how do you get the 5 year old girl to go to sleep while your babysitting?

Question

i baby-sit this girl and last time she didn't go to bed and i couldn't get her to either even when it was a while after her bedtime. How can i get her to go to bed next time? Also, how do i get them to stop fighting when one kid wants to do one thing with me while the other wants to play another game?

Answer 1

Ah, such a hard question. It really depends on the kids.

I babysit for two brothers, ones 11 and the others 3. Its not hard to get the 11 year-old to bed, he really doesn't have a bed time. The younger one need to be put to bed, though.

Bring the girl up to bed and read her a story while she's lying down. Tell her to close her eyes, while you stay in the room.

Its hard to get them settled down, its a lot of work. Start winding down what your doing about 1 hr before bed. Switch from running around the house to watching TV or reading some books. Maybe playing with some toys in her room.

As for playing two games, bargain with them. "We'll all play this game now, and when we're done, we'll play the other game." They might get upset, but don't fret. They'll learn to wait. Make the game a lot of fun, so the kids will forget about what they really want.

HAVE FUN with the kids, they'll be more apt to listen to you if you seem like you're having fun. Acting bored, never helps.

Answer 2

Compromise, compromise, compromise when it comes to splitting up your time among all of the children. Try to make all activities include all of the children. Let each child choose an activity. For instance, we can play Candy Land together next, if we paint a picture first. Just about any activity can be geared towards a child's individual interests.

As for getting children to bed. Talk with the parents about the bed time routine, and stick to it as much as possible. Does the child have a favorite bed time story, does the child need a night light, does the child have a certain procedure he/she follows (drink of water, brush teeth, close the closet doors, check for monsters under the bed, whatever it is). Stick to this as much as humanly possible. Also, develop a no attention rule. Whatever time bedtime is, turn the lights off, go thru the routine, put the child to bed, if the child gets back up, don't say a word, walk the child back to his/her bed, and repeat this until the child stays down. Most of the time when kids get up when a baby-sitter is there, it is because they want to test the limits to see what they can get away with, they are also looking for attention.

And when your baby-sitting, come up with activity, preferably outdoor activities, take the children for a walk, or to the park, or let them run around the backyard, so that they will be good and tired for you when it's time to put them to bed.

Answer 3

I've been a mother fo over 3 years, before that I was a nanny for over 7 years (I did not live within the residence) at first I had trouble with the little girl obeying, lying and sleeping. She would tell her mom one thing and me another. You should speak to the childs parents to see if there is anything special they do before bed to keep things more like they are used to when their parents are home. Or if the problem persists let the parents know. Be honest with the parents but don't make it sound like their child is bad because they're more likely to fire you if they think you are a threat. But being honest and open with them will show them that you are willing to improve and that you are not to proud or ashamed to ask if you do not understand something. This way you gain their trust. Some times a baby sitter will just yell at the child and go out of their mind but deceive the parents by claiming that everything was fine. You can't fix a problem if the parents don't know it exists. As to your other question, explain to the children that now it is time for this and when we are done we will do that. Share your time equally with the children and involve them in everything, never leave them out or hurt their feelings. Fighting is often a sign of jealousy.

Answer 4

Be firm. Fun is for before bedtime. Bedtime comes and funtime goes! Tell her that she doesn't come out of her bedroom after she goes to bed and that even better, she stays on her bed. You could try leaving a lamp on for her to look at books for 20 minutes (time her by the clock) and after that it's lights out!

In terms of the fighting, just tell them you will do one game first and then you will do the other game, and do eeni-meeni-mini-mo to pick the game. If this doesn't resolve the fighting tell them you won't play either because it's no fun to play with people who fight.

You just need to let them know that yes, you're fun to have over to babysit, but you are in charge and they don't get to walk all over you.

Another thing that might work is to set out rules for them when you come -ask for their input, and bring along a small sucker for each of them which you will leave behind if they follow the rules all night (they can have it the next day). you get to amend any rules and add one of your own - which can be that bedtime is bedtime. Believe it or not, a small sucker is MAJOR motivation for that age!

Good luck.

Answer 5

Do the parents have a bedtime routine for her? Find out if she is used to getting a bath, then story, then bed. She may not be able to go to sleep if she doesn't do the routine. If all else fails, turn the lights off and have everyone lay down on the couches, in the bedroom or wherever, and just lay with them until everyone is asleep. To keep them from fighting, try to do things that involve everyone. Color, play with legos or something like that.

Answer 6

The parents should tell you the bedtimes IN FRONT of the kids and then look at them and say that they WILL go to bed when told or they will deal with them (punishment of some kind). You need to discuss this with the parents BEFORE you go over so they know you need the backup.

The fighting is handled by neither one getting their way till they can agree.

Answer 7

HI MY NAME IS katrina and i know what that feels like.first you read her a book and then give her a snack like a healthy snack and then lay in bed with her for like 20 minutes and then if she is still not asleep the tell her that you will keep the door open a little and that you are riht down the hall and to call you if she needs you.if that doesnt work tell her nicely that you will tell her mother and/father and if that doesnt work take away her privledges of leaving the door open a little and that next time you baby sit her that she will have to go to bed an hour earlier and my friend says to give her warm milk and lay her down that surly will get her to sleep and put on some beethoven or mozart that will get her to go to sleep
your friend katrina
and if you need some more tips just e-mail me at [e-mail]
PS. Happy Holidays and i hope these tips help for you
PSS. Also if i dont end up e-mailing you back e-mail my friend at [e-mail] and evetully one of us will get back to you

Answer 8

Whenever I babysit, I completely wing it. This isn't everyone's best option, but it works for me. There is no "right" answer. Go with the flow. See what they enjoy. They might even show/tell you. If they want to see a movie, so be it. They wanna look at a cool app on your phone, so be it. They wanna whine and scream, so be it. As far as snacks go, I'm kind of surprised because every parent I've babysat for already had snacks prepared. I suppose crackers and fruits and cheese are good starts. Something easy to eat and easy to clean.

Answer 9

I agree that it will take extra time for wind down since they are excited and the routine is different. Be sure the lights are dimmed and television quiet. A boring documentary (i.e. History Channel) with a monotone voice works every time. On game/play times they have to take turns 20 minutes each. Be nice, but firm, always.

Answer 10

The parents are probably having the same problems and hope you can handle it. Talk to them about this and see if they can help you and the children. Ask what you can use as rewards for obeying you. Ask if it is OK to pretend to camp in the living room instead of going to bed. Plan ahead of time activities to keep them both busy and reward them for showing love to each other.