13 year old watching 2 year old?

[la79al]

I'm not looking for flames here, just honest opinions. Would you let your almost 14 year old take your barely 2 year old for walks around your Disney resort?

 

[mom2maggie]

I'm not looking for flames here, just honest opinions. Would you let your almost 14 year old take your barely 2 year old for walks around your Disney resort?

Around the resort? Yes. To the parks by themselves? No.

 

[sk!mom]

Depends--Is the 2 year old generally easy to manage? Is the 14 year old used to babysitting/ dealing with the 2 year old?

My DS at 14 was very responsible and protective of DD so he could have handled watching her for a few minutes.

DD13, almost 14, on the other hand, is very mature and responsible but she has next to no experience with young kids so I probably would not leave her with a 2 year old.

 

[ms_missy66]

I would be comfortable with it, especially if the 14 year old took a cell phone with him/her and had been briefed on the old "If there's any problem, find a cast member to help you. Be back in 20 minutes."

I babysat tons by the time I was 13 and definitely went for walks around the neighborhood.

 

[JUJU814]

I once had a 14 year old when my youngest were 2 and 4 and I would have been very comfortable letting her walk either around. She's always been very responsible and aware of her surroundings.

 

[littlbugmom]

Not flaming you at all but my honest answer is absolutely not.

 

[hildarumpole]

You know your kids best. As long as your older child has displayed responsibility toward your younger child and they get along well, it shouldn't be a problem. Just set up a few ground rules about where they can and can't go, length of time they can be gone, what to do if some problem arises, etc.

 

[frtchr]

You know your kids best. As long as your older child has displayed responsibility toward your younger child and they get along well, it shouldn't be a problem. Just set up a few ground rules about where they can and can't go, length of time they can be gone, what to do if some problem arises, etc.

Well put!

 

[Bitsmommy]

That really depends on the 2 year old and the 13 year old, but my 13 year old niece watched my 2 year old son a few days per week in the summer time. I was never more than about 15 minutes away and she could always reach me with a cell phone. I wouldn't allow her to take her into a WDW park alone, but walks around the resort doesn't seem to be a problem.

 

[mjkacmom]

I'd let my dd13 - she's the oldest of 5, mature, and is very used to being around children (and loved little children).

 

[sl_underwood]

My 13 yo- no way! She just isnt responsible enough. Now her sister (now 16) babysat regularly at 13 and I would have been more than comfortable. In fact, on our last disney trip (she was 14) she watched both her siblings while dh and I went to dinner and celebrated our anniversary. They took a walk around POR, ate in the food court and played at the playground. She had a cell phone and could call at any time. I think if your dd is responsible and knows how to handle your son when he has a problem, it should work out fine.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

Around the resort? Yes. To the parks by themselves? No.

Agreed...

And, honestly, this would even apply to a very mature 13 year old for me. If something were to happen to the toddler (and things happen even with attentive parents watching their children)...

Imagine how the 13 year old might react to the worst before putting so much responsibility on their shoulders.

 

[Kae]

yes

Kae

 

[sdrsdd]

My husband is a police officer and I am a teacher...so maybe we are paranoid...
I have a 2 year old and my answer is not a chance...however you are the parent and must decide what is right for your child...

 

[Hannathy]

Yes my 14 yr old was watching kids all day during the summer so heck yeah. she was babysitting at 13 also so I would let her at 13.

 

[cel_disney]

If the 13 year old babysits, I'd definitely be fine with it! I know MY 2 year old was likely to be better behaved for the 13 year old than he was for me so I wouldnt be terribly concerned!!!

I was babysitting for my neighbor (alone) when I was 11 and she was 1.5...it was a wonderful thing for everyone involved!

 

[bumbershoot]

I was babysitting by then, and my much younger half brothers were helping tons at that age with their tiny sister. So yeah, if the 13 year old is mature, absolutely!

And at least with the sibling dynamic I've noticed, a much younger has a feeling that the older is a rock star (not saying an actual rock star, just that there's a feeling of awe), and they don't tend to try to run off, as they might with a parent.

 

[BuzznBelle'smom]

I would let my oldest do that with my youngest. At 13, my oldest was a certified babysitter and had her own cell phone. She adores little kids, and they adore her. She's very mature and responsible. Naturally, I would set guidelines for where they walked, for how long, etc.

However, it would very much depend on the personalities of the individuals involved. My youngest is an easy-going kid. They have a lot of fun together. My second child is almost 13, and I would not trust him to do such a babysitting cervice. He just doesn't have the instinct to avoid trouble, KWIM? The oldest would never take the little guy by the pool, but #2 wouldn't see the harm in it. So, I couldn't let #2 take his brother out for a walk.

 

[PrincessTiffany]

Well, you know your child best. No one on this board knows your 13 year old or her level of maturity or responsibility. Everyone's children are different and are able to handle different things at different ages. Personally, I have an almost 9 year old daughter that is more mature and responible than our 13 year old. Definitely not flaming, but you should do what YOU feel is right, not what a bunch of strangers on an internet board think you should do.

 

[Procrastinator]

I agree that it really depends on the children. Personally, my 10 year old dd probably be fine taking my 19 month old dd out for short walks, bringing her cell phone with. She's very used to helping with her siblings and is very proud of "training to be a babysitter." I wouldn't be able to send my 5 year old ds with them, since he doesn't listen and is more distracted. My ultimate goal is to get to WDW next year, when we have an 11.5yo, a 6.5yo, a nearly 3yo, and a nearly 1yo. I can see letting my oldest take at least my third out around the resort.