Anonymous wrote:As a parent, do you allow your elementary aged child to host their friends at home after school every day of the week from dismissal to 6-7pm or until their parents start texting/looking for them? What happened to homework? Is it too much or continue being a doormat/free after care?

No, because I am a well-adjusted adult who sets boundaries and knows how to say NO. How can your desire to be the "cool" parents or the "hang out house" trump your desire to provide a stable routine for your family?

One of our kids had a friend as such. Would be at our home for hours after school. Lived in neigborhood too.

We’d simply looped that child into our routine. It happens.

That child is a now nurse and adores our family as we do them

My kids school doesn’t even give homework until 3rd grade, and nothing punitive happens if it’s not done. And they aren’t free every day after school- they have stuff going on.

Until 7 every day? No way.

What is the issue? If my kid was playing and happy, why wouldn't I be happy about this? Playing at my house, even better, because I get to know their friends

Tell them to play outside. Be home by dark.

Yes, but only until around 5 or 5:30 and then parents are calling for them to come home for dinner. Very much depends if DS/neighborhood kids is available or has an activity.

Every day from 3:30 to 7 pm? No way.

It depends on the neighborhood and parents. I'd allow it though.

No my kid is either in aftercare or activities, or home alone with us. All of the kids we know are the same. I don't know any elementary age kids who have the freedom to just go to a friend's house until dinner.

It does sound kind of like my childhood, but I thought it was a thing of the past.

As a parent, do you allow your elementary aged child to host their friends at home after school every day of the week from dismissal to 6-7pm or until their parents start texting/looking for them? What happened to homework? Is it too much or continue being a doormat/free after care?