Kids out of the house 8+ hours a day

[Anonymous]

No that’s not normal 7am-6pm. It’s not good for the kids.

[Anonymous]

That’s not 8+ hours a day. That’s 11 hours a day, probably 12 if you count commute. It’s awful for young kids.

[Anonymous]

We stagger - one does pick up around 430 the other drop off at 8. The downside is that we rarely are eating dinner as a family during the week. We have young kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I mean the school day is 7 hours, so yeah, school age kids are out of the house 8 hours even without working parents. What kind of question is this? Did you not attend school as a child?

When I was in elementary school in the 60s and 70s, school started at 8:30 or 9am. We walked home for lunch at 12pm, returned at 1pm, and were dismissed at 3pm.

[Anonymous]

We had to do it for years (two teachers). Kids went to after care and I’d pick them up at 5 after I finished meetings / tutoring / running clubs. Then I’d head home to make dinner. DH did the bedtime routine so I could grade papers and plan for the next day.

I guess you get used to it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No. This is why we have a SAHP.

But isn't school 7 hours? You drop them off the minute it starts and pick them up the minute it ends?

Yes…that’s how it works if you don’t have before/aftercare.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I mean the school day is 7 hours, so yeah, school age kids are out of the house 8 hours even without working parents. What kind of question is this? Did you not attend school as a child?

When I was in elementary school in the 60s and 70s, school started at 8:30 or 9am. We walked home for lunch at 12pm, returned at 1pm, and were dismissed at 3pm.

Well that’s relevant. 🙄

[Anonymous]

I’m practically a SAHP, but most families in my neighborhood work. Frankly, if you switch to stay at home, there’s nobody for your kids to play with. It’s only worth it for us because my child has special needs and has multiple therapies and interventions after school. If we had two typically developing children, I’d work full time and use childcare.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I mean the school day is 7 hours, so yeah, school age kids are out of the house 8 hours even without working parents. What kind of question is this? Did you not attend school as a child?

+1 The MS kids get dropped at 7am and can stay 2 hours after for clubs. So, until 4:30pm. That is 9.5 hours.

[Anonymous]

It's been the norm for my kids their entire childhood. Plenty of people don't work from home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m practically a SAHP, but most families in my neighborhood work. Frankly, if you switch to stay at home, there’s nobody for your kids to play with. It’s only worth it for us because my child has special needs and has multiple therapies and interventions after school. If we had two typically developing children, I’d work full time and use childcare.

Interesting. I guess it’s neighborhood dependent. I stay home and have one child in ES, another in part time preschool, and another at home with me full time. I’ve actually been surprised how many people are on similar schedules. And although the before and aftercare are popular, lots of kids are getting dropped off and picked up when mine are.

That said, I also know many families with 2 FT working parents who do the aftercare and who find it works really well for their family.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No. This is why we have a SAHP.

But isn't school 7 hours? You drop them off the minute it starts and pick them up the minute it ends?

Yes…that’s how it works if you don’t have before/aftercare.

That's not how it works for us. Kid walks to school 30 minutes earlier to hang out, and often stays after for clubs. My point is it's not a bad thing for kids to be occupied for 8 hours or more. It has nothing to do with my work schedule. That's how their school and social schedule operates. It's fine. I think it's rare and unnecessary to be the kid who doesn't spend a minute more.

[Anonymous]

No 11 hours a day 5 days a week is not normal imo.
Unless you both have crazy long commutes for some reason.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No 11 hours a day 5 days a week is not normal imo.
Unless you both have crazy long commutes for some reason.

I have to be at work by 7:30 and I get off at 5:30. A 30 minute commute isn't crazy long so my kid is at school from 7-6pm. I'm your kid's teacher BTW. Single parent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No. This is why we have a SAHP.

But isn't school 7 hours? You drop them off the minute it starts and pick them up the minute it ends?

Yes…that’s how it works if you don’t have before/aftercare.

That's not how it works for us. Kid walks to school 30 minutes earlier to hang out, and often stays after for clubs. My point is it's not a bad thing for kids to be occupied for 8 hours or more. It has nothing to do with my work schedule. That's how their school and social schedule operates. It's fine. I think it's rare and unnecessary to be the kid who doesn't spend a minute more.

Our kids aren’t allowed to go early or stay late in elementary school. Which is what OP is talking about because older kids don’t go to aftercare.