|
|
Post by shanniebananie on Jan 5, 2016 19:20:58 GMT
My son just turned 13 and my daughter just turned 9. We have left them alone for up to an hour for the last year and so far everything has been fine. They are both good kids who follow rules and know not to open the door for anyone, not to use the stove, not to leave the house, not to answer the phone for anyone but us or grandparents, they don't fight with each other, etc.
We have an event coming up which requires us to be gone for about 6 hours 6-12am. Normally, we ask the in-laws to watch them but they will be out of town. We have no other babysitters due to the in-laws watching the kids for the past 2 years. Before I try to find a new sitter, I was wondering if 13 is old enough to watch the other kid for that long. Certainly I was babysitting by 13 yrs old, but that was in the "olden" days!
Would you you feel comfortable leaving kids this age alone for this amount of time? If not, why not? Maybe there is something I haven't considered. I guess I am hesitating because of the length of time.
eta: Yes, it is 6pm-12am (midnight). 13 yr old has not had babysitting training per se but is a Life scout with first aid and emergency preparedness merit badges. The two almost never fight and it is never physical. Both of them would have to put themselves to bed and I think they would do so around 10pm. We would be at a gala 10 miles away and always available by phone.
|
|
MizIndependent
Drama Llama
Quit your bullpoop.
Posts: 5,836
Jun 25, 2014 19:43:16 GMT
|
Post by MizIndependent on Jan 5, 2016 19:22:35 GMT
Has he had any kind of babysitter training? First Aid? Emergency training?
My older DD did before she was allowed to babysit her younger sister.
|
|
|
|
Post by kels99 on Jan 5, 2016 19:22:40 GMT
How far away will you be?
|
|
Deleted
Posts: 0
May 19, 2024 16:25:23 GMT
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 5, 2016 19:23:22 GMT
If they get along and can entertain themselves, yes. If they fight often and especially if the younger one is seen as a nuisance, I wouldn't go 6 hours.
|
|
smartypants71
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,710 
Location: Houston, TX
|
Post by smartypants71 on Jan 5, 2016 19:25:53 GMT
I guess it depends on the situation. How far away are you going to be from the house? How well do they get along? Are the kids comfortable being by themselves? I've left my 13yo home with a friend's son who was around 9 or 10 at the time. They get along great and just stayed up playing video games. We were only a couple of minutes from home and I keep the alarm set, so they felt comfortable being home. Heck, they were happy we left  |
|
|
|
Post by lucyg on Jan 5, 2016 19:26:16 GMT
I would leave them, as long as either you are fairly close by and can be reached in case of emergency or there's a friend or neighbor they can call. I was babysitting on my own at that age and so was DD, and so does the kid next door (for me) but I will say her mom comes over with her half the time.  |
|
|
|
Post by Chips on Jan 5, 2016 19:28:04 GMT
I have let my son at that age watch his brother. My older son is very responsible and I knew he would stay inside with his brother so I was comfortable doing so. I probably called every two or so hours.
|
|
|
|
Post by SabrinaM on Jan 5, 2016 19:28:43 GMT
We do! Actually, my 10 yr old is more level headed than my 14 yr old. We make sure their phones are plugged in with the ringer turned up so they can hear it over Markiplier (or whatever!) |
|
|
|
Post by JustCallMeMommy on Jan 5, 2016 19:29:12 GMT
I don't have a 9 year old, but my 13 year old would be fine to babysit for 4 hours. It sounds like they get along well, so I would be fine with it. These days, the adults are never truly out of reach like they were when we were kids babysitting at that age!
|
|
|
|
Post by stingfan on Jan 5, 2016 19:29:13 GMT
6am? My kids probably wouldn't even wake up until after 9 at that age . Then you're only left with about 3 hours. I would be okay leaving my kids at those ages. |
|
Deleted
Posts: 0
May 19, 2024 16:25:23 GMT
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 5, 2016 19:30:01 GMT
Most babysitters are that age.
Yes I would leave them.
|
|
|
|
Post by gmcwife1 on Jan 5, 2016 19:30:52 GMT
6am? My kids probably wouldn't even wake up until after 9 at that age . Then you're only left with about 3 hours. I would be okay leaving my kids at those ages. That's what I was thinking too Yes, we would let our 13 yr old do that. |
|
marimoose
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,282
|
Post by marimoose on Jan 5, 2016 19:33:15 GMT
Yes I would, provided that you trust him to be responsible and only you know that answer. I was babysitting at that age regularly for the neighborhood and I belieev my brother began doing the same at 14. I think it is probably safer these days than way back when because we all have cell phones and can be easily reached.
|
|
psiluvu
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,217
Location: Canada's Capital
|
Post by psiluvu on Jan 5, 2016 19:35:24 GMT
Yes
|
|
|
|
Post by bc2ca on Jan 5, 2016 19:38:06 GMT
I assumed the timing is 6pm-midnight (12 am) and would definitely say yes based on how you describe your kids.
