The article looked like an attention grabber. She was basically paying a friend.

Anonymous wrote:I don't think $15 for two kids with a minimum is so low. It's reasonable.

$15 an hour for 2 kids is reasonable. This lady said that her babysitter was there with two kids for three hours and she paid her a Total of 15 dollars. Not 15 an hour

Anonymous wrote:I don't think $15 for two kids with a minimum is so low. It's reasonable.

She wasn't saying $15/hour. She meant $15 total.

I stated that my price for three hours with two kids was $15.

But if it takes about two hours to earn the money to go to a two-hour movie, that seems fair.

Now she's taking about what to pay a young teen. Its low, but whatever. In this area most people aren't having young teens babysit. They're hiring college students, daycare workers, preschool teachers, nannies, etc. These are adults, whose time should be valued higher than the price of a movie ticket.

I don't think $15 for two kids with a minimum is so low. It's reasonable.

This woman is kind of dumb. You can't compare what you were paid 20-30 years ago to what you should pay today. For someone under 14, sure, $5/hour is fine, but at least pay the high schooler minimum wage, and the college student a bit more.

Another issue she isn't taking into account is that with the age of helicopter parenting we are currently in the midst of, young teens aren't taught or trusted to do anything for themselves, let alone trusted enough to care for other children. Most parents in this area would sooner pay their nanny $15-$20/hour to watch TV than let a 14 year old watch their kids. Its going to cost more to hire a responsible adult to do the job. $15 for 3 hours ain't gonna cut it.

Thought this was interesting. At least the author is acknowledging that she is hiring a teen who has no idea what they are doing.


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jan-francisco/paying-the-babysitter_b_4145546.html