Hypothetical situation: Would you trust a 13 year d girl with a toddler or young child for a few hours?

By the time I was 14 I got on my bike and spent a week camping and touring on my own.

If a person isn't responsible by this age they possibly never will be.

Amongst our grandparents many of them had to look after toddlers and children when they were a lot younger than 13.

It is only in our new "enlightened" society that we somehow force people to be immature for as long as possible.

13 not quite old enough... I don't even think I'd leave a 13 year old on her own for too long. I just don't think an average 13 year old has the maturity to deal with an emergency situation appropriately. If you know and trust this particular 13 year old however then it can be different. I know parents who will leave toddlers with older siblings who are around the 13/14 age range and there seems to be no problem. I guess if you know the girl, know she's capable and know that your child will be comfortable with them then it should be ok. Really depends on a lot of factors.

There is not enough information there. Is the girl related to the toddler? Is she responsible? Is there a history of jealousy or behavioral anomalies? It obviously depends on a lot of factors including the length of time. From experience, if you are not confident about the outcome, it will worry you while you are out and possibly spoil what you are doing anyway.

What you could do is to leave the toddler with her for shorter periods of time first to see what happens.

Don't forget, if the toddler suffers from separation anxiety she will be left with a screaming and inconsolable child and start to panic or get frustrated or angry depending on her pain threshold. lol

You will then get a phone call from a distraught 13 y/o saying "Mom baby is crying and screaming and turning very red, what should I do?"

lol?

No, I don't leave kids in charge of kids.

It's not about wanting to keep kids immature. A 13 year old should be well underway learning how to be responsible for themselves, including being able to be home alone for hours, doing groceries, basic cooking, their share of household chores, and of course also fun stuff like roaming on their bicycle for miles. I believe in learning to take care of yourself at an early age, otherwise how can you expect kids to magically turn into responsible adults on their 18th birthday?

But that's just it, at this age they should get plenty of practice being responsible for themselves. At this practice stage I don't think it is fair to them or the babysat toddler to make them responsible for someone else. They have enough to be going on with at that age.

As a mum & grandma no I would not leave them for a few hours, few minutes maybe and it would be illegal to leave a 13 year old with a toddler - my granddaughter is 10 and I watch her rather than leave her with her teenage brother.

No. 13 is too young to trust with a very small child.

Generally speaking, yes. Though one has to know the character of the girl in question, obviously.

Nope.

If she were mature, if it was during the day and if there were someone she could call for help if she needed it.

If I KNEW her to be a responsible person, yes, otherwise no.