The first time we left the kids at night it was kind of interesting - they had every light in the house on and weren't comfortable going to bed until we got home. Mine are closer in age than yours, so do you expect the 9 yr old to go to bed?
|
|
Deleted
Posts: 0
May 19, 2024 16:25:23 GMT
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 5, 2016 19:42:39 GMT
No. I have a 14yo and an 11yo and I can't leave them for that long - they end up having a the worst fights.  |
|
|
|
Post by keknj on Jan 5, 2016 19:46:24 GMT
Well, I would have my 9 year old watch my almost 13 year old. Honestly, she is more responsible than he is. We have left them alone together for a couple of hours and everything has been ok.
|
|
|
|
Post by myboysnme on Jan 5, 2016 19:48:06 GMT
Haven't read other responses but yes I would and yes I did.
|
|
|
|
Post by ktdoesntscrap on Jan 5, 2016 19:51:12 GMT
How far away will you be? Do you have a neighbor they can all on in a real or kid emergency? Or someone to stop by and check on them? My daughter is 13 and I would leave her alone. She is wanting to do a babysitter course then I would leave her alone with someone else's kids |
|
|
|
Post by stingfan on Jan 5, 2016 19:52:09 GMT
Oops - read the time wrong  . I'm still going with, yes, leave them. |
|
|
|
Post by Darcy Collins on Jan 5, 2016 19:59:30 GMT
I assumed the timing is 6pm-midnight (12 am) and would definitely say yes based on how you describe your kids. The first time we left the kids at night it was kind of interesting - they had every light in the house on and weren't comfortable going to bed until we got home. Mine are closer in age than yours, so do you expect the 9 yr old to go to bed? This exactly. Mine still are perfectly fine to be left alone for extended period, but just cannot sleep. Really the only time we had any trouble leaving them was when we were right next door and needed them to sleep. They tried, but were really not comfortable and ended up calling us to come home (my daughter had an early morning appt the next day and we'd told them to call if it didn't work out) If they've never been home longer than an hour, I'd expect it to work if you allowed a movie marathon until you get home. |
|
|
|
Post by bosoxbeth on Jan 5, 2016 19:59:48 GMT
I would allow it if:
-I was going to be close by
-the two kids don't fight a lot in general
-I trust my kids to have good judgment
|
|
Deleted
Posts: 0
May 19, 2024 16:25:23 GMT
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 5, 2016 20:06:34 GMT
For sure, especially since you're only 10 minutes away. |
|
paigepea
Drama Llama
Enter your message here...
Posts: 5,609
Location: BC, Canada
Jun 26, 2014 4:28:55 GMT
|
Post by paigepea on Jan 5, 2016 20:11:25 GMT
Yes. I would. If they get along well and the 9 year old listens to the 13 year old then I would do it.
My my girls are 10 and 7 so we haven't done this yet, but when the age is right I'd do it. They get along well and behave. My sister's kids are 12 and almost 11 and she can't leave them without a sitter for that length of time at that time of night because they fight so much. Maybe when they're 12 and 13. She finds it difficult because she says her sister's have to be older and older as her kids age.
|
|
kate
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,517
Location: The city that doesn't sleep
Site Supporter
Jun 26, 2014 3:30:05 GMT
|
Post by kate on Jan 5, 2016 22:04:31 GMT
We leave ours alone for longer than that, but not quite that late. We're usually home by 10pm or 11 at the outside. I'd be okay leaving them until midnight if we were nearby.
|
|
eastcoastpea
Prolific Pea
Posts: 9,252
Jun 27, 2014 13:05:28 GMT
|
Post by eastcoastpea on Jan 5, 2016 22:36:21 GMT
I would.
|
|
|
|
Post by maryland on Jan 5, 2016 22:49:01 GMT
Yes, with my girls we did. We had our phones with us so they could call if they needed anything. We also have great neighbors and they could go to any if they needed anything. We weren't far from home, and could be home soon if they had any problems.
|
|
|
|
Post by 950nancy on Jan 5, 2016 22:49:17 GMT
Definitely. Make sure there is an emergency contact close by. Lots of 13 year olds babysit for other kids.
|
|
River
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,515
Location: Alabama
Jun 26, 2014 15:26:04 GMT
|
Post by River on Jan 5, 2016 22:56:43 GMT
Yes I would and I do. My 14DS watches my 10DS. They get along good together so it's never been a problem.
I do however make sure his phone is charged and the volume is all the way up before I leave. He also knows he'll be in trouble if he doesn't answer the phone, or at least call me back ASAP when I check in on them.
|
|
|
|
Post by Delta Dawn on Jan 5, 2016 23:05:01 GMT
My son at age 13 could not stay by himself for more than an hour. I remember being out in the garage (attached to the house) and he needed me inside. It sounds bizarre, but he wasn't ready to be left longer than that. I would leave him for a while, and gradually increased the time, but he didn't like to be alone in the house for long.
By the time he was 14 things started to get better but 13 (Grade 8) I didn't leave him alone.
|
|
. I'm still going with, yes, leave them.
