To think this is far too young?

[PurpleBanana3121]

To be leaving a just turned 12 year old over night,and looking after his 4 year old sister?

Yes and I'd be reporting it.

Yes, it's too young to be in charge of a much younger child overnight. Would they really be in the house alone overnight?

God yes.

YANBU 12 is too young to be responsible for a 4 yo overnight
Unless grandparents or auntie lives next door or something

I first left ours when they were almost 17 and 14

Far too young

My mother always used to say you had to be 14 - I have no idea if this is an arbitrary number 😀

I wouldn’t even leave the 12 year old on their own overnight (fine during the day). I’m not even sure I’d leave the 12 year old in charge of the 4 year old during the day, but I don’t have DC with that kind of age gap so I don’t know how they’d interact etc. I do know adults sometimes have difficulty getting a 4 year old to behave themselves so what chance would a 12 year old have?

Absolutely no way op. So many things could go wrong that a 12 yo would be too young to manage. What's the context here?

Is this exes plan?

Ex isn't in the picture.

No family living close by. It's while the mother goes out for the evening. Not back until around 3 in the morning.

It's very worrying that anyone would have to ask this question.

If they did this I would have to report it to the police anonymously.

I actually know of someone who did this. Her husband was away and she left an 11 year old with her young baby while she went on a night out. She got caught out drink driving by the police and had to fess up. The kids got taken away.

It's worrying that people can't ask for advice here without someone making snide comments.

There's no minimum age so I was wondering what other people would do/ if it IS too young to be left for a long period? I don't have children so no idea.

That is way too young.

I wouldn't leave a 12 year old alone that long alone or with another 12 year old, but at that age they really aren't able to be responsible for a 4 year old unless there is also an adult in the house (who would be the one really in charge).

I'd actually call the police to attend abandoned children and they would pass a report on to Social Services in that situation.

To echo everyone else, yes 12 is far too young to be babysitting a 4 year old. I would also report to the police if I found this was happening.

I wouldn’t leave my 12 year old on his own at that time through the evening until 3am let alone adding a 4 year old into the mix for a 12 year old to be responsible for.
I’m all for promoting independence in youngsters but this is absolutely not something I’d even consider.

I leave my 12, not far off 13 yo at home alone with his 10, almost 11 yo brother whilst we go out in the day. Sometimes it's most of the day in the holidays as we work. But my mum lives almost next door and we are in constant communication with them via mobile anyway. Overnight? No. And with a 4yo?? Not in a million years would I leave that responsibility with a 12 year old.

It's not a snide comment!

I'm absolutely 100% serious.

A 12 year old looking after a 4 year old overnight?

it isn’t snide at all, I for one will put my hand up to say I silently thought the same …

and there is a minimum age… house on fire ?

Not a chance, no. My DD is 13 and I would not leave her on her own at night at all.

Out on the piss or out working?

Doesn't matter the reason. It's way too young.

It's too young really.

I looked after our next door neighbours 5 year old overnight when I was twelve. But I had my parents the other side of the wall/fence (semi-detached) and they'd pop in and check on us.