i need a mothers advice!??! please?

Question

i babysit/watch 7 kids in the late afternoon on thursdays, im pretty good at discipline, but i need a bit of a walk through, id like to know how you discipline kids ages 3-9. like, step by step, simple and spelled out. id also like to see where you set your standards for food, say a 3 year old boy wont eat his chicken so i tell him to take _ more bites of chicken before he can go play. what number do you say?
i need to know what to do if the children are loud and scream. 2 warnings then a timeout?

i want to be better at what i do.

id like to start a clipboard like a good noodle board, and put stickers for each day that the children dont go in timeout, but i dont know how good of an idea that would be, have you tried it? how did you enforce it?

Answer 1

sounds to me like great ideas, like you've got a good handle on how to run things.

I wouldn't force a kid to eat before he can go play. They have 20 minutes, say, to eat. If they clear their plate earlier, they can leave. If not, they need to be encouraged to eat, but you keep an eye on the clock and after 20 minutes, you let the kids go play eat or no eat. So they have snack, no extras, and go home to their moms extra hungry. That's ok. I've had zero success forcing kids to eat.

Having that many kids, I think it'd be 1 warning and a time out. Time outs are 1 minute for every year of the child's age.

I've never been a babysitter, on a regular basis, anyway, though I did teach Sun. school for years and years. My kids were always happiest when they were busy. It took a chunk of energy from me, but we'd have story time (lesson), snack, craft time, park time, music time, game time, read the book time.

I don't mind a little play-time noise. That's normal. But yelling is a no-no, and screaming is absolutely out. Kneel down and put your face in the child's face and say, "No! You may NOT scream in my house. That's my rule!"

Always my discipline was the 3 strikes you're out. In my situation, the parents were nearby. Kids misbehave 3 times, and we'd go get a parent. That was the worst punishment of all.

In a home setting, though, time out is great. If you don't eat your lunch, you only get 2 cookies and milk, whereas someone who ate all their lunch might have 3 cookies.

Good noodle board sounds super.

I wish you were near around and my kids were those ages! Alas, my 17, who was a terror as a child, wants a dr's license, and my daughter, 21, is graduating college in December. Just the other day (it seems) I made my daughter giggle the first time--playing peek-a-boo.

Can't wait for the grandkids!

TX Mom
Not a professional caregiver

Answer 2

For kids 3-6... time outs, one minute per year of their age seems to work on some kids, others just need to be sternly but quietly talked to about their behaviour.

For the older ones, they probably have the "you're not my mom" so they feel like they can bend the rules without consequence. Let them know that you are serious about being respected, and if speaking to them doesn't work, take away priveleges and if that doesn't get you any where, let their parents know. They may not like you for it, but 7 kids is a lot to handle and if they won't listen to you, they may listen to mom and dad. For the older ones, the only warning you should give them is telling them in the first place, after that, let them know that they "chose" to lose the TV or computer or whatever by "choosing" to behave inappropriately.

As for food, you have to make it fun. I'm a very picky eater and my own kids have picked that up, but I can get them to eat almost ANYTHING if I involve them in the planning and preparation. I believe that you shouldn't really force a kid to eat, so if a little guy doesn't like chicken, don't make him eat it. Every one loves finger foods, so if you can't get them all involved set up little trays before they come over of PB & J sandwhiches, apple slices, bananas, grapes cheese, etc. or have them create "cars" and "boats" or whatever out of bananas and celery, with different things like raisins and yogourt and stuff. It's pretty cheap and fun. Or you can have the kids tell you what they like and each week pick one or two ideas so everyone gets a turn and isn't left out.

Good Luck!!!

