after school care or what?

[soyyo]

My son who is 8 and will be 9 in November started school last week.

Is it true that there is no after school care really in Finland? Do kids this young go to school alone in mornings and go home alone after school?

I'm a student too so it isn't as bad as if I were working, but there are going to be a few days each week where I have to leave for my classes before my son does or come home much later. On top of that, he is not attending the nearest school, so he has to travel more than the average kid.

In the US I think it might even be against the law to leave a kid that young at home alone. We are working on making sure he knows the way to and from school, we've gotten him a mobile phone, but I'm not really comfortable with the situation.

I have discussed this with my husband and my son's teacher, and even my in-laws all seem to think it's fine.

I am stressing out about this, so I'm wondering if anyone knows anything about it that I don't know. I hope the post is readable....

[Hank W.]

Well, theres after school clubs and such for 1. and 2. graders... koulujen iltapäivätoimi or summat like that.

[Rosamunda]

I all too well remember going through that "I don't believe it" phase when I got here and saw 7 year olds waiting in bus queues, knowing they were going home to an empty house.... Yes, most kids (7 yrs upwards) make their own way to/from school. Every self-respecting Finnish 7 year old has a doorkey round his neck, a mobile phone and a bus pass. Usually candy money too (see them hanging around the candy aisle in the big supermarkets after 2 pm).

But to answer your question there are other alternatives. Some schools run after school clubs. My kids' primary school had two: one in Finnish and one in English. From 12pm to 5pm. It was privately run, I can't remember the price (which included a snack) but the kids were well looked after, did their homework, and had organised indoor and outdoor activities, sometimes a video.

There are also things called asukaspuistot . These are usually found in residential areas, close to primary schools. They are run by the municipality and are free. Kids can regroup there before and after school. They are supervised by adults and have a playground area and some indoor space. Just turn up one day with your child and introduce yourself, I think there is a form to fill in.

[U]

Hi, my son has turned 9 years old and has starting his 3 grade a week ago. Yesterday he walked home alone from school and he has done very well. We are all very proud of him and I can see he is much more confidence now than before. Anyhow, I was very nervous waiting for him at home and calling him a few times when he was on his way. Now he wants to go to school and coming home on his own all the time. I am still a bit hesitate about it but my husband said it is ok. It is a big step for us all, as for me from a completely different culture. And from where we live is not that close to his school, it takes about 15 minute by foot with quite a few traffic to cross

[Mölkky-Fan]

Yes, I have the same experience. Up till this year we employed an au pair to be at home with the kids in the afternoon.
This year our 11 and 9 year olds are staying at home by themselves in the afternoon. My daughter has ice skating most afternoons, but my son has nothing in the afternoon (but football and ice hockey most evenings).
It has always seemed bad to me, but it is quite normal here... I do not want to get into another discussion with my SO about problems in Finland, as I have learnt the hard way that it is not worth the hassle.
I suggest that you try to ensure that the kids have friends in the area, where they spend the afternoons together and are a bit safer than leaving them alone.
It does give some benefits such as responsibility and the ability to do their homework by themselves, but is it right? I think not...

[AO]

My daughter went to the afternoon school club program at Komeeta for 2 years. I think it was €100 a month. Includes snacks, a program and they help with homework. Now like Penny mentioned she goes to the program at the Olari asukaspuistot which provides care from 8am to 4pm. The fee is small for this one I think about €30 a month for snacks. They also have some diabetes knowledge, so I feel safe with Nikki going there. She also comes home alone till I get home from work if it's a later shift, she has a cell phone and they don't send her home if her blood sugar is under a certain limit (she does have juice if to drink to get her sugars up before sent home!)

We've done pretty good the first 2 weeks. She knows not to answer the door or leave the house, and is to work on homework till a parent gets home!

But yea throw me in the shocked club when I was told this was normal for 7 years and up to go home by themselves. Then throw in a special needs child and I felt even more scared.

[sinikala]

There is a very different philosophy to childcare here, IMHO there is a lot more trust, and responsibility placed on the child than where I come from...

Leaving children at home (uk style)...

What does the law say?

English law does not specify an age when a child can be left unsupervised. However, parents may be prosecuted for neglect if they leave a child alone “in a manner which is likely to cause unnecessary suffering or injury to health” (Children and Young Persons Act, 1933).

The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) advises that no child should be left alone under the age of twelve, or overnight under the age of sixteen. Even a short stretch without a parent or another adult around can be distressing and lonely for a young child. Most eight to thirteen year olds, even if they feel happy about being left, may not be ready to cope in an emergency.

[soyyo]

Thanks everyone, I'll look into your suggestions.

[Nassebox]

To my knowledge, after-school care is for grades 0 thru 2. Third graders no longer qualify. That means 9-year-olds have to fend for themselves.

I don't know about all the 7yo's mentioned in the previous posts, but in our neighborhood, most 2nd graders are still under fairly heavy parental supervision.