5th graders home alone all day?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’d be ok with that especially since they are together.

? They are both 10. It would be different with an older sibling, like a 13 year old staying with them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’d be ok with that especially since they are together.

? They are both 10. It would be different with an older sibling, like a 13 year old staying with them.

I understand, have a child the same age. I would be ok with this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A friend of mine leaves her 16yo and 9yo alone sometimes for a few hours here and there. Well they live in a townhouse and 3 weeks ago when she was out they were playing with a soft ball of some type and threw it in the air and it caught the sprinkler at just the right spot to break it. Water came shooting out of the ceiling into the living room. The kids called her in hysterics, she was 15 mins away and didn’t know where the shut off was. She called fire Dept, they came out but water was flowing a good 10-15 mins. They are all still in a hotel. Main level and basement were a disaster. So I’m not saying don’t leave kids, hers were old enough. But maybe show them the water shut off if it’s a regular thing.

I’ve been teaching my kids that since they were 8, b/c my spouse will never remember where it is either.

[Anonymous]

1) totally legal. Age 8 is when guidelines would worry.

2) cold lunches, snacks, yogurt etc. no microwave b/c silverware is too easy to forget

3) indoor cameras at every entry point with movement notification, so you know if anyone in or out (whether bad guy or sneaking out)

4) no outdoors unless you have fences backyard with camera

5) checks after every class or hour mark. Depending on work that can be txt message photo or zoom call. Maybe get a magic jack style hardline phone that can’t be misplaced. Or Alexa devices all over.

6) how far away are you from your home when at work, at least one 15 min or less away?

[Anonymous]

also, you don’t need an in person babysitter. Can a retired family member just hang out with them on zoom? Setup a computer near class and they are just logged in all day. They can do their own thing cooking or cleaning or reading or whatnot but can glance on screen and see the kids, and then kids can just call out of they have a question or anything.

[Anonymous]

My child is the same age and I use some of the measures outlined by PP but not all.
No opening doors, going outside. No having friends over.
Answer the phone when parents call.
Cold lunches and snacks like sandwiches and yogurt, microwave okay. No oven or stove.

[Anonymous]

I leave my 5th grader home all day, but he is able to manage DL and everything else without issue. It really depends on the kid.