Would you let a young teen look after an 8 year old sibling?

[goinggetstough]

Please help settle an argument .Is this OK or is there any legislation that says it is illegal? Parent would be about 10 mins away working.

No nothing says it is illegal. An age is not set in legislation because it depends so much on the children involved. One child can be very immature while another of same age can be very mature and able.

young teen as in what? 13? 14?

I wouldn't. I would worry that if there was an emergency, they would lack the maturity to be able to cope. (depends on the child, of course). Other people would think it fine, particularly if the instructions were to call you if ANYTHING happened and you phoned regularly.

I don't think there's anything that says you may not leave a child under X years old, but I think you can be prosecuted if you leave a child under 16 and something happens.

It's a really grey area.

That said - I was babysitting at 14. It was quite normal when I was growing up. I think we've become more cautious in that respect. or paranoid. or something.

At 13 I would be left in charge of my 8 year old brother from 8am-1.30pm during school holidays (mum worked part-time 40 min away).

It was fine but I was definitely on the extremely responsible end of the young teen spectrum. By 14 I was babysitting daytime/evenings for other people's under 5s.

Should add that I was happy to do it (ego trip). Wouldn't consider it for a moment if teen not in agreement.

Depends on the maturity of the teen and the eight year old and how long you are leaving them for.

I don't think there would be a problem, provided you are not too far away and are contactable.

Not illegal, and whether it is a good idea depends on the children concerned, how mature and sensible they are, and how well they get on together.

I have been leaving DS (now 13) in charge of DD (now 9) for a year or two, to start with only for shortish periods in the day, but they are now old enough for me to go out in the evening, eg to the theatre, and leave DS in charge. Works fine for us. But you need to work up to it, and I would still have doubts about leaving them regularly for a whole working day with meals etc needing to be sorted, and them getting bored and irritable with each other.

I used to be home alone for hours on end with my 4-years-senior sister from a very early age. "Never did me any harm" (there's one for your bingo cards )

Agree depends on age and maturity of both children.

And how long for, and how far away parent would be.

I would leave my two (13 and 7) for ten minutes to pop to the shops, I wouldn't leave them for several hours while at work.

If you trust them and are confident then it is fine.
There are no laws governing this as it is so dependant on the children involved.

I wouldn't unless it was a one off. It shouldn't be the responsibility of a child unless there is no other way. I would say 15 up would be better but still kids may resent the burden.

You would only be prosecuted if something went wrong and it was judged that the older child did not have the maturity to cope with the situation. tbh with my experience of SS, it would have to be an extreme situation to lead to prosecution. They don't intervene legally in situations where much younger dcs are left looking after toddlers, so seriously doubt they would here.

Only real risk from SS is if something went wrong you might get a telling off from a SW - but prosecution, no.

Depends. How old, how long for and how well do they get on?

No legislation to say what the minimum age is to be left alone.

Have a look at nspcc.org.uk - has a guide.

Thanks everyone. That's exactly what I thought..