Also at what is the youngest age that somone can babysit?
My concern is a 6 & 10 year old - the mother thinks this is fine for an hour or 2. I don't think it's right.
2006-12-19 23:00:44 · 25 answers · asked by Dogster Dave 3 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Parenting
Well from the website posted there doesn't appear any legal age limits. I thought it used to be 12 (simply because that was the age I was left for a couple of hours on my own).
I really thought that there was such a limit
and I am quite shocked that this is not the case. It really blurs the case of when this becomes neglect. The 10 year old is very mature and sensible but is still only a 10 year old looking after a younger child.
2006-12-20 00:49:38 · update #1
Well I have looked into it further and there is no legal age limit. If it was a 10 year old only then I wouldn't be so concerned, I still don't it's quite right though.
2006-12-20 07:48:50 · update #2
There is no legal minimum age, but I think the mother is putting herself at risk of prosecution.
http://www.nspcc.org.uk/helpandadvice/parentsandcarers/homealone/homealone_wda35965.html
2006-12-19 23:13:13 · answer #1 · answered by in vino veritas 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I don't think there is a legal age when children can be left on their own,only guidelines. But as a single parent myself, I know how hard and expensive it is 2 get a babysitter for even just a few hours. I'm quite lucky that i have family and Friends nearby but there are those of us who are not so fortunate.
It really does depend on the maturity of the 10 yr old. Some 10 year olds can be very mature whereas some 14 year olds are not. I'm sure the mother must know her children. I have left my 16 year old with her 9 and 7 yr old brother and sister but only in the day and never for more than 2 hours. but i do understand every ones concern but as i said before,I'm sure the mother must know the maturity of her children.
2006-12-20 04:58:59 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Legally I think it's 11 or 12...but you are right to be concerned if 6 and 10 year olds are being left for up to 2 hours that is definitely against the law and it is also beyond belief, what if there was a fire - are they locked in? If they're not locked in then what if they go out? What if something happens to prevent the mum getting back, this is very dangerous a lot could potentially happen in 10 minutes let alone an hour.
2006-12-20 00:01:58 · answer #3 · answered by georgeygirl 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think it's 14 but even then I would say it's down to the maturity of the child. I think 6 and 10 is far too young to leave children home alone even for a couple of hours. What if there was a fire, an emergency? I think you are right to feel concerned.
Not sure about babysitting! I don't leave our daughter with anyone but family, and even then it's only my mother and my sister (my partner's mother is deceased). I would rather stay home than leave my child with someone I don't know inside out or completely trust with her safety.
2006-12-19 23:09:30 · answer #4 · answered by niccog26 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
A 12 Year old child can be left alone for a couple of hours during the day, if they are taking care of a younger child they need to be a minimum of 14 years old. At night the older child should be 16 (raised from 14 a few years ago). Others are correct in saying that there is nothing actually laid down in law - these are just guidelines. You need to be sensible people!
2006-12-19 23:05:03 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 7⤊ 0⤋
I don't know about legally but id say it depends on the maturity of the child. my boy is 9, id be fine with him getting home say 20 minutes before me or my fiance, but thats about it. by the time hes 12 or 13 it would be an hour or so when desperately necessary but not for longer periods till 14 0r 15. I think if youre cooncerned about someones children an anonymous call to social services is in order. theyll check it out n try n help her . they only take action as a very last resort.
2006-12-20 00:33:38 · answer #6 · answered by serephina 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A 12 year old can be left by themselves during the day, 14 if there are younger siblings. 16 in the evenings or overnight.
Your right 6 & 10 are way too young!
2006-12-19 23:16:47 · answer #7 · answered by libbyft 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
i think the legal age is 13, maybe abit younger i know 13 year olds can baby sit!! but at age 6 and 10 that is far too young for the children too be left alone, u are very right too be concerned, the mother is breaking the law and putting her children at risk!! that could be classed as a case of neglect!! its defiantly not right!!
2006-12-20 00:24:43 · answer #8 · answered by jen10 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think it is 14 - but this does not necessarily mean being left to supervise other children.
Lot of other factors as well - how mature the child is and where you are going etc.
But there is no way on earth that a child of 10 or younger should be left alone - far to young and just not equipped to deal with an issue if it arose.
2006-12-19 23:35:12 · answer #9 · answered by matt b 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Definately not!! A child is not deemed responsible until the age of 16!! Any mother who leaves her children this young alone, without 'adult' supervision is looking at serious consequences. It is totally irresponsible. Obviously there are some give and take boundries, ie you might have a 15 year old who is reponsible enough to mind a younger sibbling ... but if you were to hire a babysitter, they would have to be 16!!
2006-12-19 23:09:08 · answer #10 · answered by lynne 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
16
2006-12-19 23:08:13 · answer #11 · answered by TruthHurts 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