DD was asked to babysit...

[HayGan]

I personally think the 11 is way too young to babysit. There are too many situations that could arise that she wouldn't know how to deal with. Plus, I think that left alone a young child like that may begin to panic in some situations and probably lacks the maturity level needed to deal with any accidents or emergencies that would arise.

What if the younger child swallowed something or fell and hit their head or cut themselves somehow. These are common occurances that I can definately see causing panic and inability to respond in a proper manner by an 11 year old.

Of course, this is just my opinion.

 

[pattyT]

Every situation is different -
I have met 11 year olds that could handle it noproblem!
And I have met 13 year olds who couldn't!

I haven't found a course near enough to me for my 11 year old - but I know that in MA there are courses for an 11 year old...

This situation it is the neighbor and mom is going to be home I assume - therefore just doors down the street...
I would be completely comfortable in this situation!

I have occassionaly left my 11 year old withthe little ones to run to grab milk at the market, etc...
with rules... lock the doors, noone allowed in, etc...

I also ALWAYS have my Cell phone on me (as does DH) and never go more than 15 minutes down the road!

I had to go to a funeral for my uncle this summer and didn't have anyone to watch the kids - so I wasn't going to go...
Last minute I decided to leave DD with them for the hour - dh was working 3 streets away...
and it went great!

(mymother inlaw is always reminding me that SHE was 8 when she started babysitting )

 

[BabyTigger99]

My DSD just turned 12 in August. We let her stay home with DS6 if we are running errands and they do not want to come. She doesn't get paid for that. We did pay her a few times so DH and I could go out to dinner, but it was in the summer, and we were home by 7 so it was still light out. Not reday to have her babysit at night. At her mom's house, she has babysat for her mom's boyfriend's 3 kids (age 6, 7, and 9), which DH and I don't really agree with, but her mom doesn't care, and there is not much we can do about it.

DSD keeps begging to watch my niece and nephew (age 7 and 4), and my sister said that once DSD turned 12, she would be able to.

I remember babysitting by the time I was 10.

 

[DVCLiz]

I do think it's a good idea for young sitters to know that mom is home - that's the only way I'd allow DD11 to sit now. And I'd limit where she sat, so I could get there in a few minutes if I needed to. But I'm thinking of our friends who have a 2nd grader and a three year old. DD would be fine to stay with them while the mom went to the grocery store or something like that, ans if one of those accidents happened (someone fell, etc.) she could call me and I would be there very quickly.

I'm just thinking of all the tremedous changes that happened to my older daughter between the time she was 11 (sixth grade - beginning of middle school) and now (senior in high school.) There are lots of "firsts" that will happen in those six years -this is just one of them!! Everyone has a different comfort level, but I always err on the side of what my child thinks she is ready for, instead of what I feel 100% comfortable with. This includes things like going away to summer camp, riding her bike in the neighborhood, being able to stay at the pool with a friend but no parent, etc. These are all milestones to reach - and different parents get to them on different schedules!!!

 

[Anne34]

My daughter just turned 12 which is the legal age to babysit in Illinois. She is excited to have her first babysitting job with the neighbors -- just a school function for 1 1/2 hours -- she'll be home by 8:30pm. I have left her since she was 11 (6th grade) with younger DS9 & DD7. I will run errends, groceries, etc for an hour or so. They all are well behaved and follow my safety rules. I also agree that it depends on the maturity of the child. So far she only babysits when we are home & close by. I was babysitting in 6th grade 10/11 and did fine.

 

[Grumpy's Gal]

I feel that 11 is too young for that responsibility.

I think it all depends on the child. I know 11 year olds who have the responsibility of seven year olds. I also know 11 year olds who are more like 16.
I think it also depends on how far from home it is -- if it's next door and her mom is at home (next door) that's a whole lot different.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

Like Carla mentioned, this wouldn't be legal in Maryland. I did babysit when I was that age and was a good babysitter--played with the kids, took them to the playground, etc. My 12yo son has another year before he can babysit, but I've told him that if he wants to babysit our next door neighbor kids (if my 15yo is not available to watch them) for a short daytime assignment AND I was going to be home, he could do that.

 

[disykat]

delete

 

[barkley]

it seems like alot of people feel it's o.k. if the mom is there or close by. i still don't buy it-i would'nt hire an adult for the job if they were lacking in skills/maturity such that they had to have another person at the job or nearby to help out (i would hire the person that already has the skills in place). i think of how quickly a child (esp. a younger one) can get into dangerous trouble or injured-do i want the responsible person to have to call mom to come over and assess the situation before 911 is called? nope-not me.

i just don't get that while a person would never think of hiring a mechanic, plumber or electrician who had no experience but was eager to try the work-they would leave their most prescious possesion in the care and control of an individual displaying the same shortcomings. i can't buy into the lack of availablity of baby sitters concept either-if you can't find someone capable, you don't go or you take your children with you (yes, i know there are emergencies, i was once "chewed out" by an e.r. doctor because i did'nt come in sooner for treatment of an injury because i had noone to leave my then toddler with and had to wait until my husband could drive from his workplace) errands are alot easier without the kids, a night out alone with husband is great but those are choice activities-if there is no qualified childcare you just don't go.

i agree that maturity levels vary greatly among kids, but there is big difference leaving your own mature 11 year old with siblings while you run a few errands vs. them caring for another person's child. you know the interaction between your children and how responsive/respectful the younger sibs are to the older.

people may think i am overprotective, but i worked too many years with children's services-i saw the kids who escaped the fires started when they were left in the care of other kids, the toddlers who were left with disabilities due to an unlic. adult child care provider failing to respond appropriatly and quickly enuf to a chokeing incident...i'm currently a stay at home mom who has also had to call 911 or police to get assistance for several of the neighbor kids whose parents felt they were mature enough to get themselves off to school in the mornings, stay alone until mom/dad get home at night (they were not mature enuf to come and ask for assistance, we just observed that they or a sibling in their care was severly injured or engaged in a dangerous activity-"extreme sports" in our neighborhood involves putting a younger sibling into a rolling garbage can and pushing it into the road as a slow moving car approaches ).