Answer 3

First suggestion: understand what the word 'discipline' means. It literally means 'To teach'. Not punish, not force, not threaten, but teach. If you have that basic knowledge, you'll be way ahead of the game. I have worked with kids for years and been a parent for years, and I can say that as far as food, I never force a child to eat X number of bites before leaving the table, for several reasons. First of all, it's bribery. A child is smart, and believe me, they will pick up on that quick, and will start requiring things of you everytime you expect something of them. Secondly, if they aren't hungry, or if the don't like a food, then making them eat it anyway can lead to overeating or undereating, depending on the personality. My standard is, "This is lunch. We will have snack at 3." Then, it's up to them to eat or not eat. If they are hungry 30 minutes later, say, "bummer, I'm sorry you didn't finish you lunch and feel hungry. Snack will be at 3." They may whine a bit for food, but just let them know that snack will still be at three. Never make a big issue of it, even if they do. It really doesn't take them long to see that if they don't eat, they will be hungry. That technique works for most things. Also, try looking into the Parenting with Love and Logic technique.... talk about effective! Good Luck!

http://www.loveandlogic.com/

Answer 4

One thing to remember when feeding toddlers is that their stomachs are only about the size of their fist, so they do not require very much food at one time, but they should have snacks in the morning bewteen breakfast and lunch and between lunch and dinner. Forcing a child to eat when they are not hungry leads to obesity. If they are flat out refusing to eat tell them that they cannot get down until they eat at least four bites. Place four small items on the table and remove one item everytime they take a bite. When the last item is gone they can get down. If they are screaming give 2 warnings and then make them sit for 5 minutes on the couch and be quiet. If it happens again (On the same day) give one warning and a time out on the couch.

Answer 5

we have a 2 and ten year old,we use time for both,or for more extremes,we take,say if the ten year old doesnt do a chore,take her laptop for the day!
if the 2 yr old throws a toy,time out and toy goes for a day!!!
we do a prize box,when you get so many stickers on the good job chart,you reach in the hole in top of the bin and pull out a prize,we just use dollar store prizes and it THRILLS them! we also let them put on their own stickers that they pick off the sticker book!
our 2 yr old screams when we put her in time out,we tell her calmly that you have to sit until you are calm,even if it goes over 2 minutes! she has stayed in timeout for almost ten! but she got it and hused and calmed down then she could get out!
on the food,we try to consider what they ate the meal before, if it was a big meal and they ate alot we arent so picky on the next meal,if it wasnt eaten we say 3 mroe bites for the 2 year old and usually 2 bites of everything on your plate for the ten year old! if they dont eat,we dont push n push,instead offer snacks later of peanut butter n celery or something similar for health!!!
good luck

Answer 6

Every parent has their own style of discipline; what they find acceptable, and what works for their children. You should really sit down with one of the parents and ask them. They will be glad that you are interested. It lets them know that you take your job seriously.

Answer 7

Well for quantity one sitting across the apartment and in most cases doing not anything does not aid you along with your melancholy. I am forty two years historical and I had been running at my present activity for six or 7 yrs. Last February I received harm at paintings and had surgical procedure however I am not able to participate in all my activity role to start with while I back to paintings I went via a few factor of melancholy however such as you have to do whatever distinct in lifestyles so be in a position to experience lifestyles extra and suppose greater approximately oneself. So I am watching in returning to school and attempting to determine what software I can appear into with my constrained situation. So you'll be able to go surfing fill out activity resume pass out and follow for jobs. You are nonetheless younger ample you'll be able to appear in to the navy and if you're a school graduate that offers you extra improvement in becoming a member of the navy. If now not a school graduate than verify out schools or verify out Americorp /Job corp, you'll be able to even verify out peace corp. All of above is eligible for you now not me because of my age. But all of them can supply you possibilities to satisfy new men and women . To expand yourself valued at and the major make you suppose greater,proud,excited approximately lifestyles and so forth. So benefit from the travel and discovering your possess course in lifestyles and do not fear your dad and mom unwell be pleased with you and they are going to aid you as mach as they may be able to simply so long as you're now not sitting across the apartment do not anything and letting your melancholy take over feeling unhappy and whining approximately your sucky lifestyles. Because child your lifestyles do not suck you simply have not jumped into lifestyles but to peer what it has to present and what you'll be able to do. So now pass and do whatever you are going to do pleasant and yeah it is going to be elaborate from time to time . I consider in you ; you'll be able to do it.

Answer 8

in todays society I dont think its legal to punish kids anymore. I say just knock the little bastards upside the head once or twice.