I am babysitting 2 kids and they are angels when the parents arent home but as soon as mom walks in the door they turn into devils in disguse. They are twin 3 year old boys and they are really strong. The boys normally love me my dog and cat and each other. But as soon as a parent comes they hit, kick, and even pull the dogs hair and tail. I am afraid they are gonna do serious damage. How can I get them to behave like gentalmen all the time?
2006-06-16 07:04:31 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Toddler & Preschooler
If they get wild when the mom comes in that's actually pretty normal. Basically kids feel that they have to behave when they're in some one else's authority (A baby-sitter's, day care, etc.) but with Mommy they know she'll love them no matter what so they can relax their standards. Lots of parents have to deal with a kid that is wonderful all day at the sitter's and then has a meltdown the second they get home.
My suggestion is to either put the animals in a separate room or play outside a few minutes before you expect the mom. As long as the mother isn't blaming you for the behavior it doesn't sound like too big of a deal to me - I'm assuming that she's showing up so she can take them home, right? They'll outgrow this as they learn other ways of relaxing after a stressful day. (I'm not saying you're a bad baby sitter at all, but they still feel a little pressure to behave for you, which is mostly good, but it's hard for them to switch gears. If they're like normal toddlers after they've been home with Mom for awhile they'll switch back to being good kids again.
2006-06-16 08:42:25 · answer #1 · answered by Z_Berg 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have a 2 year old niece who acts the same way. Her brother has down syndrome and has frequent trips to the doctor usually ending up in lengthy hospital stays. Her mother allows her to do whatever she pleases and doesn't discipline in any way. I recently took care of her for about 2 months while her brother was in the hospital and she was a perfect angel. As soon as Mom got back she turned into the devil child again. It was unbelievable. Right before my eyes. I have told her Mother and several occasions what an angel she was when she was with me and how horrid she acts when she is with her. If 2 months of solid discipline didn't change her then I'm afraid I cannot offer you any hope of changing these two boys. Unless the parents are willing to make some changes there is nothing that you can do.
2006-06-16 18:04:23 · answer #2 · answered by jeezmeneti66 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can not.
This has nothing to do with them alone. This sounds like a problem of the family unit as a whole.
Attention is hard to come by aperantly. Making a battlefield is a surefire way of insuring some.
This is the tricky part: You have to inform the parents of the behaviour and why you think this may be the case.... Telling parents... even sugesting that they don't do the best job at raising their kids can become a battlefield in itself.
In a nutshell: Make sure they understand that you have the best intentions and don't accuse them of anything. Point out that they become more 'active' to get attention and if there isn't some way to give them no 'insentive' to repeat that behaviour and try to make possitive actions towards them.
Good luck, (depending on the inclination of the parents) you'll need it.
2006-06-16 14:08:19 · answer #3 · answered by Puppy Zwolle 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
First things first...talk to the parents and see if Time-outs will be okay with them. If not, you need to stop babysitting these children. If it is okay, you need to be very consistant with it. Every time they are bad, sit them in a chair away from all toys, windows, like a corner, and leave them there for 3 min. There is no way I would put up with that. Well, Good luck.
2006-06-16 14:55:57 · answer #4 · answered by sr_12116911 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No 3 year old is capable of being a gentleman. I would not allow them near the animals and tell the parents.
2006-06-16 15:08:34 · answer #5 · answered by KathyS 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sounds to me like these boys are testing their boundaries with you. No child is going to be good all the time. When the boys act up, put them in a time out. Consistency is KEY!!! If they get up from time out, put them bac, gently but firmly. If all else fails, talk to the parents! Good luck!
2006-06-16 14:11:05 · answer #6 · answered by andieangel2003 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would threaten them. Tell them u'll put them in timeout. Or take away there toys. u might want to mention theses incidents to the parents. O yea you should also stop bringing ur pets!
2006-06-16 14:09:23 · answer #7 · answered by ? 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That's not your job... that's their mother and father's job. they know what they can get away with around their parents and how to push their buttons so they exploit it. I would have a sit down chat with the parents asap about their behavior and see if maybe you can work together on it.
2006-06-16 14:08:59 · answer #8 · answered by Brandie C 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is a challenge to see if your rules still apply when there are other authority figures around. Make sure the rules still apply.
2006-06-17 02:48:52 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It might be the only kind of attention they get, negative. My cousins are like that. The only real attention they get from her is when they act up.
2006-06-16 14:08:25 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