Is A 12 Year Old Ok To Babysit? Will It Teach Responsibility?

It depends on how well this 12 year-old knows the baby.  At first when I was very young, my big brother and I still needed a baby-sitter.  But after he got to know me a bit and how I act and why I act that way, then I have to admit he did quite a decent job baby-sitting.  He knew what I like to do, he knew how to feed me, and everything.  Normally a person shouldn't baby-sit until they're at least in high school.  To take care of other peoples children takes a lot more responsibility than someone who's in your family and you've grown up with.  If a 12 yr. Old knows their younger sibling extremely well, as in why they act the way they do, the sibling's likes and dislikes, how to take care of them, etc. Then maybe the person could baby-sit it's younger sibling.  But I still think that not many parents would let their child even do that.  I don't think it teaches responsibility, for this kind of thing, you have to already be responsible.  Which is why they shouldn't baby-sit until high school because in high school health class you learn a lot about the reality of parenting.  In my case, I'm doing a project in which I have to bring a robotic baby home that looks, feels, weighs, and acts like a real human baby and take care of it.   

I would definitely not allow a 12 year old to babysit...you do not say how old the child is that needs looking after.  However, think of the mischief that you got into at 12 or some of the people in the news....and then maybe you will think again and come to the same conclusion as me.  A 12 YEAR OLD NEEDS A BABY SITTER JUST AS MUCH AS A 3 YEAR OLD...So my answer is ...DO NOT RISK IT.....AND IT IS A CONSIDERABLE RISK!! CHILDREN ARE FAR TOO PRECIOUS!!

You may want to check with your state laws regarding leaving children alone in the home. Yes, it would teach responsibility though. If you are wanting to allow your child to babysit I would suggest you staying with her and supervise her the first 2-3 months and if she has any questions she can ask. But if you are wanting another persons 12 yr old child to baby sit if I were you I probably wouldn't invest in that. Choose someone who is older and wise and who has more experience with children.

A child should be responsible enough to babysit. They will learn responsibility another way not with a child they can accidently hurt.

In my state you can't even leave your child home alone under 13 yrs of age,I would not use a twelve yr old babysitter.

I think a 12 year old could watch children if they aren't really little kids.  My next door neighbor is 12, She has taken babysitting classes and she will watch my 9 and 5 year old for and hour or so.  Her mom is home right next door while she is watching the kids.  They love and respect her, so they obey her too.

Yes, I'm 12 years old and I just watched a little girl. Just make sure there over the age of 3 years old.

It would depend on how responsible the child is. I  have a 11 year old and I would not allow her to babysit she is still very immature. She has asked me this same question and I have replied that it all depends on maturity and her attitude .

I say, it depends on the responsibility of the person. I am 11 and I am taking babysitting classes at the YMCA in a week! I'm SO EXITED! And in a month, I'm going to be 12 so, right after my birthday, I'm going to start my business. I am VERY responsible so I can babysit. That's why I'm saying it depends on the responsibility. I HOPE I HELPED!    :D

I'm 11 and my mom said I am very responisble so I am going to start babysitting. I get good grades. The past year I got all A's and one B in art. All of my teachers have liked me and one even had a confrence with my mom about how great I am. I also work in my church nursey. I have watched kid as young as 6 months old. So I would say yes a 12 year old can babysit and so can an 11 year old.

Not very sensible idea

12 years old is a little bit young, although my mum left me with my 2 brothers who were 5 &6 but on;y for a thew hours.

I wouldn't trust a 12 year old. Way too young. You can teach them responsibility in other ways.

It all depends on how mature the child is and how immature the child is

Well firstly I think there is a law about how old a child must be to leave babysitting another child but if the law says it is ok... Then you need to consider how mature the 12 year old is and how old the child they are babysitting is and also for how long you need them to babysit. I have an eleven year old and would for example let him look after his younger brother who is 9 for small amounts of time like while I go to a neighbours or go to the shop to grab some stuff quickly but in this case I always make sure that someone else is near by in case they need extra help. Such as a next door neighbour that he can run to if he needs anything or if anything was to happen to me while I was out. But I would never consider leaving him to look after a younger child that was not my own or for longer periods of time. Hope this helps.