would you let your 11 yr old babysit? - Page 2

[kmeyrick]

I was a mother's helper at 11, babysat during afternoons at twelve, then babysit late at night when I could drive. I still babysit, it's a tax-free way to make some extra cash!

[Shantimama]

I would encourage my 11 yo ds to offer himself as a mother's helper but wait on the babysitting until 12 or 13 - and even then it would depend on the situation. I have three children very close in age and I have found that it takes a mature 15 year old to care for them well. One child could be okay with a younger babysitter - but even then it depends on the child. When things are going well it is fine - but what if there is a fire? Or someone strange comes to the door? Or any of a zillion other possibilities that rarely happen but if they do, I want to know our babysitter can handle it and my experience is that most 10-12 year olds aren't ready for emergencies.

My 11 yo ds is amazing, kind, thoughtful, mature, loves to help and play with younger kids, but I would still want him to have an adult nearby to help quickly if things got beyond his ability to cope. As mature and responsible as he is for his age, I am his mom and I know that he can still get overwhelmed and I don't want to put him or any children left in his care at risk in any way.

When he took the babysitting course last winter (ON) the Red Cross instructors recommended that all of the kids take it twice before actually babysitting. Knowing how much information slips out of a growing child's mind , I would feel better knowing anyone who was caring for my kids had cared enough to make sure they really knew the stuff they had been taught.

[Aliviasmom]

I started babysitting at 9. I babysat the next-door neighbor, and my mom was home whenever I did, just in case anything happened. I think it would depend on my child, the child he/she would be watching, etc.

[2mama]

In WI it is 11 for sibs, 12 for non sibs.

I think that it's a case by case basis. DD will be 11 in dec. and I would feel very comfortable leaving her with our baby who would be almost 2 by then. I would not leave her with ds who will be almost 4. DD 1 and 2 are laid back and fun loving. DS is too, but when he gets his undies in a bundle hold on to your hats. DD #1 and DS love each other dearly, but they sure can fit too!

I would trust your gut. If you think he can handle it go on and let him do it.

[Novella]

Does anyone have certain information about Canadian law (BC or otherwise)?

I've heard many comments over the years about it being "against the law" for under-12 to babysit. But there are just so many falsehoods that become cemented in society as "gospel truth". I've often wondered if this is one of them.

Over the past year, I actually got around to running that by two friends who are members of the RCMP. Neither of them had heard of such a law (although they both mentioned that as general law-enforcement officers, it wasn't exactly an area of expertise).

As others have detailed, so many things come into play that could make superficially-equivalent scenarios very, very different: the maturity of the babysitter, the age/personality of the kid(s) babysat, the proximity of the babysitter's parents or parents of the child(ren), etc.

I babysat (babies) when I was 11.5. We've had many babysitters for our kids and hands-down the most fantastic one we have had is 11. She's outstanding!

[gina72]

My daughter started babysitting for younger family members when she was 9 or 10. I think it all boils down to how mature your child is, and whether you (and the parents of whomever he is sitting) feel he can handle the situation.

[ceilydhmama]

Babystting age:

Originally Posted by Novella

Does anyone have certain information about Canadian law (BC or otherwise)?

I've heard many comments over the years about it being "against the law" for under-12 to babysit.

There is no minimum age for babysitting in a legal sense - but there is a minimum age that kids can be left alone in Canada (12). Even when a child is babysitting (even if they are over age 12) the parent can still be held responsible if something happens to the little ones because the law in the Family Services Act says:
"Every child in Canada under the age of 12 must be supervised at all times by an adult."

hth.
Diane

[the_lissa]

Actually, the law in Ontario is that a 10 or 11 year old can stay home alone for short periods of time (1-2 hours).

[bumblebeeskies]

I think being a mother's helper sounds like a great idea! Perhaps, you could even help him by getting him a couple jobs. If your friends have young children, perhaps you could ask them if they'd be interested in his help. If they know him well, they will know that he is responsible and a mature 11 yo.

I'm not quite sure why everyone is steering towards babysitting in the afternoon instead of evenings? Many parents want someone to "sit" after their children are in bed, or shortly before they're heading there. All he'd have to do is just "hang out".

[lindberg99]

I would definitely look into the mother's helper thing. I work at home and something like that would be a big help for me. So I'm sure you could find someone around who would want your son to come for a couple hours or maybe come along to the pool or park or something like that for extra help. They probably won't pay him a whole lot though but tell him it's a good way to build up references for when he's old enough to babysit on his own.

[mommy68]

I'd allow my 11 yr old to babysit for someone if they are at home. For instance, they could do it as a mother's helper sort of thing like going over to play with the kids and keep them occupied while mom rests or cleans house or does things around the house for herself but I would want the other parent there.

I would also let my 11 yr old babysit inside our house if the parents wanted to drop their children off here but only if I'm at home as well.

My oldest is 13 and he has stayed with his siblings alone for no more than 30 minutes in the past when I drove up the road to the post office. I worried the whole time and even called twice during that 30 min time frame to check on them.

[jellybellyxoxo]

My 2nd oldest kids are turning 11 soon, but they're 10 now.They are each aloud to stay home alone. I live right around the corner from a super market. I have let them both baby-sit my 3 other kids (3,5, and 9) a few times while I had to run to the store and once I had to go out somewhere a few blocks away and I left them home alone. As they turn 11 and such, I'm thinking about letting them baby-sit more often. My oldest kid (13 soon), is veryyy responsible and has been baby-sitting her older sibilings (not the little ones) since she was about 10 1/2. She now can baby-sit anyone and the entire family, but she's out to much to do anything