to want to report someone for neglect?

[madusa]

what would you do in this scenario?

My DD (almost 11)asked me why she can't "babysit" her younger brother (5)

apparently one of her school friends (also 10 or 11) is left babysitting her younger brother (4) for up to 2 hours at a time while the mum goes off to the gym.

The girl in question is a very sensible girl but am I alone in thinking that is a bit too young? Is this something that should be reported and if so, who to?

I'm a bit confused about this one. The title says that the OP "wants" to report but in her last sentence she's just wondering if and to whom.

FWIW I certainly wouldn't report it, especially if I wasn't sure.

I think 10 or 11 is to young to babysit a younger sibling. But it isn't really neglect and there might be someone else in the house. So no don't report it.

You do not have full, clear facts so should not get involved, imo.

I do worry about this. DC1 is 11 and hates going anywhere "boring" and not relevant to him (food shopping, GP, dropping DC2 to parties etc...) and often asks to stay at home.

I umm and ahh whilst thinking of a way to get him to come along and generally I manage to get him to accompany us, but occasionally I have left him, usually for 30 mins max.

All the while I am out I am fretting and worrying, even though I have given him the strict instructions and I am always contactable.

I always take DC2, age 8, even if its a 5 min trip to local newsagent as I just dont think its right to leave them alone, together or otherwise.

Im not worried that they will fight or anything, I am just concerned that its a lot of responsibility to leave on an 11 year olds shoulders. Plus, I have very nosey, interfering neighbours and in my more irrational moments I wonder if THEY will report me!

Odd really, seeing as I had a front door key at the age of 8 as my parents were rarely home.

YABU,

I opened this thread expecting there to be a tale of neglect and I would have urged you to help.

"This", is piffle.

Please let's leave SS to concentrate on cases of real neglect.

YABU, for the same reason I am not planning on reporting the mother who left 2 preschoolers in the car parked on a main rd for 15 mins while she picked up her DCs

the SS have bigger fish to catch, as it were

I disapprove of the scenario you describe, if it is correct, but do not think you can interfer

If however it was a neighbour, regularly doing this, and you could hear the kids upset/arguing etc, and kept a log of frequency, that would be different

Not illegal, not neglect.

Why report?

I would have left my DD in charge of a younger sibling at 10, would not have left DS1 in charge of a hamster at that age.

How sensible it is depends on the minder and the mindee.

I happen to think it is a good idea to give children responsibilities that they can handle. Leaving a 5 year old with a 10 year old for a short time sounds fine to me.

YANBU to not want to do it with your kids but I do think you are BU to judge it neglectful for someone else.

Op, get a grip.
It's not neglect.
At 11, I was looking after my 3 younger siblings a lot.
We also used to knock on neighbours doors and ask if we could take their babies/toddlers out for a walk in their prams.
And they used to let us

Where's OP? Wouldlike to know what course of action she took.

I told my DD that I don't care what other families do with thier children, I feel she is too young to babysit her brother and left it as that.

Sorry if I offended anyone with the word "neglect" but I know that if I ever hear of anything bad (fire, accidents etc)happening to the young brother in question, I will be forever questioning whether I should have said something to someone.

I come from an abusive childhood and that clouds my judgement sometimes as to what is "normal". My sisters and I were all known to SS and we have all at some point in our childhood spent time in hospital due to abuse.

The beauty of mumsnet is that it allows lots of other people to help you make a judgement call that fits in with society as a whole..... That's all i wanted.

Thank you for everyone who contributed and made me see that although SS wouldn't be impressed, it is not something for me to be worrying about