Elementary kids alone while parents WFH

Anonymous
If you have typical elementary school kids, in this case three 1st through 5th graders, and a parent at home doing a job where they can’t step away from the computer for long blocks of time (e.g. to peek out the window and check) unless it’s a true emergency, how long are you comfortable leaving them without adult supervision, and what kinds of things would you be comfortable with them doing? Would you be comfortable with them playing outside in an unfenced yard, making snacks, attending online classes?

Kids wouldn’t have school during these hours but could do something like an Outschool class to break up the time.
Anonymous
Well my desk is set up to face the window.

Why wouldn't I be ok with them taking online classes? That is what they *do* do most days when school is in session.
Anonymous
Last summer my rising 5th grader had virtual classes for at least 2-4 hours per day during our working hours. They also made snacks themselves. Going outside was fine if they wanted to roller skate or climb trees, etc. I didn’t have much choice, so that is what we did.
Anonymous
I'd be comfortable with it, but my kids at least would not be willing/able to go more than a couple hours without some sort of adult interaction. There would inevitably be fights to break up, something needed from a high shelf or that couldn't be found, etc.

What have you been doing for the last year? This is a strange time to be figuring this out.
Anonymous
I don't think this is a one sized answer fits all given the age range of your kids. I'd likely be ok with a 4th and 5th grader being outside, but not a first grader. As for making snacks, that's easy - just have things that only require that they open them rather than things that need to be prepared. Some kids are independent at the online classes at a young age, but some require supervision even into high school. But, the bottom line is, you have to do what you have to do to keep your family going.
Anonymous
We live in a very quiet and safe town. Ds is in 3rd grade. He goes outside on his own. He spends 2-3 days a week being mostly unsupervised at home. I work nights and ds is a programmer so can't be constantly distracted. Ds is fine on his own. He haS Fridays off from school (we homeschool) and follows the rules we lay out for him.

Ds doesn't get into trouble, never really has. He's completely fine getting snacks, getting out his lunchbox, and playing independently with toys for 3+ hours. On homeschool days, he gets check ins a bit more frequently but gets his work done.

I think a lot depends on the kid. I think of myself at that age and no way would I have behaved as well as DS does!
Anonymous
I'd be fine with all of that.

My kids would bicker, though.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:Well my desk is set up to face the window.

Why wouldn't I be ok with them taking online classes? That is what they *do* do most days when school is in session.


Because they already did it? I feel like kids are spending a lot of time on Zoom for school, so I might be hesitant to sign them up for Zoom outside of school hours. But it might also keep them from bothering each other.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:I'd be comfortable with it, but my kids at least would not be willing/able to go more than a couple hours without some sort of adult interaction. There would inevitably be fights to break up, something needed from a high shelf or that couldn't be found, etc.

What have you been doing for the last year? This is a strange time to be figuring this out.


Childcare has changed.
Anonymous
I have a second grader. She can play outside in our fenced yard unsupervised but if she's going to climb on our climbing bars or play in the unfenced front yard I make sure I'm at least at the window. If I need to take a work call during time I'd normally be supervising her, she can read, make art, play Switch, or play on my tablet. She can self entertain for a couple hours but there's no way we could get through a work day without external structure like online school provides.

If this thread is about spring break or the summer ... we're sending her to camp.
Anonymous
This is pretty much my set up. I am home so I am conformable with them playing anywhere except the front yard.
Anonymous
I guess it depends on the kid. I'm a therapist and live virtually for most of the day. I can pop out between sessions for a minute or two, but can't be interrupted during.

This is pretty much how the year had gone for my 1st and 4th graders. They make their own snack, and sometimes lunch. They do online school. When they go outaide they have to tell me first, and stay in the backyard if I'm in sessions. It took some time to settle into a routine but they can do it now now problem. They really don't interrupt any more. When I take a break I make sure they get some attention from me before I disappear again.
Anonymous
So much of it depends on your kids. My youngest is a 2nd grader and I am fine with him playing in the yard on his own but I wouldn't let him navigate the neighborhood unsupervised yet because of busy streets and no sidewalks.
Anonymous
I have a K and a 4th grader. School is done by 2. They have a snack and head out into the neighborhood and I generally hope they don’t come back until it’s starting to get dark. We live on a private street, the road is a dead end, our yard is nearly 2 acres. There are a couple other kids on the street and they build forts, play endless games of tag, ride bikes, roller blade, practice baseball and lacrosse...It’s one of the few solid blocks I can use to work besides trying to get up before them (harder and harder to do as they seem to have developed eagle ears and are on me the moment I get up) and working late into the night. Way more free range than I’d ever thought to let my kids be, but desperate times.
Anonymous
I WOH several days a week and DH is on calls all day with his office door closed. Our 2nd grader is pretty much on his own after breakfast till I get home from work. He’s got a watch with preset alarms that buzzes when it’s time to log into school in the morning and after lunch. He goes outside on his own during lunch and after school and plays with other kids on our block. He is pretty responsible so I don’t worry about him too much.
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