Anonymous
Post 05/02/2016 15:21     Subject: If both parents work and yiu have a 6th grader.
I'm doing this for my 5th grader this fall. Sacc is crazy loud and he just needs some downtime. He is in before care, where he can run around on the playground, and plays a sport, so I feel he will get a good amount of activity. He will be alone for an hour. This is enough time to eat a snack, do homework, chores, and possibly read, listen to music, or other inside relaxing activities.

I think 6th is fine.

Anonymous
Post 05/02/2016 14:34     Subject: If both parents work and yiu have a 6th grader.
I started letting my now 14 year old home by herself when she was in 6th. I think its totally fine.
Anonymous
Post 05/02/2016 13:15     Subject: If both parents work and yiu have a 6th grader.
Anonymous wrote:You are totally overthinking this. Leave your kid a list of snacks to choose from and things he can do, and things he HAS to do for the first week.

"Freddie, have an apple or pear and a string cheese or baby bel. Set table for dinner and put your clothes away, then start homework. If you finish, you can play Minecraft. See you by 5:15."

By sixth grade he should be FINE.


+1

Yes, I give my tween who is home alone every day a list of chores to do (usually clean up kitchen (load/unload the dishwasher), fold laundry, practice the instrument, do homework, maybe run to a corner store to get some ingredient I'll need to make dinner).
Anonymous
Post 05/02/2016 13:13     Subject: Re:If both parents work and yiu have a 6th grader.
Anonymous wrote:OMG. This post is about a 6th grader, not a 3rd grader with "checked out" parents.
Yes, a 12-year old child SHOULD be able to be home alone for several house without burning down the house or injuring himself. I started to leave my kids home alone for various periods of time as soon as it was legal (MD - 8 years of age). There were rules (don't open the door to anyone, no cooking on the stove, etc.), and they memorized various family and emergency phone numbers. Now, my 6th grader commutes to school by metro and gets home in the afternoon before the rest of the family does. My 4th grader does not commute to school by metro, but is also capable to going to park, library, store, neighbor by himself, or with his older brother. They often do together or individually. Give your kids some independence so that can show you they don't have to watched all the time.


OMG Becky!
Anonymous
Post 05/02/2016 13:09     Subject: If both parents work and yiu have a 6th grader.
You are totally overthinking this. Leave your kid a list of snacks to choose from and things he can do, and things he HAS to do for the first week.

"Freddie, have an apple or pear and a string cheese or baby bel. Set table for dinner and put your clothes away, then start homework. If you finish, you can play Minecraft. See you by 5:15."

By sixth grade he should be FINE.
Anonymous
Post 05/02/2016 13:04     Subject: Re:If both parents work and yiu have a 6th grader.
OMG. This post is about a 6th grader, not a 3rd grader with "checked out" parents.
Yes, a 12-year old child SHOULD be able to be home alone for several house without burning down the house or injuring himself. I started to leave my kids home alone for various periods of time as soon as it was legal (MD - 8 years of age). There were rules (don't open the door to anyone, no cooking on the stove, etc.), and they memorized various family and emergency phone numbers. Now, my 6th grader commutes to school by metro and gets home in the afternoon before the rest of the family does. My 4th grader does not commute to school by metro, but is also capable to going to park, library, store, neighbor by himself, or with his older brother. They often do together or individually. Give your kids some independence so that can show you they don't have to watched all the time.
Anonymous
Post 05/02/2016 12:52     Subject: Re:If both parents work and yiu have a 6th grader.
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Wow I was thinking of letting my 3rd grader next year do exactly that and I work out of the home. We have a home phone, alarm system and huge dog. Also, my neighbors are home and great people. Not sure if we're going to do it yet.


A neighborhood 3rd grader does this. He is probably in no danger but seems very lonely judging by how he follows the other kids and parents around, knocks on doors, and mopes in front of his house. It does make the rest of the parents on the block feel responsible for him.


Then why not let him hang with you/your kids? You sound like Scrooge.

(No, I'm not referring to my kids. When I'm not home, they have to stay inside.)


We have a kid like this in our neighborhood and my kids don't like him. His parents are checked out and is probably is reflecting in his behavior. 3rd grade is way too young for this. He needs to be in an after school program, socializing with kids his age and getting exercise.


I have a similar child in my neighborhood, too (in fact, sounds like the same child) but he's awful to my son, so not welcome at our home (I WAH).
Anonymous
Post 05/02/2016 11:06     Subject: Re:If both parents work and yiu have a 6th grader.
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Wow I was thinking of letting my 3rd grader next year do exactly that and I work out of the home. We have a home phone, alarm system and huge dog. Also, my neighbors are home and great people. Not sure if we're going to do it yet.


