Secondary School Child - Home Alone

sooty&sweep

Hi

My son is a sensible and to be honest I was taking the view that I will have to let me be alone at home sometime and it would help him develop his independance.
I had already intended to travel the bus route a few times with him to ensure he was confident with where he was going.
Having a word with a neighbour and asking them to keep an eye is a good idea, thankyou for that.

Jen

Foggster

Echoing what others have said. My daughter takes herself to school and back and has done since she started secondary school. It is only a short walk from the house. Her dad usually picks her up after about 30 mins but some evenings, if he is working away, she will be on her own for about an hour. I have also spoken to a couple of neighbours (retired) and they keep an eye on her and she knows she can go to them in an emergency.

She even washes up her breakfast things and will feed the cats before I come in!! LOL

louise3965

I've just done exactly the same with my daughter now in year 7. She's fine and she actually likes the responsibility. You know your kids and when they are ready and it sounds like your son is. Ignore the booklet.

sheilavw

We have homework club at our school for all year groups till 4.15. Maybe this school will have one too, we also have loads of extra curricular sport etc which he maybe able to participate in , we have cricket, football, rugby, basketball. Our school library is also open till 4.15. There maybe something of interest that will keep him in school for an extra hour on them days

mrcow

sooty&sweep wrote: »

I've just got a booklet home today from school published by the Safeguarding Children Board. It states that a child under the age of 13 shouldn't be left at home alone. They do state that its not the law but what they believe to be good practise.

That's across the board though, not taking into account maturity/experience/circumstance.

Use your judgement. Some children are fine to leave at 11, some aren't fine even at 15.

rachbc

my son did this since high school - lets himself in, gets a snack and hangs out til we get home 2 days a week. He loves having the place to himself without his annoying 4 yo sister hassling him!

Prawny

I think most 11 year olds are capable of looking after themselves. It does depend on the individual child but I walked about 30 minutes to school at that age (although about 2/3 of that was with a friend). To be honest, I wouldn't have wanted my parents to come pick me up from school like a primary school kid!! Was probably 'home alone' for about an hour after school.

My sister and I used to look after ourselves during school holidays too. That I would guess started from when I started high school (I could be wrong, it could have been the year after). My sister is two years younger and we were quite capable of cooking lunch, keeping the house reasonably tidy (well, tidying up last minute before mum and dad due home really!!) and not answering the door to anyone. My Mum used to phone us throughout the day to make sure we were OK.

ellay864

Once mine started high school they walked to school and walked home. With my eldest I was usually picking up his younger brother so he didn't often come home alone, but if I had to work later DD2 would go to a friends and DD1 would let himself in. For DD2 when he started high school he was usually home for an hour before I got back.
I think it helps the kids to develop by having that bit of responsibility - my DSS and DSD have been ruined by tight apron strings, their mum was incredibly over-protective and they got to resent it. Plus their social skills were less as they never had to do anything for themselves.
You know your own kids - trust yourself if you feel they're sensible enough to be left. Your instincts will be far better to rely on than some booklet

Savvy_Sue

mrcow wrote: »

That's across the board though, not taking into account maturity/experience/circumstance.

Use your judgement. Some children are fine to leave at 11, some aren't fine even at 15.

Of course another thing to consider is their friends, and whether they're likely to bring any home with them / go to their friends without asking.

But mine were all ready for the 'home alone' thing at 11, as long as it was the right combination! I could have one alone, but not all 3!

Birdy12

Spendless wrote: »

Mine has just started Secondary at 11.5. I finish at 3, get back by 3.30 and am in the school playground picking up his 8yo sister at 3.30ish. DS finishes at 3.10 and gets home whilst I'm still in the playground. He has his own door key./QUOTE]

Snap!

DS finishes at 3pm but normally home for 3.30pm and I think he loves that 20-30mins of peace in the house!

Also loves getting the bus which stops close to our road. I work on the basis of 'safety in numbers' and there sure is a lot of them that catch the bus!

He carrries a moble so I can always contact him if I need to. Much as they're an annoyance to some people, I reckon they were one of the best things to be invented. I remember when I was young, all people had was the landline 'phone (if you were lucky). If you weren't in, nobody had a clue where you were or how to get in contact!

Birdy