Supervision of teenagers after school - working mums?

[AnyDream]

Hi, DD1 is due to start high school next year, and since I work three days each week, I'm wracking my brains as to what we will do re after school supervision/care.

When I was the same age I managed to get myself to and from school on public transport, and frequently came home to an empty house, I'm not comfortable with her spending so much time alone, given she doesn't have siblings of a similar age.

What arrangements do other working families have re after school care and supervision of teenagers?

[peanutter]

um, I'm another who just caught the train home and was home alone, or with any siblings that didn't have sport ...

some kids from school went to the school library for an hour or two to do homework, and *then* went home, so that either they'd get home around the same time as their parents, or there would be less "alone" time.

some went to after school activities, like sport, art, tutoring or music things ...

some had a study group (not that much homework got done...) but it meant that there were a few of them together at least.

and some local churches have a drop in centre, with tea and coffee and playstation and table tennis or whatever - some kids just hang out, others play, others use the computers to do homework.

not sure if any of those things are options for you?

[Kazzo]

I don't have this issue since I don't have teens but I went to a different HS then my older brother, his was a selctive HS and a fair distance from home, mine was a local HS. Both my parents worked but my dad was usually home by about 4:30, 5 at the latest. At first I would go to my next door neighbours house but after a couple of weeks we all decided I would just go home and spend that time doing homework. I was only ever allowed one friend over and my neighbours had to be told. I enjoyed this time by myself.

Do you have neighbours you could trust and talk to?

Otherwise are there any after school care places around.

[MamaPan]

MD - its a hard one... thankfully I dont need to think about it for a whILE lol
When I was a teen my mum (single mum) worked quite late - prob got home around 630. I cant remember what age I was, but ptob early high school - Mum got one of the girls from my school who lives close to come home with me (she was prob in yr 11 or 12) and we would make arvo tea and both do homework etc. I think once I was a bit older (like 15) I went home and was there alone. I think she started with the girl coming most days and then slowly it reduced.
I had after school activities at school a couple of days too e.g. sport practice or music lessons

FWIW I never had an issue being home by myself - I loved it (though I spent a lot of time on the phone!!)

[Artechim]

I would have been fine at home by myself. But times were different back then. My mum worked night shift so I was used to being home alone at night from 13/14 years old with my younger brother. I don't think I would be comfortable leaving my kids alone at night at that age.