I saw this report on the BBC website:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/4102908.stm

I am not sure how it would have been handled here, but I have a feeling that there are lots and lots of responsible 15 year olds, and depending on the 15 year old, I don't think this situation would have raised a lot of eyebrows in Canada.

My granddaughter is going to be 12 at the beginning of July and she has started babysitting. The Red Cross offers courses for boys and girls. I checked the law in Saskatchewan and there is actually no legal age for leaving children or for the age of a babysitter. Apparently it all depends on the maturity and responsibility of the child.

I have a friend who left her 16 year old daughter and her 12 year old son at home going to school while she and her husband went to Hawaii. She knew her daughter was responsible and they were fine. They had neighbours to go to if they had problems.

Is this a Canada/England thing? Are things different in England? Do people leave their children in the evening with girls of my granddaughter's age while they go out to dinner or a movie - or is this frowned upon too?

Very interesting article Liz. We have 2 kids that aren't even close to age 12 yet, but we do leave them with a babysitter that is 13, when we go out for a meal for a few hours. Ontario law does state that you CAN leave kids age 12 at home by themself.

This is probably different in other provinces?

There's a bit of a difference in having a fifteen year old looking after some younger children for an evening compared to a period of several days while the mother is out of the country on holiday. I'd suggest that however capable the young baby sitter might be that it was a very irresponsible action on the part of the parent. The youngest child involved was just eleven months after all.

I think (at least I hope) it would Liz.

I agree about the responsible 15 year olds but sole charge of 3 kids for a week? No way!

We're talking 24/7 care of a 4, 2 and 11 month old by a 15 year old.

Most social service agencies would raise an eyebrow in Canada at this - look at the very young ages of the children the babysitter girl was left with. Babysitting for a few hours with parent(s) close by is a whole different ball-game to 24/7 care of three very young children. It's not a question of her maturity - it is what the hell is going through the dozy woman's mind who left them? You would be surprised at how many times I deal with this type of situation over the course of a year.

I have to reply to this post and I do point out this is just my opinion and I am not in anyway wishing to offend anyone.

I am outraged at the incident in England, UK. For goodness sake, the youngest baby was 11 months and the other 2 children are 4 years old and 2 years old. There are many many adults who cannot cope with the demands of young children of that age (whom they have given birth to, whom they love and whom they have bonds with). Why on earth would anyone believe that a 15 year old CHILD has the skills, the love, the maturity (which the mother obviously has not) and god forbid the patience to take care of these young children over the period of a week.

And what about the children. How can you explain to a 2 year old and a 4 year old and of course the 11 month old (ok, he/she is excused) where their mummy is?

i have a daughter who will be 12 next month also. I have agreed with her that over the next 12 months she will begin to "train" to be a babysitter. She has also undertaken the babysitting course. However, I have gone with her on "babysitting assignments" to completely supervise her as she is taking care of other children and I do not take over her role as the babysitter. My purpose is to be there and to be sure that she is aware of the responsibility that she is undertaking in taking care of children. On her first assignment she did a wonderful job, however she got tired and I could see it. She worked so hard and she did well, however she did ask me "is it always this hard"
We should never over estimate what our young kids are capable of, and of course never underestimate.
However, we should never leave our young children in the hands of babes either. I am all for my daughter babysitting, but only after one year of "supervised" babysitting experience with me ( her mum).
I do believe parents have the right to have their own time, but please, think on!!!!!

Tee Hee I had to chuckle at this as it was the little boy (my gorgeous son) in the picture who Ramacs daughter was looking after and boy is he active. She got lots more practice yesterday as well and she did really well!!!

Its funny reading about it though!!! I can completely understand how tiring he is though.....