Yikes.. I dont know that I would keep 4 children, one of which is an infant/toddler, with a 14 yr old all day every day this summer. That isnt fair to the 14 yr old.

Can you call your local DSS/CPS and ask them their thoughts??

I wouldnt be kosher w/that.. And how much is she planning on paying this kid??

I could do it & I am a whole lot more capeable than a 14 year old.
I mean heck, home daycares have rules for things like that.

I think that's too much for a 14-year-old. The range in ages (11 down to 18 months) is difficult for an adult, let alone a child. And that's what a 14yo is. I guess it depends on the 14yo, but I know I would not be comfortable with that. And I'm not sure it's allowed, legally. Tough call. I might be OK with having 14yo watch the three older ones, as they can play together and do some of the same things. But not the baby.

was 14 and watched the skids over the summer a couple years back. BM vehemently objected to it because she wanted them to go to her house (she was working nights at the time) and us to pay her. In the best interest of everyone involved, DH stood his ground and insisted that it was adequate daycare. After many, many, many arguments she finally conceded.

The girls were 2(almost 3), 6, and 8. My mom was 3 minutes away though and twice a week would bring my boys over and they would all hang out doing various activities (park, library, pool, etc.). It was also only every OTHER week. We paid her $125 per week plus she watched them in our home with pantries stocked and breakfast/lunch ready to go. (A LOT cheaper than formal daycare for three kids)

So, I guess I would ask for more extensive details. If the other kids are 11 and 9, depending on their maturity level, she really would only be watching the younger two . When we leave the kids alone for very short periods of time, the two older ones (12 and 11) don't really "babysit" the middle ones (8 and 9) they babysit the youngest who is 5. Again, my SD11 is a lot more mature than my BS12 and the middle two are very well behaved so it really depends on the details of the situation....

"For every ailment under the sun....There is a remedy, or there is none;
If there be one, try to find it; If there be none, never mind it." ~ W.W. Bartley

I think that's a lot of responsibility and work for a 14 year old. I was babysitting at that age but the most kids I had at once was 2 the same age and each mom paid me 75 cents an hour. I think the 14 year old will get sick of it fast and start mistreating the other kids or being irresponsible regarding their care. I leave my kids alone and they are 16, 12 & 7 but we are always only a cell phone call away and we live in town. The distance from town and the nearest adult would concern me. Can you take SS more often? Would that even help? In MN, there is no legal age that this is acceptable, its more up to the parents and the maturity level of the kid(s). Does the 14 year olds pay, part of your DH's child care contribution? I would question that if he pays for/helps pay for child care.

It depends how responsible and mature she is? it does sound like
alot of kids for a teenager. I had a 17 year old last summer watch
2 nine year olds and that was almost to much for her. in other words
i was not happy with how she handeled things, she pretty much let them run the neighborhood, and laid on the couch all day.

my 14 yo watched my stepdaughter 18 months last year and two six year olds last summer - it worked fine but she's responsible. my 10 yo boys helped. i paid her 100 a week

By the time I was fourteen, I was watching my four cousins for my aunt and uncle. They were aged 6 months to 6 years. We lived in a small town and our family was large, so I could have had help at my side in under five minutes if I'd really needed it. But I didn't. We did fine. Different children mature at different rates. If this one is mature enough to handle it, then it should be okay. The older children are old enough to mostly amuse themselves, anyway. The only one I would be seriously worried about is the 18mo, but that one's not yours, so he's not your problem. Take the 18mo out of the equation... it seems fine to me to leave a 14yo in charge of babysitting children aged 11, 9 and 7.

♥ Georgia ♥

"Good men don't just happen. They have to be created by us women." (from ROSEANNE)

at 14 I had a regular babysitting job for a family that had 5 kids ranging from birth to 8 years. At 14 I had enough energy and sense to keep them entertained, feed, bathe them and put them to bed.

It was great fun for me BUT it wasn't all day, every day for an entire summer. I'd have to say that my experience with the 14 year olds coming up now is that they don't seem to be as mature or have the attention span to closely watch such little ones.

i guess it depends on the kid.