Some states guidelines indicate that it is acceptable for children as young as 11 to babysit other children, but are they really responsible enough to care properly for your children?Here are the top five guidelines to determine if a babysitter is mature enough to handle the job.
1.
The babysitter must have no emotional, medical, or behavioral problems which affect his or her ability to make good decisions.
Don't be afraid to ask the question.
2.
This may sound obvious, but the new sitter must be comfortable being left alone with other children.
This should not just be assumed.
It makes some children very nervous.
3.
The sitter must know how to access a parent or other responsible adult at all times.
Make sure that they are comfortable calling for help if they need it.
4.
The sitter must demonstrate that he or she knows what to do in case of an emergency.
Ask them questions about what they would do in the case of a medical emergency, fire or other situation.
5.
The child must be able to effectively exercise appropriate authority over your children.
It is not always the best choice to have a 12 year old supervising a 10 year old and his younger siblings or for a brand new 11 year old babysitter to watch a newborn baby.
If in doubt, even if it means looking longer for a new sitter using online services like Sittercity or looking to an older adult to help, most parents feel it is better to be safe than sorry.