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Question about daycare for middle schooler

FashionabIyLateFashionabIyLate
in Working Moms

My husband and I both work full-time outside of the home.  We have a preschooler, a 2nd grader, and a 6th grader.  The local daycares do not provide care for children past 5th grade, and since our house is within walking distance of the middle school, we have been letting DD stay home by herself after school this year (usually 4pm to 6:30pm).  She is extremely responsible and we've never had to worry.

 However, summer is coming up soon, and I am at a loss.  Do I allow her to stay home by herself all day, every day in the summer too?  Those hours would be 8am to 6:30pm, which is a long time for her to be by herself 5 days a week.  What do you WM's do for your older children in the summertime?

 TIA!

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Re: Question about daycare for middle schooler

  • azuremamaazuremama
    I'm not there yet, but most of our neighbors put their kids in a variety of camps throughout the summer.  If not that, maybe hire a college-age kid to do activities/take her places/hang out with her this summer.  I wouldn't let her stay by herself that long all day every day.  It seems like she might be bored and lonely if nothing else.
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  • thatjessiethatjessie
    When we were that age my parents had a friends of theirs' daughter watch us during the summer, she was just out of high school and we were within walking distance of the pool, park and church. She didn't really have to do anything except fix us meals and walk with us wherever we wanted to go.
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  • LyndaCarterLyndaCarter
    I don't have any that old yet, but I have friends that use neighbors that are home, retired grandparents, YMCA programs, etc.
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  • KathrynMDKathrynMD member
    camp!
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  • mielkedemielkede
    I teach middle school and I think that is too long for a 6th going on 7th grader to stay alone. Our school offers a lot of enrichment classes. You should check with your district especially if the school is walking distance from your house. At least then maybe they could be at a fun class or two in the morning and only have to be home alone for a few hours. Even the most responsible kids can get into trouble at that age. I would also check out the YMCA or do you have a community pool that she could go to. Sometimes the public library has programs too.
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  • akl0506akl0506 member
    does the school offer an extended day program?  agreed that it is too long for a 6th grader to be by themselves.  sign up for lessons, community ed, summer school type programming and then maybe only have her home by herself 1 day a week or so?  what are her friends' parents doing?  could you split a nanny to drive them places? 
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  • Lotte134Lotte134
    Growing up we had 2 sisters who were in high school who traded off staying with us when we were in that in-between stage. 
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  • lewis514lewis514

    When I was at that age, my Mom split my time up with summer day camps, grandmom's house and at times, going to work with my Mom. The summer day camps were pretty cool - it was through a local university, it had busing and was most of the day. I would go to my grandmom's afterwards or my Mom would pick me up from the bus and take me to her office.

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  • wheelenlwheelenl
    Do you belong to a swim club? I plan on paying a teenager to take my kid to the pool every day when mine get to be that age. I did that for a family when I was just out of high school, and it was great. I mostly lounged by the pool while she played with her friends. Smile
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  • snicksnacksnicksnack member

    In addition to doing what people have mentioned on here my friend sends her daughter to several programs geared towards kids at the local community college.  She did a fashion program, tennis, and photography.  She said it was less expensive than many of the other camp options and had AC, which was important to her.  Also, ask around at work to see if they know any responsible high school/college age girls.  My mom scored a summer job for my cousin when a coworker needed someone to watch her children during the summer.

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  • FashionabIyLateFashionabIyLate
    TYVM for your ideas!!
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  • melissa721melissa721 member

    When I was going into 7th grade I had no problems staying home by myself. Granted, my grandparents lived in the first floor apt. so if anything DID happen, they were there. But I was mostly alone upstairs and able to take care of myself. (My mom was also home by 2:15 everyday though.)

    In the morning she would leave breakfast for me and make sure the fridge was stocked with food for lunch so it was never really a problem. But again, she was home a lot earlier. If you can't get someone to stay with her the whole day, I agree hiring someone to come by and hang out with her for a lil bit is a good idea.



     

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