to let my DS (13) help his friend (13) babysit his siblings(12 & 8) and two other kids, 12,9?

[BackInTheRoom]

They are my friends who are going out for an hour tonight.

Thought I'd run it by you guys, thanks in advance.

bumb tick tock

So for one hour there will be
2 x 13 yr olds
1 x 12 yr old
1 x 9 yr old
1 x 8 yr old

I expect they'll be fine.

How far away will parents be?

ohhhhh I would say no but that's just me

God yes. No concerns there.

I would say that's perfectly fine, imo.

I think that is to many children to be left alone, even if only for an hour, and 13 doesn't seem like an age where you can in force responsible behavior. I think it would be hard for 13 year olds to tell a 12 year olds what to do, iyswim

Trillian yes to age breakdown and no, they won't be that far away.

I'm a little uncomfortable about what if x,y,z happens ie kid falls down the stairs etc but I trust the two 13yo's.

No? Really. It's only an hour... with the excepton of the 8 year old i'd leave any of those age children ALONE for 1 hour...

That sounds more like mayhem than babysitting, to me. But mine are a bit younger (10 and 7) so I might be talking rubbish

I don't see why not

Dd1 was babysitting her siblings from the age of 13 for an hour or so.
At nearly 16 she now has them for the whole evening

Yup to it sounding like potential mayhem!

Think the biggest issue is if you can trust the 12YO to behave and to respect the 13yos being in charge - I think that's where the most problems could occur.

DS just informed me one is 11 and not 12 although not much difference.

DSD 12 babysits DD 5, if that helps..?

I'd be a bit concerned that due to the similar ages of the kids and the number of them, that they would start a carry on. But you know the children and if they are sensible and trustworthy.

TrillianAstra

2 x 13
1 x 12
1 x 11
1 x 9
1 x 8

I obviously couldn't count!

Absolutely fine. Unless you know any of the children to be spectacularly bonkers.

I wouldn't personally, but that's just me. It's quite important to remember that, under the age of 16, your DC can't be held legally responsible for neglect or abuse so if anything untoward happened it would be down to you, but if you're happy with that, and you obviously know the kids involved and I don't, then go for it.

seeker - yes a couple are spectacularly bonkers!

I would definitely say yes unless they are going somewhere dangerous?

Mssoul - the local pub.

I hope your insurance is up to date, DH's mates played ruby with a watermelon at that age, the seeds were still on the ceiling when he went to uni.

mamatomany

I would say this is a recipe for disaster - simply because there are too many children. I would definitely not let that many children stay home alone together, however short a time it's for.

Why do they need to go to the pub for an hour?

Thanks ladies I worked it out - 7 yes's and 6 no's.

I will let him go based on him and his friend being sensible and the two ladies are only going to be an hour. Thank you