what kind of sitter for 9 year olds?

[Anonymous]

Just wondering what kind of sitter people hire for their 9 year olds. I have 9 year old twin boys and we feel comfortable letting them stay home alone for no longer than 1 1/2 - 2 hours. We have plans for a Saturday night that will keep us out of the house for about 3-4 hours and we aren't comfortable leaving them alone for that long. They are pretty self sufficient and go to bed pretty late on weekends and it seems weird and expensive to hire a high school student and pay them $15-$20/ hour to just sit there while our kids either watch tv or play video games or entertain them for 4 hours. It seems that we are on the cusp years, and I'm wondering what other people do when their kids hit this age.

[Anonymous]

Look at it this way--the payment to the high schooler is insurance, in case something goes wrong and someone more mature than a 9-year-old needs to take action.

[Anonymous]

You find either a high school sitter or an adult who is a Nanny or something and wants to make extra money. Yes it's an easy gig but so is a sleeping baby that goes to bed at 8. You still have to pay for the service.

[Anonymous]

We still hired a high school or college student. Sorry OP

[Anonymous]

See if they can go to a friend's house during that time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:See if they can go to a friend's house during that time.

This. Start trading 3-4 hour play dates. As soon as you phrase it to the other parents as date night tradeoff, someone will jump for it.