Do you let your older kids babysit your younger ones?

[Montana Mom]

I've been brainstorming on how to get in some outdoor exercise...considering having my 9yo babysit while I run around the block.

Opinions?

[bananabee]

I wouldn't. 9 yr olds are still pretty impulsive and distractible. The legal age in my state is 13.

[mamalisa]

How old is the younger one?  Is the older one responsible enough to remember not to answer the door, not to cook anything, stuff like that?  It truly depends on your kids and how well they do together and if they can be trusted to do exactly what they are supposed to do.

I'm not a single mama, but my ds turned 10 in December and I've been leaving him and dd (5) together for about 5 months.  Never for more than an hour (long enough for them to have fun playing Wii, soon enough that I'm back before they start to fight).   We have close neighbors who ds could run to in a true emergency and he knows the rules to staying home alone very well.  He's an unusual kid though, he may be slightly more responsible than I am sometimes.  

[soso-lynn]

It depends on your kids. I know many 9 year olds who would be totally fine looking after their siblings, especially if Mom is just running around the block. The important thing is to make sure they have something to do while you are gone, otherwise you are likely to end up with a big mess of toys.

If you are worried, you could get walkie-talkies since you wont be far. If you have a cell phone, you could leave your house phone on speaker and get a bluetooth headset to listen in while you run.

[Montana Mom]

Thanks everyone for the feedback!

[doubledutch]

um, i snowblow while my kids are inside.  it can take an hour if the snow is deep.  i can't hear them, although i'm very nearby so if they need me, they can come out and get me (or just stick their heads out and flag me down).  it makes me a little uncomfortable but it needs to be done, and because the snow is whipping out of there, i do not want them outside with me.  they're 3.5 and 5. 

i've been considering running a block and a half; turn around and run back and go a block and a half in the other direction; turn around and come back.  this is six blocks total (half mile) . . . not a lot, but would be better than what i'm currently doing, and i would never be that far.  (by 'considering' it i mean, i plan on doing it when the temperatures are a little better than 0.)  i would probably do this while they're sleeping in the morning, as the older one sleeps way later than me, and the younger one usually just lies there yelling for me if he wakes up when i'm not nearby.  not ideal, but . . . it's interesting that everyone has different comfort levels.  i wouldn't leave my kids home alone, but if i'm outside and fairly nearby, for 10 minutes, i don't consider that leaving them home alone.