Babysitting age

[shootingstar]

Article suggests it depends..of course. Could be a 12-yr. old or 14 yr. old.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/...rticle1562356/

Even mentions a lawsuit where case was dropped. Unbelievable.

I vaguely recall there is actual law for minimal age, a child can be left alone in their home for a few hrs., much less looking after other kids. I think it is around 10 yrs. old.

I was left ..as a 11 yr. old for about 1-2 hrs. to look after 4 younger siblings (there were total of 6 of us, with me as eldest) while mother had to do an errand or grocery shop. (She brought along 1 child to accompany her. Therefore 1 less child for me to look after.) Father was at work. Best situation was the youngest baby would be napping in crib and rest of us glued to the tv...which didn't function too well. So the tv is kind of useful actually to quell any concerns of rambunctious playing where kids might accidentally hurt themselves.

I got enough stern instruction about what to do about crank calls, strangers at door, pots on stove (never) and if there was a fire. Older I got, the longer I was trusted to look after younger ones.

We could not afford to get paid outside babysitter nor did my parent(s) trust anyone else.