best age to babysit

I think that as long as you are comfortable with your son babysitting his younger sibs that there should be no problem. I would make sure that he was comfortable with it though by leaving him alone for maybe 30 minutes with the kids, and letting him see what it will be like, if he thinks he can handle it either go ahead and let him do it, or maybe leave the house for an hour.

I started babysitting when I was 12 for a few people in the neighborhood. I let my kids babysit at about the same age for neighbors but only if I was going to be home in case of an emergency. In the town where I live you have to be twelve and have taken a course to legally babysit. Check with your communities laws.

I don't think there is an age, because all kids mature differently. If your son is interested in babysitting, then maybe you could have him take a babysitting course which would make him more prepared. When my kids were 10-12, they made money by shoveling snow and mowing lawns. I let them babysit once they were 13~ but that was just for my own sanity.

I think maturity is more important than age. However, even at that 11 sounds a little young. There is more to consider than how well he behaves and interacts with his siblings. You have to also consider how he might respond in the case of an emergency, how he would handle other things that may come up, like one of them getting sick or fighting. You need to consider how he will handle it if they decide not to listen to him, if a stranger comes to the door and those kinds of things. I would start with having him take them outside while you get some things done in the house, or taking care of things while you are outside. Another option is to sign him up for babysitting classes that will teach him how to handle emergency situations and unexpected things. Start off small and see how much he can handle.

I think the age would have to depend on the maturity level. But I think 12 is a good age to start babysitting. Anything younger than that, I say a no. My mom didn't let my brother and I start staying home alone until my brother was like 12 and I was 10. And my brother was mature for a 12 year old and my mom knew that we would be okay alone and that my brother would take care of me. My mom would only let us stay home alone for maybe only for like 3 hours and that was it. If it was any more than that than she would either take us with her or leave us with a family member. But when we got older she would leave u home for more hours. It just all depends though like I said on the maturity of the child.

I really dont believe anyone under 13 should babysit but i really cant say too much because i baby sat my 1 year old sister for 15 minutes at a time when i was like 8. Just so her mother could take a shower or something like that but i was still left with her. I got a job babysitting when I was 16. I had anywhere from 2 to 4 children at once. I still loves kids to this day. I have 2 kids of my own and i let their friends come stay with them.. Sometimes I have 6 to 8 kids in my house at once.

if he is mature for his age,try to give him some responsibilities.first,allow him to baby sit and then gradually increase the time.,maybe after the passage of 6-months,he will be adept in the art of babysitting.

I don;t think that it has to do with age but rather with maturity. If he is mature enough to take care of his own siblings and not letting them getting into danger and being harmed than I will give me a small job of ten mins such as you did. But it must not be taxing on him.

It depends on the age of the children they are babysitting too. I wouldn't let anyone under 13 babysit, and then they would have to be a really responsible kid. My daughter is 12 and very responsible as well, and I will let my 11 and 12 year old stay home alone for 10 minutes while I pick up my 4 year old from preschool, but I don't she is ready to babysit my 4 year old yet.