Letting a 12yo and 10yo spend some summer weeks home alone?

[Anonymous]

This is our first summer back in the US, and initially we assumed we'd have to book full-day camps for every day of the summer break that we're not traveling. But then I see a lot of DCUMers post about letting their kids stay home so they can play in the neighborhood or go to the local pool. Is that fairly common? My kids are very mature and independent, but they also like to be active and challenged. I think they'd get bored at home alone all day. Or maybe not, I have no idea. If your kids are in this age range, do they like staying home during some summer weeks? Is it advisable for working parents, or does it end up being more hassle than it's worth? (DH and I work full-time, though I can easily WFH on days I need to.)

[Anonymous]

This is how we grew up (not in the States, though). I think it is out of the question for us as parents now.

You may want to check, but there are state/district regulations on this which relates to the kids' ages. It is different in DC than in MD for example. You could be reported, cited and ..... well, I don't know if you could be jailed! but worth checking

[Anonymous]

Some pools don’t allow kids that age to be there without an adult.

[Anonymous]

I only know one dual income family who does this and I frequently take their boys for the day because they can’t go to the pool or other places without an adult.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn’t do it. They would get bored very quickly and they can’t go to the pool by themselves. Half days, sure but that would get old quickly. Have a college student spend the day with them to take them to fun places

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn’t do it. They would get bored very quickly and they can’t go to the pool by themselves. Half days, sure but that would get old quickly. Have a college student spend the day with them to take them to fun places

Yes, get a college student, op.

[Anonymous]

I would maybe do some days here and there at that age but not every day all summer.

[Anonymous]

What would the going rate be for a college student, say, 10am to 4pm?

[Anonymous]

I would not feel comfortable leaving kids that age alone all day. They would probably be fine at a day camp with 9-3ish hours (so no before/aftercare), but alone for the entire day? No.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What would the going rate be for a college student, say, 10am to 4pm?

My daughter was a senior in high school last year where she had a steady childcare job. Three afternoons a week she'd pick up the boys from school, take them to the park ( or library), drive them home, prepare dinner (very basic- lots of pasta and raw veggies etc) and make sure the oldest got his homework done. She'd then play with the and make sure they took baths etc until nine or so. She got paid 15 dollars an hour for four to five hours a day work. That seemed to be the norm for our area (suburban DC)