What does your younger teen do in school hols while you are at work?

easy

snowleopard61 wrote: »

Would your son do something like gardening or painting fences if you paid him for it?

I doubt it very much. Also at 13, I wouldn't really trust him to do those things totally unsupervised. He still faffs about a fair bit, the idea of him, a tin of creosote and no adult is a bit .. anyway, he'd probably lose interest fairly soon, and wander off leaving the lid off the paint or whatever. Maybe at 15, but not quite yet.

He can cook tho' so could start to get some food ready for when I get home.

I think I'll end up taking the approach that he can be on his PC when I'm at work (if the laundry/dishwasher jobs are done first), but he will have to do things for/with me after I get home.

victory

easy wrote: »

He can cook tho' so could start to get some food ready for when I get home.

I think I'll end up taking the approach that he can be on his PC when I'm at work (if the laundry/dishwasher jobs are done first), but he will have to do things for/with me after I get home.

Seems like a fair compromise:D

Tenyearstogo

My eldest is 14. I leave him a list of jobs so he can't spend all his time on the Xbox ( which he would).

He has his usual chore of emptying the dishwasher, but other jobs can vary.

I make him get me something from the shop most days, that's half an hour of fresh air! Things such as sorting out his clothes (seeing what still fits), pairing up socks, vacuuming, putting a presorted load of washing in etc. nothing is too technical or takes up too much time but just makes him take a bit of responsibility.

Tiddlywinks

I seem to be alone in my view that a 13 yo should not be left home alone for 6 hours, 4 days a week, for 3 weeks...

I personally don't think it's fair to him... I also think that those that do leave their children alone at that age are posting here for reassurance that it is normal and acceptable.

I just wanted to vote for the 'other side'.

liney

At 13 his independence should be being fostered, and those short days seem like a perfect opportunity to me.

I'd encourage a visit to a friend, and maybe one trip out to the cinema or alike each week. Some jobs around the house, like hoovering or preparing veg for dinner. A trip on the bus to meet you for lunch will take a couple of hours out of one day per week.

For the first week i'd probably just let him relax though...and make sure there is appropriate parental controls on the web.

middlewife

I have a 13 yo very like your son OP. Although he has 16 yo twin brothers, they take very little notice of him, wake up later than him and often go out, so he will be alone much of the time I'm at work.
I have spread my leave over the summer so I have 2 or 3 days off most of the 6 weeks, as others have said, leave him a little lunch money and that's a walk to the local shop mid morning. I am happy for him to have certain friends around and he has 2 friends walking distance who he can go see.
The local pool does swim for a pound so i try to encourage him to arrange to meet one or 2 friends there. Leisure centres here no good, as they all fill up with holiday playschemes. I have preset limits on the PC so he can't be on there all day.
Of course, if he does go round mates, you can bet what they will spend most of their time doing....... No not mags, PC games
When I fret, my mum reminds me that at 14 she was out at work, working a full day in the air raids of 1942 - kind of puts it in perspective!

Tenyearstogo

Tiddlywinks wrote: »

I seem to be alone in my view that a 13 yo should not be left home alone for 6 hours, 4 days a week, for 3 weeks...

I personally don't think it's fair to him... I also think that those that do leave their children alone at that age are posting here for reassurance that it is normal and acceptable.

I just wanted to vote for the 'other side'.

The OP wasn't asking for votes on sides.

I'm not looking for reassurance that it's normal and acceptable. I know it's normal as all of my son's peers do the same, it is acceptable otherwise there would lots of childcare schemes for teenagers, but there aren't because there is no/ little call for them.

Why do you say it's unfair? My son likes it. He enjoys having the house to himself, especially without his younger brother "annoying him".

glitter_fairy

Tiddlywinks wrote: »

I seem to be alone in my view that a 13 yo should not be left home alone for 6 hours, 4 days a week, for 3 weeks...

I personally don't think it's fair to him... I also think that those that do leave their children alone at that age are posting here for reassurance that it is normal and acceptable.

I just wanted to vote for the 'other side'.

Its all very well saying that but most parents dont have much choice

Lunar_Eclipse

Tiddlywinks wrote: »

I seem to be alone in my view that a 13 yo should not be left home alone for 6 hours, 4 days a week, for 3 weeks...

I personally don't think it's fair to him... I also think that those that do leave their children alone at that age are posting here for reassurance that it is normal and acceptable.

I just wanted to vote for the 'other side'.

It's an interesting point, because whilst I don't leave my 13 year old for that amount of time, I think it is reasonable, especially given the child in question doesn't mind. Six hours isn't that long, and it's only for 4 days a week.

Also, I don't think we're discussing leaving children on this thread, but an adolescent. It all comes down to the individual though. I'm sure we've all met a 13 year old going on 30, and another who is going on 3.

peachyprice

Tiddlywinks wrote: »

I seem to be alone in my view that a 13 yo should not be left home alone for 6 hours, 4 days a week, for 3 weeks...

I personally don't think it's fair to him... I also think that those that do leave their children alone at that age are posting here for reassurance that it is normal and acceptable.

I just wanted to vote for the 'other side'.

Yes, you do seem to be alone.

In what way is it unfair? My teenagers certainly never found anything unfair about being given a little independence.

It was normal and acceptable when I grew up, it's normal and acceptable today, except to those who wrap their offspring up in cotton wool.