Hi Teddy on Toast
One of the articles on our home page talks about the dilemma that working single parents face, with excatly what you say-everything stops at 11. If your job means you are regularly getting home after 4pm then you may feel your child needs a "back-up" even if you are Ok about them coming home. One thing I did was brief a couple of nice neighbours so that my son knew he could go there for help in an emergency or if locked out etc. I did this for another neighbour a few years previously, and people seem glad to pass on this favour. Or you could ask a friend's parent if they can come to their house and slip them a bit of cash at the end of the week.
I think care provision in the holidays is even more of an issue for this age group, though, do you find this a problem too?
I feel very angry :x that people condemn single parents on benefits and yet would be the first to point the fingr if they were not providing adequate supervision for their child!
Louise (on soapbox now......)
Teddy on Toast it is worth checking with Working Tax Credit if this holiday scheme is claimable...if it is then you can get most of the childcare costs back, phone 0845 300900
Hi there TeddyonToast, good question!
This is a tough one and one that I wish the government would address.
In my daughters Junior school the after school club was excellent, the children loved it, it keeps them creative and sociable and safe until I finished work. But after 11years it all just stops, its crazy.
And then society moans about all these teenagers hanging around after school and causing havoc. Give them something to do!
My biggest worry was that maybe 1 afternoon a week might be ok, everyday would be too much, there is only so much TV and internet they can take. I think if they are alone and idle for too long, that's when they get up to mischief. Anyway that is my rant over!
When my daughter was in year 7 I was working a 3 day week, so I managed to spread the hours over a 5 day week. Is there any chance you could do that TeddyonToast?
Or are there any friends who live nearby? Or does the school have any afterschool activities?
I did think afterschool activites would have helped in my situation, but they start at 3.05pm until 4.05pm, so not really much use there. :x
Now my daughter is in year 9 and I work 5 days a week, but she seems to be at an age where I feel its ok to be home at 5ish. Each child is different, only you know how often and how old you want your child to be on their own.
What has anyone else done?