Legal Help for all South Australians There is no law that says how old a child must be to be able to babysit. Parents are expected to make their own decisions and in doing so the only guidance the law provides is that they make make reasonable decisions about their children's safety.
There's no legal age a child can babysit – but if you leave your children with someone who's under 16 you're still responsible for their wellbeing. You should also think carefully about leaving your child alone with an older brother or sister.
What age can a child babysit siblings? In general, kids can start babysitting siblings for short periods around age 11 or 12. Start by leaving them for short amounts of time and gradually increase it as they prove themselves trustworthy. Don't leave them alone overnight until your oldest child is at least 16.
No legal age for leaving children home alone
There's no one law in Australia that says how old your child has to be before you can leave them alone. In Queensland, if you leave a child under 12 years of age for an unreasonable amount of time without supervision and care, you have committed a criminal offence.
It is important to consider the child's maturity. It might be acceptable to leave a mature 12 year old alone, but not a 13 year old or older who isn't mature and may put themselves or others at risk of harm. A child should never be left at home alone if they do not feel comfortable with this, regardless of their age.
13-15 years old may be ready to be left unsupervised more than three hours but not overnight. 16 years old and older may be ready to be left unsupervised overnight for one to two days, with a plan in place.
There is no agreed-upon age when a child can stay home alone safely. Because children mature at different rates, you should not base your decision on age alone. You may want to evaluate your child's maturity and how he or she has demonstrated responsible behavior in the past.
Once you turn 16, you won't normally be forced to return home by the authorities as long as you've got a safe place to go and you can financially support yourself. If you're under 18 and leave home, the police and Child Safety may investigate the reasons why you left home.
With no laws prescribing the age at which children can be left home alone, it's up to you as a parent to decide when your child is ready to be left. Age is less important than maturity: for example, a sensible 12-year-old may be more mature and responsible than a slightly wayward 14-year-old.
"There's no legal age a child can babysit – but if you leave your children with someone who's under 16 you're still responsible for their wellbeing.
Most children aren't mature enough to hold such a level of responsibility. Some children might bully the kid who is babysitting. Some children would not be able to manage safety and health related situations. Lack of experience in taking care of younger siblings or others family's kids can be dangerous.
Most people would agree that a babysitter should be at least 16 to watch your children overnight. Younger babysitters may seem capable, but being alone in a strange dark house is too overwhelming for most, and they might not even realize it themselves.
Age to Babysit in Victoria
The Commission for Children and Young People (Victoria) states that there is no law in Victoria stating what age a babysitter needs to be.
Aspiring babysitters who are minors should always first get their parents' approval before pursuing a babysitting job. Next, you'll need to get some training and/or experience that not only preps you to care for children but also makes you more hirable. A good place to start is to take a course in babysitting basics.
Most experts believe nearly all children can start babysitting siblings for short periods of time by the age of 12. It's important to keep in mind, however, that each child is different. Some children may take longer to be able to handle the responsibility of looking after themselves and another child.
But how old does a babysitter need to be? Most babysitters start working between the ages of 11 to 14 years old but in most places, there is no legal minimum age required to babysit. You can take a Red Cross babysitting course starting at age 11.
“According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), kids are not ready to walk to school alone until about fifth grade or around age 10.”
It can even lead to death. It doesn't take long for a child's body temperature to become too high very fast when left in a car because: The temperature inside a car can increase 20 degrees in just 10 minutes and 40 degrees in an hour. It doesn't have to feel hot outside to be dangerous inside a car.
In general, most teens younger than 16 aren't mature enough to stay home alone overnight. But it's important to base your decision on your individual teen.
There is no law that says how old a child must be to be able to babysit. Parents are expected to make their own decisions and in doing so the only guidance the law provides is that they make make reasonable decisions about their children's safety.
If the Minor Is Not Emancipated
Kicking an underage child (meaning under 18 in most states) out of the house, without the child being emancipated, can often be considered child abandonment, which is a crime.
In Australia, there is no minimum age which a child can legally refuse to see a parent following divorce or separation. Of course, once children of divorce reach the age of 18 years they can make their own decisions about where they live or which parent they want to spend time with.
The National SAFEKIDS Campaign recommends that no child under the age of 12 be left home alone.
Home Alone has a strong cast, a lot of slapstick comedy, and some positive and important messages. But because of its violence, coarse language and some sexual references, it isn't suitable for children under 7 years and we recommend parental guidance for children aged up to 10 years.
Not wanting to be around others can be connected to:
depression (I am such a horrible person it's better I leave others alone) anxiety (other people stress me out so much I have to hide) intimacy issues (I don't want anyone to see the real me) low self-esteem (nobody really likes me anyway)