# Youngest age you would put a kid in charge of other kids **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 1, 2015, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youngest-age-you-would-put-a-kid-in-charge-of-other-kids/721350 "2015-06-01T16:11:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Penfeather](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penfeather/32/384_2.png) [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2015, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youngest-age-you-would-put-a-kid-in-charge-of-other-kids/721350/21 "2015-06-02T20:20:39Z")
> [@Frylock](#): > > What we’re pondering is the possibility of occasionally going out, nearby, to like a coffee shop or book store or maybe a movie, after the twins are already in bed, leaving my currently-10-year-old in charge. We’re pondering the question of how many years it may be before we’re comfortable with this. 10 is too young, especially at night; he might be OK with the routine stuff, but how will he cope with an emergency? 12 would be my minimum for this, but only a mature 12. ---
**Author:** ![delphica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9a140/32.png) [@delphica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/delphica)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2015, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youngest-age-you-would-put-a-kid-in-charge-of-other-kids/721350/22 "2015-06-02T20:42:34Z")
What would being “in charge” mean in your family? Preparing dinner or snacks? Cleaning up? Enforcing bed time for younger sibs? I’m curious about how old the kids in the middle are, and if their personalities would lend to pitching in for a nice evening, or pushing back against an only slightly older sib being in charge. ---
**Author:** ![Penfeather](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penfeather/32/384_2.png) [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2015, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youngest-age-you-would-put-a-kid-in-charge-of-other-kids/721350/23 "2015-06-02T21:11:38Z")
Situations like this you apply the Chainsaw Doctrine: how likely is this thing to slip, and how many bits am I going to lose if it does? ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2015, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youngest-age-you-would-put-a-kid-in-charge-of-other-kids/721350/24 "2015-06-02T21:38:38Z")
> [@Penfeather](#): > > 10 is too young, Yes, this is why I specified “currently-10-year-old” and mentioned that we’re wondering “how many years” it will be… ETA: Oh but I see now that the chin stroking was probably too distracting for you to notice such nuances. This is why I fail. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![dracoi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@dracoi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dracoi)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2015, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youngest-age-you-would-put-a-kid-in-charge-of-other-kids/721350/25 "2015-06-02T21:45:42Z")
> [@Frylock](#): > > What we’re pondering is the possibility of occasionally going out, nearby, to like a coffee shop or book store or maybe a movie, after the twins are already in bed, leaving my currently-10-year-old in charge. We’re pondering the question of how many years it may be before we’re comfortable with this. What about starting now with very short duration trips away? First, prep them on basic emergency survival issues - where are the fire extinguishers, what if there’s a fire, what numbers should be called if they need help, which neighbors are reliable alternatives, all that stuff. Quiz them over a couple of months to make sure they can remember it when needed. (Frankly, this should really happen much younger than 10 anyway.) If they’re able to handle that on a theoretical basis, proceed with short trips away. Tell them you’ll be gone for an hour, then come back after 45 minutes. If nothing is on fire and there’s no wild parties, that test has been passed. After doing that a couple of times, try a movie. Maybe graduate to a whole night out with the kids taking care of everything. ---
**Author:** ![araminty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b5e925/32.png) [@araminty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/araminty)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2015, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youngest-age-you-would-put-a-kid-in-charge-of-other-kids/721350/26 "2015-06-02T22:38:31Z")
Some US states have laws restricting the age at which kids can be left unsupervised. Some have “guidelines.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youngest-age-you-would-put-a-kid-in-charge-of-other-kids/721350.md?page=1)