If both parents work and yiu have a 6th grader.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:City of Rockville has programs for middle school kids at community center. We used them for 6th and 7th grade. DC really enjoyed them. We gave him the option of coming home alone but he preferred company. They also covered 1/2 days with field trips.

This. Check with your community center. I'm in Vienna and they also have a program for 6-8th graders.

Please stop. 8th graders needs a program? HELICOPTERS!!!

There have been studies shown that in middle school and high school the most vulnerable times to abuse drugs and/or engage in sexual behavior is between 3-5.

These aren't aftercare programs like elementary students have. These are basically safe places to 'hang out' with peers. They have different clubs and activities for kids to choose from or create. Areas to do homework. It's pretty free form.

Beats sitting at home alone or hanging out behind the Chipotle getting high.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a rising 6th grader who will be 11/12 in 6th grade. We have hosted Aupairs for the kids and I'm so incredibly tired of having another person in our house. Both DH and I work normal hours and I'm home by 5pm each day. DS will get off the bus at 340. I'm considering letting him be home alone from 3:40-5pm. At least once a week I WFH and when DH is not traveling (he travels once a week) he works from home. Anyone leave their 6th grader homr alone after school?

I also have a rising 2nd grader, but I'll put him in an after care program.

He is 11.5yrs old and you are worried to leave him alone??? He has been able to stay home alone since 8. Loosen the reigns a bit.

Are you my irresponsible neighbor with the annoying wandering kid?

Maryland happens to have a law that says 8. Many states have laws that say 10, 11, 12, or even 14: http://www.latchkey-kids.com/latchkey-kids-age-limits.htm

I think it's great that the OP is putting some thought into her child's maturity level and what kinds of things he will be doing while alone, rather than just checking the law to see how soon she can legally ditch him.

[Anonymous]

Yes, let him stay home by himself. My son started out in SACC, but quickly realized he was the only 6th grader there. Within a month, he started taking the bus home, lets himself in, feeds the cats, and chills out until we get home. Our 5th grader just now started taking the bus, too. They love the independence!

[Anonymous]

I certainly think 6th grade is old enough to be left home alone, but my husband got his first Blowjob at the age of 12 during an after school truth or dare game with the other neighborhood latch key kids. Just because a middle schooler is capable of taking care of himself doesn't mean there's not a world of trouble he could get into at that age without adult supervision.

[Anonymous]

Absolutely would let my 6th grader be by himself for a few hours. We do this already on weekends sometimes when we need to go out to other kids' games, etc. I'd let my 5th grader do this too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I certainly think 6th grade is old enough to be left home alone, but my husband got his first Blowjob at the age of 12 during an after school truth or dare game with the other neighborhood latch key kids. Just because a middle schooler is capable of taking care of himself doesn't mean there's not a world of trouble he could get into at that age without adult supervision.

What a stud!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I certainly think 6th grade is old enough to be left home alone, but my husband got his first Blowjob at the age of 12 during an after school truth or dare game with the other neighborhood latch key kids. Just because a middle schooler is capable of taking care of himself doesn't mean there's not a world of trouble he could get into at that age without adult supervision.

And because of this one incident, let's make sure we don't leave our middle schooler without adult supervision for a split second to make sure they don't get their first blowjobs until ... high school? .... college?

As you also surely know, "a world of trouble" is everywhere around us, and we would do a great disservice to our children not to help them learn how to navigate it on their own. And it starts with small steps, for example, by letting them stay home unsupervised, for long enough, even while risking, OMG, that they might get their first blowjob before their parents approve.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I let my 5th grader do this starting this year. He walks home, we live a block away, and I'm home about 90 minutes later. No issues. He texts me when he gets home.

Why does your son have a phone? He is in 5th grade. Why can't he pick up the landline and call to say he is home - just like the millions of other kids back in the 80's, 90's, 00's and now that don't have cell phones as kids.

Why shouldn't he have an iphone? Will it bring destruction and ruin? What is so virtuous about landlines? Please do share, because we have not had one of those ancient things for years now.

