I think I would be trying to make a compromise of half and half payment for the repairs. Both sides are in the wrong in my opinion.

It’s a tricky one. It was broken while she was at their house, but should she have left it lying around and should she be studying while being paid to watch kids, probably not. I’d be a little annoyed if my babysitter was spending time doing other things while I was paying them, but unless the mum told her not to bring valuables then they might have to pay for at least half.

I think the mum should pay at least something towards the repair as her child is not blameless in the situation.

This is a tough one. If it was my kid that broke it, I would feel responsible and cover the costs of repair but I can see the mums side of the story as well. Maybe they should just go 50/50.

There are pro’s and con’s to this story.
Depending where the laptop was at the time.

Tricky. I do think a six year old should know better than to run around with a laptop, and I don’t buy the “he thought it was ours” excuse. I bet the mum would be angry if it was HER laptop that got damaged. Perhaps the mum should offer to pay half of the repair or replacement.

Ooh, this is tricky. Is there a compromise? Does the child understand what he did was wrong? Should the babysitter be studying whilst babysitting? This is a mess. I don’t think I can provide an insightful answer unless I was there to understand the full situation.

Yeah, No. The babysitter is paid to be the responsible one. If she can’t look after her own laptop, how is she even responsible enough to look after the children?

What is “out of reach”? Being locked away 1.5m from the ground? Being realistic, the child was interested to play with the laptop, and if the laptop was visible, the child could have easily climbed on a chair or other to get it. Kids find a way. We’re not talking about a toddler. If my child broke something of someone else’s it would be my responsibility to repair/replace, not the responsibility of the other person.

Did the mum talk to her son, to see what he says happened with the computer? If it was me, I wouldn’t be wanting to pay the full repair cost. There is responsibility both ways though. Mmmm, seeing the mum has already paid the babysitter, ahead, seems like they have part payment to go towards fixing the laptop.

While I think the babysitter should have been a bit more responsible for her laptop and shouldn’t havve left it lying around, I think that the mum should be paying at least half of the repairs. Her child picked it up and then started running around with it. They should know better. It might be different if it was on the bench and got knocked off by mistake or something but when the child is running around with it, I think it makes it the mum’s responsiblity to get it repaired.

It was an accident, they should both pay half each.

I agree it was silly on both sides and they should go halvies.

The babysitter shouldn’t have left the computer where the kids could reach it but the kids should have known better than to touch something that wasn’t there’s. I think the best thing would be to pay half each and find another babysitter who will concentrate only on the children.

Think it’s a life lesson for all here. Mum shouldn’t of allowed babysitter to bring a laptop in the first place. Babysitter needs to take some responsibility for her belongings also she’s getting paid to be with the kids not study. The child is old enough to know better and if it was my child they would be paying for it out of their savings. Think the Mum and child need to pay at least 3/4

In my opinion the right thing to do here is for the mother to pay for the repairs to the laptop. If my child broke something I would pay for it and perhaps give extra chores to the child who broke it.

In all honesty, the babysitter is being paid to do a job. Bringing her laptop is at her own risk. She should have insurance to protect from accidents. Does the mum have contents insurance? Perhaps she could claim and the babysitter could pay the excess.

My youngest has Down Syndrome and severe ADHD and broke not so long ago her support workers phone. Although my child didn’t know better and acted out of an impulse, I did feel we had to pay for the repair

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  • • Ellen replied
    • 18 Oct 2022 , 8:50 am

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  And yes, mum should pay for the laptop !

No brainer. Mum sounds like she’s trying to wriggle out of it. My 6 year old knows what my laptop looks like and would know if someone else’s laptop was in the house unless it was identical. My 6 year old knows not to run around the house with devices.

The kids are old enough to know better, pay for the damages.