Babysitting spinoff question

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Babysitting spinoff question
9
Sun, 09-24-2006 - 10:29am

When you ask your tween to "babysit" siblings, do you pay them?


Just curious, because we do not, we consider this along the same lines as chores, we help each other out as a family and this is part of it.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-18-2003
Sun, 09-24-2006 - 11:50am
I do not normally pay him if I am running errands and the kids don't feel like coming. I feel this is like a chore, you do it because you are part of the family.

Linda
mom to
Alex (16), Rachel (14), Matthew (12)


Avatar for 2boyz4us
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Sun, 09-24-2006 - 11:57am
My boys are 3 years apart and when the oldest was able to stay home with the youngest, we NEVER phrased it as babysitting. I tell them that each is responsible for their own actions and neither one is "in charge" of the other.
No money is exchanged but if there is a problem, they will lose the privilege of being able to stay home alone (or together)
 
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-14-2003
Sun, 09-24-2006 - 12:06pm
Yes, we do pay her if we are working. I look at it this way, we are able to earn money b/c DD is babysitting for us. If she was not available then i would have to pay someone else. I expect from her what I expect from any other babysitter. I expect them to clean up after themselves, i expect Tegan to make sure Kelsey has done her homework and help her with it if necessary. They are not allowed to watch tv or play on the computer. They can bake or make supper if they want to but they must clean up their mess.
If we are going shopping or something else and the girls have the option of coming but choose to stay home then Tegan does not get paid for babysitting.
I also feel Kelsey is our responsibility not Tegan's so she should be paid. We also make sure that Tegan doesn't miss out on any extracurricular activities she may want to sign up for b/c of babysitting. For example she was in the school musical last year and on the volleyball team. She had a game and play practise twice weekly after school so we arranged for another sitter.
I'm curious to see what others think.
Kelly
iVillage Member
Registered: 01-06-2006
Sun, 09-24-2006 - 2:29pm
My ds stays by himself for short periods of time but my two don't get along well enough to stay home alone together. A friend of mine pays her two kids (who were 10 and 12 when she started this) to "watch each other" and if there are complaints from either one about the other, noone gets paid. This way noone is in charge but everyone has to behave if they want to get paid.
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-30-2004
Sun, 09-24-2006 - 3:50pm
i do if its an hour of me shopping or something like that. but if its less then no...I will buy him a treat(a soda pop which is normally something he doesnt get on a day-to-day basis) or maybe a snack





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iVillage Member
Registered: 09-26-2003
Sun, 09-24-2006 - 10:36pm

It really depends and each situation is a different one!


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Avatar for bradleyteach
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-29-2001
Mon, 09-25-2006 - 8:13am

Great question Nancy!

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Avatar for cathiann
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Mon, 09-25-2006 - 10:42am
Depends--if it's just for an hour or two while I'm running errands or the kids to activities, then no--they don't get paid.
Surviving Middle & High School
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-28-2004
Mon, 09-25-2006 - 11:37am

Nope. We do not.


When they stay home, he is not really babysitting. They are not that far apart in age so they are all responsible for themselves in a sense. They all know the rules, they are expected to keep them. If they break the rules, he is not held accountable - the child that broke the rule is. He just keeps an eye on things, being the oldest.






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