the entire holidays. All it takes is a few bad apples to learn that they have the house to themselves all day and that can lead to lots of pressure and hassles.

Spendless

Jojo_the_Tightfisted wrote: »

The local Job Centre advisor says 'leave them indoors - they'll be fine as long as you lock the drinks cabinet'.

Seriously??? I mean it did make me giggle - but not if I thought they were being serious/inappropriate sort of way-iyswim.

It's not the drinks cabinet I'd worry about with mine it's the tool box. I left him last year aged 9 with g-grandma in charge while I went to an interview and came back to find he'd made a fishing rod stand out of branches of a tree, sandpaper and a junior hacksaw.:eek:

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

Yup, seriously. They obviously do not remember what it was like to be 11 and unattended. I certainly do .

Which is why it ain't ever gonna happen with DD. She's just too much like me

Why didn't you put a request in for a coffee table? Or were you too busy saving the Koi in next door's pond?

(told you I remember being 11)

Spendless

Jojo_the_Tightfisted wrote: »

were you too busy saving the Koi in next door's pond? ha ha, no.

Why didn't you put a request in for a coffee table?

Cos he's already made one.:cool:




Have you managed to find anything OP?

PolishBigSpender

samandona wrote: »

But as my previous post noted; if OP's son is the kind of kid who can't even make toast then maybe being left on his own isnt the best idea.

Maybe it's the right time to finally learn that? He's not a small child anymore!

jellyhead

The OP will know if her child is ready to be left for 7.5 hours a day every day in the holidays ... some might be, others won't and they shouldn't be criticised for that. I was babysitting my little brothers, making bottles, changing nappies, doing the cooking and washing etc. at that age but my son was still very much a little boy at that age.

It's not just about whether they can make toast, it's about whether they will be lonely, if they can make decisions about doing stuff with friends, if they will remember to eat and drink (my eldest wouldn't).

I get a girl coming here all the time because she wants company when her mum is at work. She's 13 and still doesn't like being on her own, not for longer than 4 or 5 hours. She's the same age as my son but they don't talk at school. If my son isn't here she still comes round, she plays with my 4 year old and chats to me. During evenings or weekends she isn't so lonely, it's just those prolonged periods in school holidays when she's alone all day every day that she wants to come here.

Some children become independent later than others, it's not a problem - why criticise the OP?

pingua

If you live near me he is welcome round here. I am lucky that I don't work holidays - I did one year and had an Au Pair -would do that again if I had to.
Anyway, try the sports centres or friends. If its for next year you will probably find he will get a new group of friends- start having them to play from the word go and get to meet the parents too - don't leave it till the week before the hols.
Try asking at the school he is at or put a notice in the newsletter for help wanted in hols. Once you start asking around you will soon find you are not alone and there will be people willing to help out. Hope you get it sorted.

Apricot

I used to go to http://www.kingscamps.org/ in the school holidays - it was actually run in my school for the entire holidays. They are quite expensive but we did a huge range of activities there and were constantly kept busy. I think it really improved my social skills too as none of my friends went but by day 2 I had some great mates! There are a number of companies that offer services like this (Supercamps, Barracudas etc) and even if he doesn't go every day it is a very worthwhile investment.

I don't think 11 is too young to be left alone but tbh I don't think it would be very nice for a young boy to be left alone all day with only the tv and himself for company.

merlin1

hi all, thankyou for the helpfull responses!

i ought to probably clarify my son is by no means unable to make toast/cook/clean/walk the dog etc, as a single working parent he's learnt from a young age.

Polishbigspenders post did stand out and i'd just like to ask why he/she feels that this is a "sick joke"????!.
how do you know my son doesnt have some sort of disability? how do you know the area we live? would you be saying the same thing if i'd posted and said that my son was in hospital (or worse) for some reason or another whether thats something at home or possibly due to being out smoking and drinking with the local teens.:cool: then you ask how, and i say "cos i left him alone for 37hrs a week" i'm sure you'd be the first to call me a bad parent then.

samandona - the being left to own devices wasnt meant to read as never ever at all! sorry if it came across that way. he has a house key and he is left alone now but for short periods and i'm within half an hour away should he call. personally i do feel 7.5 hours a day every day too much at 11 when i'm an hour away at work. he's an only child so no older sibling to keep an eye on him, and he's easily bored.

maybe the word child care is the wrong word?! but what else is it? he's still a child at the end of the day.

thanks again for all your ideas and offers of help too! it's all taken on board! :cool:

i think this is one of those topics that will divide opinions on what is right and wrong for a child of 11. i probably wont post on the subject again, we have a holiday coming up soon - i'll use that time to kick back and have a good think about things!

so for now BIG THANKS AGAIN! XX