Babysitting Question - Spring Grove,IL

Dear K.,

My sister just went through this last year. She gave my niece the option of getting paid while babysitting her sister or not getting paid. But here was the trick. My sister told her that if she got paid she was responsible to buy her own ipod downloads and extra things like going to the movies. My niece told her she wanted to get paid so my niece sat down with her parents and came up with a resonable amount to be paid. At first she was just blowing her money and then one day her friends asked her to go to the movies and she had no money so she asked my sister, needless to say that my sister didn't give in and give her the money. On top of it my niece never realized until now how much my sister spends on her to do extra things. I hope this helps
B.

My daughter is now 14 but when she was 12 she babysitted her brother who was then 3. I paid her when I went out because I did not want her to feel used. I treated her as if I was hiring a regular teenage babysitter. That was her spending money. Now that she is older I give her a weekly allowance but when she babysits that is extra money for her. In other words, she is doing a job so I pay her as such. Hope this helps.

Just a word of caution when considering the idea of a 12 yo babysitting.

Illinois law per the DCFS website:

When is it legal to leave children alone?
When thinking about leaving children alone, whether for a short or long time, it is important for parents to consider all the risks involved. There are many potential risks to children that need to be considered. It is also important to understand that parents and other persons responsible for a minor’s welfare also face risks.

Parents are legally responsible for their children’s welfare until they reach adulthood. Part of caring for children is providing adequate supervision. Under some circumstances a parent can be charged with neglect for leaving children unattended. The children may also be removed from their home and placed into the state’s care for their protection, until a judge decides that the home is safe for the children to return to.

What is lack of supervision?
Illinois law defines a neglected minor, in part, as “any minor under the age of 14 years whose parent or other person responsible for the minor’s welfare leaves the minor without supervision for an unreasonable period of time without regard for the mental or physical health, safety or welfare of that minor.”
Juvenile Court Act, 705 ILCS 405/2-3(1)(d)

How long may a child be left alone?
What is appropriate under certain circumstances may be considered child neglect in other circumstances.

While recognizing that many factors may apply, Illinois law lists 15 specific factors to be considered when deciding whether a child has been left alone for an unreasonable period of time. They include:
1. the age of the minor
2. the number of minors left at the location
3. special needs of the minor, including whether the minor is physically or mentally handicapped, or otherwise in need of ongoing prescribed medical treatment such as periodic dosages of insulin or other medications
4. the duration of time in which the minor was left without supervision
5. the condition and location of the place where the child was left without supervision
6. the time of day or night when the minor was left without supervision
7. the weather conditions, including whether the minor was left in a location with adequate protection from the natural elements such as adequate heat or light
8. the location of the parent or guardian at the time the minor was left without supervision, the physical distance the minor was from the parent or guardian at the time the minor was without supervision
9. whether the minor’s movement was restricted, or the minor was otherwise locked within a room or other structure
10. whether the minor was given a phone number of a person or location to call in the event of an emergency and whether the minor was capable of making an emergency call
11. whether there was food and other provision left for the minor
12. whether any of the conduct is attributable to economic hardship or illness and the parent, guardian or other person having physical custody or control of the child made a good faith effort to provide for the health and safety of the minor
13. the age and physical and mental capabilities of the person(s) who provided supervision for the minor
14. whether the minor was left under the supervision of another person
15. any other factor that would endanger the health and safety of that particular minor

I agree with Francess...pay her. I have a sister 17 months younger than I and we have a brother TEN years younger. We (my sister and I) spent a lot of time "baby sitting" him when we were younger and we were rarely paid. We both resented it.

I also have a sister that was born when I was 19 and I was living at home, paying rent ($100/week) and going to college (I paid for that) and working full time. When my sister was born, I was expected to stay home with her when my mom went back to work. I wasn't paid. I moved out soon after.

In both cases, it wasn't my job to take care of my younger siblings. I didn't decide to have them. I may be a little bitter about this (lol), but I wouldn't do that to my kids.

My youngest sister is 16 now and she has been babysitting since my son was an infant (he's almost 3). We have ALWAYS paid her. The way I see it, I have a trusted caring sitter for my boys and she's more than willing to do it when we need it. I pay her $15 (we are never gone more than a few hours) for the sitting and if the house is picked up (toys, dishes they used, etc) she gets $20.

T.

i believe that illinois law for bbysitting is 14-15. but if you feel comfortable with it that do it. my step daughter always told me that she was not here to be the babysitter and that she wants to get paid. i told her that i will pay her for her chores but not to wwatch her brother and sister while i go grocery shopping to feed her. i guess it all depends on the situation of leaving the youngs one with her and if you feel she needs payment. her father and i never never left her with kids over night or anything like that, it was always to do some running around.