Not the PP but a 5th grade with a smart phone or an itouch looks at porn, social media, chatting, texting, mindless games, inappropriate you-tube videos, etc.... but yes let's not let him stay home alone. That is so "dangerous"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I let my 5th grader do this starting this year. He walks home, we live a block away, and I'm home about 90 minutes later. No issues. He texts me when he gets home.

Why does your son have a phone? He is in 5th grade. Why can't he pick up the landline and call to say he is home - just like the millions of other kids back in the 80's, 90's, 00's and now that don't have cell phones as kids.

Why shouldn't he have an iphone? Will it bring destruction and ruin? What is so virtuous about landlines? Please do share, because we have not had one of those ancient things for years now.

Not the PP but a 5th grade with a smart phone or an itouch looks at porn, social media, chatting, texting, mindless games, inappropriate you-tube videos, etc.... but yes let's not let him stay home alone. That is so "dangerous"

Exactly how old are you? You don't know how to put controls on an iPhone? Yikes granny! I see now why phones make you terrified. No need for the hysterics

Here's a hint...you can select phone numbers that they can call only and select websites they can only go to, block or allow certain apps, and you can even block data.

Next?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I let my 5th grader do this starting this year. He walks home, we live a block away, and I'm home about 90 minutes later. No issues. He texts me when he gets home.

Why does your son have a phone? He is in 5th grade. Why can't he pick up the landline and call to say he is home - just like the millions of other kids back in the 80's, 90's, 00's and now that don't have cell phones as kids.

Why shouldn't he have an iphone? Will it bring destruction and ruin? What is so virtuous about landlines? Please do share, because we have not had one of those ancient things for years now.

Not the PP but a 5th grade with a smart phone or an itouch looks at porn, social media, chatting, texting, mindless games, inappropriate you-tube videos, etc.... but yes let's not let him stay home alone. That is so "dangerous"

Um, seriously? Do you not already use a parental control software such as Net Nanny, Qustodio, mobicip...ect? I'm not even talking phones, I'm talking ipad, computers, ANY internet device your child uses? Because if you actually did have these controls in place you wouldn't be worried about phones.

Your lack of knowledge on the basics of safe internet usage for kids is stunning for a parent in 2016.

[Anonymous]

Your lack of knowledge of how many kids get around parent control is also stunning..

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Your lack of knowledge of how many kids get around parent control is also stunning..

Considering I work in cyber security, you are wrong. On a daily basis i see exactly what happens to kid's like yours.. You cannot get to a proxy server from any of the above mentioned platforms.You are ignorant and have no control on your kids devices, which is why you live in chronic fear.Hopefully I won't have to one day do a forensic analysis on your kids tablet in order to trace her steps.

[Anonymous]

I got my 6th grade DD a phone, my home a piper security camera (that lets me know when she leaves and arrives)... And she walks to / from school and is home for about 1-2 hours until I get home. Additionally. During the many days off she stays home alone. She loves the independence.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your lack of knowledge of how many kids get around parent control is also stunning..

Considering I work in cyber security, you are wrong. On a daily basis i see exactly what happens to kid's like yours.. You cannot get to a proxy server from any of the above mentioned platforms.You are ignorant and have no control on your kids devices, which is why you live in chronic fear.Hopefully I won't have to one day do a forensic analysis on your kids tablet in order to trace her steps.

I didn't know I live in chronic fear! While I am not a cyber security person, I can restrict my kids access. No smart phones and internet access at defined times/for specific reasons. Works well for us..but now that I know I am living in chronic fear...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I certainly think 6th grade is old enough to be left home alone, but my husband got his first Blowjob at the age of 12 during an after school truth or dare game with the other neighborhood latch key kids. Just because a middle schooler is capable of taking care of himself doesn't mean there's not a world of trouble he could get into at that age without adult supervision.

And because of this one incident, let's make sure we don't leave our middle schooler without adult supervision for a split second to make sure they don't get their first blowjobs until ... high school? .... college?

As you also surely know, "a world of trouble" is everywhere around us, and we would do a great disservice to our children not to help them learn how to navigate it on their own. And it starts with small steps, for example, by letting them stay home unsupervised, for long enough, even while risking, OMG, that they might get their first blowjob before their parents approve.

It wasn't just OMG my husband got his first blowjob before his parents approved, that poor girl's reputation was trashed for the rest of her junior high/high school years.