What age would you let your teen look after sibling?

[Liveforweekends]

Hi, I have a 15 year old and 11 year old, if needed would you let the older one look after younger for the day if you needed to go to work ? It’s something that’s come up with me recently and I wouldn’t leave them together 8-5 , they can go from lovely to ww3 pretty quickly. My work aren’t happy with me. I compromised ( felt pressured ) and went in for half the day. However the they would have been fine, I’d leave mine comments were made to me during the day. Am I being over worrying parent .

I think if both kids are happy with the idea and you trust them, then it's fine.

Is there a neighbour they could call in an emergency? Not that I think it will be necessary but it might put your mind at rest.

I think so. I left my kids 12yo twins and 15yo alone to work when it was online schooling. They actually fight less when mum n Dad aren't around. I did get in at 3.30 and it wasn't every day but it was for quite a few weeks if I recall correctly.

15 and 11 does sound fine but I have a 15 year and and a 9 year old and couldn't leave them all day together without a fight. An hour or two max for me.

This is the problem, they can be fine then in a split second be arguing and neither backs down. A couple hours I’m ok ish with just not all day. I’d be out 8 until 430 . I don’t know, it’s hard isn’t it. Me and my brother let ourselves in from the age of 12 but we were used to it, they are not. Meh.

See, my 14yo and my 9yo would be fine. But yours are closer in age and I don’t see an 11yo willingly accepting a 15yo sibling’s authority, so if you wouldn’t leave the 11yo alone yet I wouldn’t leave them alone with the 15yo either. Would you leave your 11 year old alone? If yes, then I’d say they’d be fine together, if not, then no.

Personally, I'd say that's fine. Not least because the 11 year old is almost old enough to be left alone even without someone older.

I think it depends on the children. When dd was 15 I could leave her with her 2 younger siblings no problem. My oldest child? Never!

Mine are similar ages and they are fine to be left. I wouldn't say the older one 'looks after' the younger one though. They mostly do their own thing. The younger one is more capable when it comes to cooking/ clearing up actually. Certainly fine for a day but I wouldn't be keen if it was every day.

At 15 I was regularly babysitting 3 children so I'd say fine but only you know your children.

Mine are 12 and 10. I have no choice sometimes but to leave them together if I need to go into work over the holidays. At 15 and 11 I would say this is absolutely fine.

I’d leave my 12&13 alone. Aside from coming out of their rooms to have lunch they’d stare at screens in their own rooms all day, they wouldn’t even miss the adults!