A neighborhood 3rd grader does this. He is probably in no danger but seems very lonely judging by how he follows the other kids and parents around, knocks on doors, and mopes in front of his house. It does make the rest of the parents on the block feel responsible for him.


Then why not let him hang with you/your kids? You sound like Scrooge.

(No, I'm not referring to my kids. When I'm not home, they have to stay inside.)


We have a kid like this in our neighborhood and my kids don't like him. His parents are checked out and is probably is reflecting in his behavior. 3rd grade is way too young for this. He needs to be in an after school program, socializing with kids his age and getting exercise.
Anonymous
Post 05/02/2016 10:24     Subject: Re:If both parents work and yiu have a 6th grader.
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Wow I was thinking of letting my 3rd grader next year do exactly that and I work out of the home. We have a home phone, alarm system and huge dog. Also, my neighbors are home and great people. Not sure if we're going to do it yet.


A neighborhood 3rd grader does this. He is probably in no danger but seems very lonely judging by how he follows the other kids and parents around, knocks on doors, and mopes in front of his house. It does make the rest of the parents on the block feel responsible for him.


Then why not let him hang with you/your kids? You sound like Scrooge.

(No, I'm not referring to my kids. When I'm not home, they have to stay inside.)


Yes believe me I feel a lot of guilt so you can call me Scrooge if you want. But my children often don't get along with him, I find him manipulative and difficult too, and I also feel resentment that I should be a default babysitter because I am home after school.
Anonymous
Post 05/02/2016 10:16     Subject: Re:If both parents work and yiu have a 6th grader.
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Wow I was thinking of letting my 3rd grader next year do exactly that and I work out of the home. We have a home phone, alarm system and huge dog. Also, my neighbors are home and great people. Not sure if we're going to do it yet.


A neighborhood 3rd grader does this. He is probably in no danger but seems very lonely judging by how he follows the other kids and parents around, knocks on doors, and mopes in front of his house. It does make the rest of the parents on the block feel responsible for him.


New poster, my son was occasionally home alone during 3rd grade. He wasn't allow to leave the house though. He came home, locked the door, let the dog in, and called me. Then he got his chill-out-screen-time in without me bugging him so it was a win-win for everyone.
Anonymous
Post 05/02/2016 10:15     Subject: Re:If both parents work and yiu have a 6th grader.
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Wow I was thinking of letting my 3rd grader next year do exactly that and I work out of the home. We have a home phone, alarm system and huge dog. Also, my neighbors are home and great people. Not sure if we're going to do it yet.


A neighborhood 3rd grader does this. He is probably in no danger but seems very lonely judging by how he follows the other kids and parents around, knocks on doors, and mopes in front of his house. It does make the rest of the parents on the block feel responsible for him.


Then why not let him hang with you/your kids? You sound like Scrooge.

(No, I'm not referring to my kids. When I'm not home, they have to stay inside.)
Anonymous
Post 05/02/2016 10:13     Subject: Re:If both parents work and yiu have a 6th grader.
Anonymous wrote:Wow I was thinking of letting my 3rd grader next year do exactly that and I work out of the home. We have a home phone, alarm system and huge dog. Also, my neighbors are home and great people. Not sure if we're going to do it yet.


A neighborhood 3rd grader does this. He is probably in no danger but seems very lonely judging by how he follows the other kids and parents around, knocks on doors, and mopes in front of his house. It does make the rest of the parents on the block feel responsible for him.
Anonymous
Post 05/02/2016 10:12     Subject: If both parents work and yiu have a 6th grader.
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:City of Rockville has programs for middle school kids at community center. We used them for 6th and 7th grade. DC really enjoyed them. We gave him the option of coming home alone but he preferred company. They also covered 1/2 days with field trips.


Do you have a link?


http://rockvillemd.gov/index.aspx?NID=347

Look at the bottom of the page for Programs at Thomas Farm and Twinbrook CCs.
Anonymous
Post 05/02/2016 10:12     Subject: If both parents work and yiu have a 6th grader.
Anonymous wrote:City of Rockville has programs for middle school kids at community center. We used them for 6th and 7th grade. DC really enjoyed them. We gave him the option of coming home alone but he preferred company. They also covered 1/2 days with field trips.


This. Check with your community center. I'm in Vienna and they also have a program for 6-8th graders.

Anonymous
Post 05/02/2016 10:11     Subject: If both parents work and yiu have a 6th grader.
Is it possible to make it mandatory for the child to stay at school and he/she picks the after activity but must choose one?