“While we don`t have babysitters under the age of 18 on our website, it`s interesting to see that parents are happy to allow older siblings to babysit. I don`t think there`s a right or wrong answer unless it`s ridiculously young because every child is different and maturity varies greatly. I think it`s important to note that you`re not stressing your child by having them babysit. In certain circumstances, parents can be prosecuted if their child is injured while a babysitter under the age of 16 is being supervised. Many teens like to offer babysitting to earn money before the age of 16, as many other jobs require them to be older. While children who choose to work in newspaper delivery rounds, farms or retail stores are covered and hopefully protected by general and specific health and safety laws (particularly the Health and Safety (Youth) Regulations 1997 – those who choose babysitting as a means of earning money are not covered by these laws. Here are some things to consider when employing a babysitter, even if it`s a well-known and trusted agency: There is no minimum age for a person to babysit. The full study for those interested in the methodology and further conclusions is available on the website and in the print journal. However, this short article can make parents think when they ask their older children to babysit the younger ones. My SIL is taking a babysitting class at school – she is 13.
I think she`ll want to practice something on DS and we`ll let her, but I`m sure we`ll approach it in small steps. By following these simple guidelines, the babysitter is rewarded with a sense of trust and develops a better relationship with the children in her care, while parents are rewarded by knowing that their child is safe and happy in the hands of a well-prepared and trustworthy babysitter. Being a babysitter means that you have someone else`s life in your hands and that in itself is a huge responsibility. Caring for one or more children can be stressful, frustrating and sometimes difficult to deal with, even for experienced adults. “A lot of parents see this as a way to develop character and become more responsible young adults, and I`m sure that`s exactly what most of the time do. Also, siblings tend to be very familiar with each other`s needs and how their household works, so I don`t think this can be compared to an actual babysitter who is new to the family. “Thank you all. We love the prospect of having a babysitter nearby, as it really pulls us down and sometimes has no social life. Check the age rule for 16 if you are babysitting other people`s children. The results were all quite similar, so it seems that most parents agree with an appropriate age for children to keep each other.
The youngest age we received for evening babysitting was 10 and 13 for the night. One of our neighbouring daughters, whom we have come to know well, wants to earn money and has offered to babysit for us. We would love to have a babysitter nearby and she would like money (can`t do regular satellite work as she does the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme). She`s in Y10 – so she thinks she`s 15 or 16 (I didn`t ask because I haven`t said yes to anything yet). Does anyone know? However, there is no legal age limit to leave your child unattended at home. They can be abandoned at any age, although if something were to happen to them while they were not being supervised, the adult who should be responsible would be held legally liable. As with your own children, it`s worth making sure your babysitter knows what to do in an emergency and is mature enough to take action if necessary. If a parent decides to leave their child with a babysitter under the age of 16, the parent should be prepared to take responsibility for whatever goes wrong in their absence. The parent remains responsible for the care and safety of their child.
Fortunately, the vast majority of babysitting situations end happily and considering the number of parents who hire babysitters to take care of the children, the disasters are minor. But leaving children in the hands of other children increases the risk of harm. We encourage parents to encourage their children to take a babysitting class if possible so that they fully understand what is required of them. A parent should choose a babysitter over the age of 16; If you want to consider someone under the age of 16, you should carefully examine the babysitter. Babysitters occasionally provide childcare assistance to families and are usually local youth, sometimes still a high school or college student. Although the law does not specify the age at which young people can care for children, if you employ a babysitter under the age of 16, you are legally responsible for their safety and that of your child. If it is believed that your child is at risk because they are not properly cared for, you could be prosecuted. It may be safer to talk to the babysitter`s parents and let a neighbor know about your plans in case you need help and can`t get home in time. I had 15 and 16 year old babysitters for dd – but the parents were very close and easily reachable by phone in case of emergency.
