Childcare at 7.45am

GobbledyGook

krustylouise wrote: »

And this is something you're proud of?!?! I'd be ashamed of myself...

Rather harsh.

People who live in safe places and who are not excessively worried about the whole stranger danger aspect give their children more freedom. Where is the harm in that?

People tailor their children's freedom to their own circumstance. My children had a lot more freedom than most and then because my MIL lost it it had to be curtailed. That's what parents do. My DD2 will have considerably less freedom than her sister because she has the attention span of a knat. Surely that is better parenting than those who have an arbitary limit of children can do X at 7 or Y at 9?

The only thing more dangerous to children these days is the amount of traffic on the road.

In fact given the amount of children who are hurt and abused by people that they know or are related too compared to those hurt by strangers they are probably safer in the park or walking to school alone than they are with a trusted family friend...

krustylouise

In MY opinion, and as others have stated in previous posts, 9 and 7 is far too young to make their own way to school, let alone 5 and 7! And I certainly would not brag about it on a website! OP is obviously confident in their parenting and the choices they make with regards to their children, and if they feel their children are capable of making their own way to school (as they after all have the vast experience of 2years of the great outdoors...) then why seek advice from us in the first place?!

themull1

GobbledyGook wrote: »

Rather harsh.

People who live in safe places and who are not excessively worried about the whole stranger danger aspect give their children more freedom. Where is the harm in that?

People tailor their children's freedom to their own circumstance. My children had a lot more freedom than most and then because my MIL lost it it had to be curtailed. That's what parents do. My DD2 will have considerably less freedom than her sister because she has the attention span of a knat. Surely that is better parenting than those who have an arbitary limit of children can do X at 7 or Y at 9?

The only thing more dangerous to children these days is the amount of traffic on the road.





In fact given the amount of children who are hurt and abused by people that they know or are related too compared to those hurt by strangers they are probably safer in the park or walking to school alone than they are with a trusted family friend...

I disagree, i would worry that if my two young kids were walking together, that one of them could be snatched, and there would be absolutely nothing the other one could do about it. Its not safe anywhere these days. And you can bet your life that if you let the kids go on their own, you will eventually be reported, and do you really want social services on your case?

bagpussbear

bylromarha wrote: »

They've been out for the past 2 years without us - the job has nothing to do with it. :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

I know there will be disgreements on this thread as to how young is too young and I do think the area (town versus countryside etc) may sway a parent's decision on the age, and it's great you say they are sensible and streetwise, but do you really think that your kids are going to be a match for a decent size guy trying to drag them into a car? A parent's responsibility, at that age, is to ensure your child gets to their destination safely. End of.

Yeah, I know that could apply for kids much older than yours as well of course, but seriously can you say you will arrive at work and not worry at all that things 'are ok' with them? I know I couldn't.

Doing the working/childcare/schoolcare thing is hard and I really do sympathise, I've been there done that as a single parent. But would I do option 2 what you're thinking about - nope, not in a million years.

I really hope that a solution pops up for you soon.

duchy

daisiegg wrote: »

When would they be at home for 15 mins alone?

You're right it is 5 minutes alone (10 minute walk Mum has to leave by 7.45and breakfast club opens at 8) Frankly for 5 minutes I'd negotiate something with work.

GobbledyGook

themull1 wrote: »

I disagree, i would worry that if my two young kids were walking together, that one of them could be snatched, and there would be absolutely nothing the other one could do about it. Its not safe anywhere these days. And you can bet your life that if you let the kids go on their own, you will eventually be reported, and do you really want social services on your case?

Why is it not safe anywhere?

Seriously I do not get this. Where are the new dangers other than traffic?

The only difference is that child abuse is not something that is disbelieved, blamed on the child and brushed under the carpet.

If it was so common and dangerous then we'd see a child murder on the tv every week. Yet the last 3 big child cases I can remember on the news were all people who knew the child.

Children are in more danger from their parents and people they know than the mythical child snatchers supposedly hiding around every corner.

Yes you have to think about it, and yes you have to tailor it to where you live and to your children - so as I said DD2 will get less freedom than DD1 and a child whose house backs onto a motorway wouldn't get out to play as young as one that lives in a dead end cul-de-sac for example.

krustylouise

bylromarha wrote: »

They've been out for the past 2 years without us - the job has nothing to do with it. :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

bylromarha wrote: »

Country council website was where I got the 3 CMs serving the school from.

I also figured that 1 hours pay x 2 kids x 5 days a week would appeal to a childminder, but they were all inflexible on the 8am start.

Maybe they should talk to their boss as apparently every job can be moved 15 minutes either way, and you're an appalling parent if it can't be.

1. Childminders are their own bosses so can choose the hours they work.
2. I came on this board to give YOU constructive advice to help YOUR KIDS.
3. Smart mouthing when people are genuinely concerned about YOUR kids isn't a wise move....

Looks like you got this situation all sorted. Good luck to you (and most certainly your kids...)

daisiegg

duchy wrote: »

You're right it is 5 minutes alone (10 minute walk Mum has to leave by 7.45and breakfast club opens at 8) Frankly for 5 minutes I'd negotiate something with work.

No, mum is dropping them off 10 mins walk from the school - not leaving them at home at all unless I missed something?

bylromarha

liney wrote: »

I thought you were a teacher, and therefore your start time is flexible within certain directed time constraints. I've never been in a school where directed time started before 8.30am.

I am - and my school is a 40 minute drive from my kids school. Doors open at 8.40 for my class. Trying to set up a classroom for the day in 0 minutes is never going to happen. TAs are employed from 9am, so they can't do anything or be asked to be setting up. I can't arrive in my classroom when the kids do.

Already struggling with the thought I'm giving myself only 15 minutes pre class arrival to get ready for the day if I drop kids off at 7.45am. And still can't believe that the childminders I could use all start at 8am. I know at least 2 CMs which serve our school which go from 7am, so presumed that there would be around the kids school too.

Will investigate at the kids school office - we can't be the only family from the school where both parents need to be leaving for work at 7.45am. Its got 3 classes per year group - that's a lot of families!

claire16c

Surely in nov/decide time it's really dark at that time? What are you going to do then?

There is no way I would leave children that age alone out.

How can there only be 3 child minders? The schools round here are full of them and they all are available from around 7/7.30. I think you need to do more research.

Have you checked childcare.co.uk for more?