It's the Brian Laird show on WNYc, I'm Bridget Bergen, in for Brian today.

And now we're going to wrap up today's show with a look at an American phenomenon,

The Death of the Teen Babysitter.

And when I say this, I'm not referring to an 80 slasher movie

where a teenage babysitter becomes the unlucky first victim of a crazed serial killer. Instead, I'm talking

about the disappearance of older kids, watching younger kids while parents go out on a date night or work the late shift.

According to Faith Hill from the Atlantic, Americans are no longer relying on the teenage girl next door for babysitting duties.

What once was a, quote, quintessentially American experience isn't an option for kids nowadays,

and with the disappearance of the teen

babysitter we're also saying goodbye to a cultural icon from a bygone American era.

So listeners does your teenage daughter or son have a babysitting gig?

Do you hire a teenager to watch your kids?

Have you ever looked for a teen babysitter and just had no luck?

If you're hesitant about having the high schooler watch your kids, why's that the case? Or have you had a high school or watch your kids and prefer them not to babysit them? Those of you who grew up babysitting as a teenager, what did that

role mean to you and how do you look back on your time as a babysitter now

that you're an adult? Give us a call at 212 433 WNYC. That's 212 433 962. You can also text at that

number. And as the calls come in, Staff writer Faith Hill joins me now to talk more about her peace in the Atlantic.

Don't tell America the babysitter's dead.

Faith, the peace starts off by declaring babysitting a job that used to be both a job and a

right of passage for teen girls offering quote a tentative step toward

adulthood responsibility but with guardrails. So start us off there. How did babysitting

allowed teen girls in the United States to practice adulthood in their youth?

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