Babysitting for 13 year old

[Anonymous]

Our daughter took the babysitting class that is required to babysit for 13 year olds. She wants to start babysitting but Hubby is against it. He feels that you never KNOW people well enough and to leave her alone is someone's home is asking for trouble. I feel that she should be given the opportunity to learn how to work and should do it limitedly for friends. She REALLY wants to try it to get a little extra money and experience. What would you do and when is the right time to try babysitting for kids. I know the law allows it for her now. She is almost (in 2 months) 14. Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Depends on the kid (both the one sitting and who they're sitting for) and the circumstances. A responsible 14 year old with a reasonably well-behaved child for a couple hours, with the sitter's parents in close proximity, is easy. An irresponsible 14 year old with 4 kids she doesn't know, cooking dinner and giving baths, is a potentially deadly risk. I think starting as a "mother's helper" with parents home could work. Or playing with a kid for a few hours in the afternoon rather than handling a bedtime routine.

Is your husband worried that your daughter will be abused by the employing family, or that she will put her charges at risk? Different solutions to each concern.

[Anonymous]

Why the rush to have her working?

[Anonymous]

My DD is only allowed to babysit for families I know.

[Anonymous]

Husband is worried both ways. Babysitting is a good way to teach responsibility. Not really rushing, just asking when is a good age. By 16 they are off to driving and real 'jobs'.

[Anonymous]

We started using young teens as sitters when our kids were around 4-6 yrs old. They were all from families we knew at our church or neighbors and started with just an hour or two to try them out.

My DS is almost 13 and I'd be fine with him babysitting for families we know. My earliest sitting jobs were around age 12, initially helping out a neighbor in the mornings because she had to leave super early for a job as a flight attendant so I'd get her 5yr old up and off to school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why the rush to have her working?

Not the OP, but if the kid wants to, why not? It's a great interest to reinforce. My DS is 13 and has lined up a volunteer jr. counselor job for 5 weeks of the summer. He's thrilled to be working, even if he isn't being paid yet.

[Anonymous]

DD13 has been babysitting for a year. Only for families we know or who are part of the town-based mom's group I belong to, but she has been doing this actively on weekends and over the summer. We are clear that she never takes jobs for longer than 4 hours when kids are awake, and if it's at night, then I make sure I am available to come if needed (has never been needed). She earns $8-$10/hour and makes some pretty good money especially over school vacations. She is very responsible, and we have been having her babysit for her younger brother for a while. She took the babysitting course at 12.

[Anonymous]

How is she when she's home by herself?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why the rush to have her working?

why the heck not? It's GOOD for kids to have responsibilities, to learn to handle their own money, to feel the satisfcation that comes with a job well done.

Strange mindset.

[Anonymous]

I think it's less about her physical age and more about her maturity level. If she's mature enough, go for it.

When my son started babysitting at 12, it was for people within a two block radius, and I assured the parents I would be at home while he was at their house, in case he needed backup.

[Anonymous]

At that age, she should be babysitting for families she can handle (no infants if she has no experience) and that you know or at least have a connection (e.g., same school or church).

[Anonymous]

We are talking an 8th grader/freshmen right?

I would start with people you know - but as your husband says you never truly know people. So, just make sure she has her own phone and have the safety talk again. I'd stay away from babies.

What are your husband's conditions to allow her to sit?
Does she have siblings? cousins?

[Anonymous]

Maybe a mothers helper type position if you can find that arrangement.

[Anonymous]

The babysitting course isn't a requirement, but it does tell parents that the sitter is serious about doing a good job and that she has a basic understanding of how to handle an emergency.

I'm another vote for sitting depending on both the child sitting and the child(ren) being watched. There's no way that most 12-14 year olds are mature enough to handle 3 kids in the 2-6 year old range, nor would I want a child sitting for a child who is close in age (minimum of 3 years age difference). So, a 13 year old may be mature enough to sit for a family with a potty trained 3 year old, 6 year old and 9 year old, but it's doubtful. Most 12-14 year olds shouldn't babysit more than 2 kids, and 1 might be preferable, no infants, and toddlers only if the sitter has some experience with diapers. To get experience with infants and toddlers, a mother's helper position would be better than a sitting gig. And I love a PP's outline about no more than 4 awake hours, and within a certain radius of home if it will be after dark. For daylight only, I would widen the radius and make sure that she can tell the parent they can choose to drive her home or pay her more and she'll walk.