DH just started going back to the office consistantly. It is Mon-Wed every week and 2 WFH days a week on Thurs and Fri. I know there will be a big push for more days eventually maybe, but probably not until after Summer.
Can my 11 and 13 (almost 14) year old stay home alone on those 3 days? Or do I force them to go to camp? Last year since DH worked from home, we only did the specialty camps. I know the 13 (DS) year old can technically be home, but it is more the 11 (DD) year old. The 13 year old has aged out of most things, but could do junior counselor for a week or so. He can also ride his bike back and forth to be a junior counselor.
Last year DD did 2 weeks of Girl Scout camp, 1 week of soccer camp and 2 weeks of sleepaway camp. One of those weeks are going away because the GS camp closed down. The other GS camp is run by volunteers at a different location.
I don't have a ton of other specialty camp options, so it would be basically forcing DD to go to the Park District camp. She would have the option of full time or M,W, F. We would have to take on aftercare for pick up. I can look for more specialty camps but they tend to be $$$ for 9-3 and a farther drive, and I already spent quite a lot of time looking into them without any new great ideas or anything like that.
Camp registrations are Feb/ March around here for specialty camps and April/ May for the Park District camp.
I think the 11 year old can be home with the 13 year old on those 3 days. I think she’d most likely not be super happy in the rec camp because in my experience the age range is such that 11 year olds usually aren’t happy to be there, especially when their sibling gets to stay at home.
Post by jennistarr1 on Feb 1, 2024 12:41:48 GMT -5
I don't think you have to do camp, but it seems like a long summer of staying home. So I would be tempted to find some kind of specialty camp that breaks that up if even just two weeks
I don't think you have to do camp, but it seems like a long summer of staying home. So I would be tempted to find some kind of specialty camp that breaks that up if even just two weeks
She will do 3 weeks of specialty camp plus 1 week family vacation, but that still leaves 7 weeks approx. last year they did 1 week at my mom's also. I'll try to see if there is anything else out there.
Post by minniemouse on Feb 1, 2024 14:05:59 GMT -5
As long as they get along and both have phones-or at least access to a phone- I think it’s fine. Summers are way too long for that age group. They are too old for day camps and too young to work. I work from home full time so mine are not alone but it’s almost worse in some ways. I am not available to hang out with the kids or drive them fun places, so they get so bored.The struggle is real.
The summers my kids were 11-13 were the worst because there are very few options as they outgrow day camps but can't work yet. Youngest is 12 this summer, and thankfully I think she will be able to volunteer this summer at her horse barn. Otherwise we would have virtually nothing for her.
Kids can work at 14 in my state, so it gets much easier after that.
ANYWAY. Yes, as long as your kids get along I'd try having them stay home with each other those 3 days/week.
If they have any friends in a similar situation, maybe you could offer even 1 day/week to either have the friend over on a day your H is WFH, or have your kid go their house if there is an adult? Just to break up the monotony.
The summers my kids were 11-13 were the worst because there are very few options as they outgrow day camps but can't work yet. Youngest is 12 this summer, and thankfully I think she will be able to volunteer this summer at her horse barn. Otherwise we would have virtually nothing for her.
Kids can work at 14 in my state, so it gets much easier after that.
ANYWAY. Yes, as long as your kids get along I'd try having them stay home with each other those 3 days/week.
If they have any friends in a similar situation, maybe you could offer even 1 day/week to either have the friend over on a day your H is WFH, or have your kid go their house if there is an adult? Just to break up the monotony.
I'm always looking for the kids to be more social in the summer because their school friends are strong, but they taper off in the summer or they are traveling. DS's best friend has a sibling the same age as DD, so then it turns into 4 kids which becomes a bit more unwieldly especially if they play outside and pick up other neighborhood crew.
We haven't really had people over yet unless we are more directly supervising. Since DS is 13, I think we can start heading in that direction, but not really sure how to do that.
Volunteer work is another good idea but does require us to drive them i.e. be home from work, unless it is at the library which is bikable.
see if any of the day camps have programs for the 11 year old; our day camp calls it "youth in training" to prepare for being a guidance counselor once they are old enough.
see if any of the day camps have programs for the 11 year old; our day camp calls it "youth in training" to prepare for being a guidance counselor once they are old enough.
This starts at 13, and I was planning to ask DS about it mostly because they teach first aid, CPR and job skills. DD can still attend camp as an actual camper until age 12. I was planning on trying to find a Safe Sitter class for both of them also.
I think I'd be fine with it, but DD (12) would go crazy if she couldn't hang with friends 3 days a week. We don't feel comfortable having friends over if we're not home and while I don't necessarily mind her going to a friend's house if we are gone and she wants to leave the house, I worry about it happening too much.
This is a tough age! I SAH so it's not as big of an issue and I only schedule camps for me, lol. Except for the one sleep away camp she did last year that she wants to do again this summer.
aspentosh, the only good thing about it is with the long summer days there is still time for them to play with friends or at least get outside after work. I am usually home by 4:30 and we have daylight until 8:30 ish. We could really try to prioritize that in our schedule. Doesn't have to be with friends but at least out of the house.
I don't remember hanging out without parents until 14 or 15. I would walk to a friends house after school and then my mom would pick me up around 5 or 5:30 after work. Her parents were at work also.