I have to watch 6 kids this weekend. What is a good punishment besides yelling?

Question

They don't know how to listen. They are all over the place and I need help so my weekend isn't so miserable.

Answer 1

Instead of punishing them why not play games with them. You could play "Mother May I", "Red Light, Green Light", "Simon Says". Those are good group games. Also, play the freeze game. When you say freeze, everyone stops no matter what they're doing. This is a good way to get them to stop when they get too loud and rambunctous. Also, after a meal, play board games that are calmer. Then you can watch a movie and maybe a few will drift off to sleep. Can you go outside and let them play ball? Have a drawing/coloring contest (split into age groups if wide range of kids). You'll end up having fun and they'll love you. Good Luck!

Answer 2

I watch 6 childre on a daily basis. They range from 6 months to 7 years old. The youngest 3 being my own children. The key is to engage them with activities such as games, songs, or even some movie time. When they misbehave I have time out on my stairs. If there is fighting I separate them sending the culprits to opposite places in the house. Either in the playroom or in the living room. I am very strict and they seem to enjoy the boundries. I hope this helps.

Answer 3

Your best bet is to divide & conquer. Make the older ones help you, that will keep them out of mischief. Plan on the same bedtime for everyone. Use the TV wisely, otherwise it's just more noise. Play board games. If you're in an area where you can do so, by all means go outside. Have the little ones make dinner "menus" by coloring. Don't try and bathe them all, if you are babysitting your only job is to keep them safe, fed & happy. Have them clean up their own messes. Sing songs. Play charades. Good luck - I hope you can finance spring break with the cash!

Answer 4

Duck tape and a cattle prod! Kidding. I am watching 5 myself this weekend. 3 of the ones I am watching are the same way, out of control and all over the place. OOOHHH if they were mine.... The key is keeping them entertained and make sure you lay down the rules off the rip and be consistent.

Answer 5

Many parents have come to recognize the harmful effects of physical punishment. They have learned that slapping, hitting, and spanking teach violence, destroy the child’s self-esteem, create anger, interfere with learning, and damage the relationship between parent and child.
But knowing what not to do is only the first step. Parents who want to avoid punishment wonder what they should do instead. Unfortunately, most parenting books and articles recommend "alternatives" which we can see on closer inspection are merely alternative types of punishment. These include so-called "logical" consequences, time-out, and denial of privileges.

All of these methods have much in common with physical punishment, and all give the same messages: that the parent has no interest in the underlying unmet needs that led to the behavior, and that the parent is willing to take advantage of his greater size and power over the child. Above all, they tell the child that the people he has come to love and trust wish to cause him pain. This is a "crazy-making" message, because it is so alien to the child’s intuitive understanding about what love should look like. Finally, all of these approaches miss the best opportunities for learning, because they sidetrack the child into fantasies of revenge, where he is too distracted to focus on the real issue at hand. Real alternatives to punishment are those that help the child to learn and to grow in a healthy way. There are few greater joys in life than allowing our child to teach us what love is.

Here are ten alternatives that give the child only positive, loving messages:

1. Prevent unwanted behavior from occurring by meeting your child’s needs when they are first expressed. This is perhaps the very best approach. It not only prevents misbehavior, it tells the child that you truly love and care for her. With her current needs met, she is free to move on to the next stage of learning.

2. Provide a safe, child-friendly environment. There is little point in having precious items within the reach of a toddler, when they can be put away until the child is old enough to handle them carefully. For older children, provide opportunities for active play.

3. Apply the Golden Rule. Think about how you would like to be treated if you were to find yourself in the same circumstances as your child, then treat your child that way. Human nature is human nature, regardless of age.

4. Show empathy for your child’s feelings. Even if the child’s behavior seems illogical, the underlying feelings and needs are real and need to be taken seriously. Saying things like, "You really look unhappy" is a good way to show a child that you care about their needs and feelings.

5. Validate your child’s feelings so he knows that we understand and care, that it is acceptable to have whatever feelings are present, and that he will never be rejected for having any particular kinds of feelings. For example, "That scared me too."

6. Meet the underlying need that led to the behavior in the first place. If we punish the outward behavior, the still unmet need will continually resurface in other ways until it is finally met. An example here would be, "Are you feeling sad because your friend moved away?"

7. Stay on your child’s side. Whenever possible, find a "win-win" solution that meets everyone’s needs. To learn conflict resolution skills, consider a course in Nonviolent CommunicationSM.1

8. Reassure your child that she is loved and appreciated. So-called bad behavior is often the child’s attempt to express her need for more love and attention, in the best way that she can at that moment. If she could express this need in a more mature way, she would do so. For example, you might ask, "Would you like to read a book with me so we can have some time together?"

9. Provide positive alternative experiences and productive activities. Offer crayons, read a story, put a young child in the tub for water play, or enjoy a walk outside together. This can shift the focus away from a situation that has become too stressful to resolve at that moment: "Let’s make some play dough!"

10. Ask yourself "Will I look back at this later and laugh?" If so, why not laugh now? Seize the opportunity to create the kind of memory you will want to have when you look back on this day. The most challenging situations can be defused by the timely use of good-natured humor: "Oh, no, you and your brother painted each other green? Wait, let me get the camera!"

In these ways, we can best bring about the genuine cooperation that we seek. But our greatest reward will be a life-long, mutually loving and trusting bond with our child.

Answer 6

Yelling just falls on deaf ears after a while. May I suggest "time out" in a chair or on the sofa, when children aren't listening? Don't make it a real long "time out", maybe ten or fifteen minutes. Try to spend some time with the children, by coloring with them, or reading to them, or playing games with them. Keeping them busy & having fun, may very well help to keep them in line.

Answer 7

You need to plan all of your activities out. Get a chart and say from this time to this time you are doing this...If you are organized it will be alot easier. Tell them the rules right off the bat and if anyone breaks them mean business. Do a time out spot. As long as they know that you are in charge from the beginning it should be ok. Good luck, I hope that you are getting paid.

Answer 8

You shouldn't be watching that many kids. It's dangerous. You don't know how dangerous it is until something awful happens. Who would assign you such a task? Tell them you need at least 2 people to watch 6 kids!

Answer 9

You can try to find a good game that they all will like,if its pretty let them go out...You could also try time out,i know that sounds corny,but bleave me it works..Or just b honest with them,and let them know that this is hard 4 you also and you could use their help to make it easier...I guess alot depends on their ages 2,good luck,and jus try 2 b patient,but dont let them run all over you....Queenie

Answer 10

I am a care giver for children myself. I find a good way to punish them is to seperate them. Sit them down in different rooms, I prefer having them stand in corners.