Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nothing. The younger is in first, and the older is in third grade. They can stay home without someone holding their hand.

Maybe it's just me, but that seems really unsafe.

Isn't it illegal? Seems like someone's always posting either guidelines or laws about how old kids need to be to stay home alone.

8 is usually ok. And its what many of us were doing as kids and were just fine.

Pretty sure these kids will not be top of the class

Why? I understood that there is very little academic time, such as for homework, in aftercare. What are these children missing?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nothing. The younger is in first, and the older is in third grade. They can stay home without someone holding their hand.

Maybe it's just me, but that seems really unsafe.

Isn't it illegal? Seems like someone's always posting either guidelines or laws about how old kids need to be to stay home alone.

8 is usually ok. And its what many of us were doing as kids and were just fine.

Pretty sure these kids will not be top of the class

Oh, and then the other variable is whether you have family who can help - either having grandparents come out to provide coverage, or sending the kids to visit family during part of the summer can save money.

One child, just north of 6K: $2500 for after care and we budget $4500 for summer camp (which would cover 9 weeks at the priciest camps with aftercare until 6), but we usually find some less expensive camps and do it for $3500. Plus maybe another $200 for camps or sitters during the school year for the few days when school is out but it is not a federal holiday. But we have enough leave to take off the 2 weeks of winter break and 1 week of spring break, so we don't need coverage for then.

If you live in Fairfax or MoCo, it might be easier to find less expensive rec center camps. It also might be less expensive to hire a sitter to pick up the kids from camp rather than pay for aftercare for two, especially if you can work from home or leave early to do it yourself some of the time.

We have a daughter entering kindergarten and we'll be spending just under $500 for before-after care through her elementary school. During the summers, full-day camps will range from about $325-$500 week, depending on the camp. (including before/aftercare.)

We'll be saving a decent amount of money during the school year, going from $1300/month to $500/month (though we'll add the cost of lunches). Activities are more expensive as they get older, though.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nothing. The younger is in first, and the older is in third grade. They can stay home without someone holding their hand.

Maybe it's just me, but that seems really unsafe.

Isn't it illegal? Seems like someone's always posting either guidelines or laws about how old kids need to be to stay home alone.

8 is usually ok. And its what many of us were doing as kids and were just fine.

$4,000 for summer childcare, and $500 a month for before and after care.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nothing. The younger is in first, and the older is in third grade. They can stay home without someone holding their hand.

Maybe it's just me, but that seems really unsafe.

Isn't it illegal? Seems like someone's always posting either guidelines or laws about how old kids need to be to stay home alone.

it may not be strictly illegal but I expect if I did this and the school became aware of this arrangement in my area I could expect a visit from Child Protective Services. The county guideline (not law) is that kids 8 and under can't be left for any length of time without adult supervision. 9 year olds can be left for short daytime periods but not care for other kids.

Sure, most kids that age can probably be fine for a couple hours. But if something goes wrong you are setting yourself up for a neglect prosecution.

$345 monthly in afterschool for my 3rd grader, plus around $1000/month for camps in July/Aug. It equals a little over $6k annually.