Is your young teen ready for the responsibility of babysitting?
When neighbors asked Kathy Smith of Bloomfield, New Jersey, if one of their teens could babysit their 2-year-old daughter, she recommended her 13-year-old daughter over her 16-year-old son. “They’re both responsible, but my son would do anything not to upset a small child—including letting a toddler put a finger in a light socket.” Obviously, it can be tricky to determine when—or if—your teen is ready to care for other children.
Here’s how to get a good gauge of your teens’ ability and help them make the transition from being babysat to doing the babysitting:
Don’t use age alone as a guide. “Evaluate your child’s level of responsibility, and how well they play with younger kids,” says Genevieve Thiers, founder of SitterCity.com. Look into local laws to ensure that your teen is able to babysit on her own.
“If kids are responsible when home alone, it’s a good sign that they are ready to care for other kids,” says Samantha Wilson, founder of KidProof, a site that teaches parents and kids about safety.
Joan Anderson 07/13/07
Great article! I think what’s really interesting about it is how it encourages parents to get to know their kids before they decide if they can do this job. It’s not the actual babysitting you have to consider, it’s the responsibility. I would definitely enroll my twin 12-year-olds in a babysitting course first.
Read more comments