I babysit 5 kids every Friday night and 2 of them are trouble makers

[GingerSnaps]

How would you handle this situation? The oldest kid is Josh and he is 14 years old and likes to get all of the attention. Kami is 11 and she is a drama queen and she makes trouble because she tells lies on the other kids so that she can feel better about herself. The other three kids go along and they end up taking sides when the fighting occurs. Josh and Kami will do anything to make trouble even if it means lying on someone. I know it's a long schpiel but I have to watch them tomorrow night.

Last week when I was looking after the kids Josh started in on Kammi the and he said that she took his notebook and then he said that Kammi said something about him that was personal and he was going to tell their mom so that she would get punished when their mom got home. Kammi started crying and getting upset because Josh got the other kids involved to misconstrued what Kammi had said about him in the first place. Kammi ended up looking like she had been the trouble maker but she wasn't.

I had to calm the other kids down because they wanted to fight with Kammi because Josh acted like he was telling the truth but he wasn't and it happens every week. Josh creates problems all night long and so does Kami. If it's not one making something up then it's another one that is getting pissed because one kid said something to the other kid and so on and so forth. It becomes such a big argument that you end up getting sick of the whole situation.

I don't know if I can go back and watch these kids again because they are so damn spoiled but I can use the extra cash. Their parents are real nice people and they are pleasant to be around.

What do you do about the two trouble makers that are always looking for an argument to start up so that the rest of the kids can take sides and make them feel better about themselves? Kami sometimes has more then one lie working at a time or she blames one of the other kids for stealing something that belongs to her. It can drives you nuts when they are all screaming at the same time and you can't calm them down and it goes on for hours.

I get paid $125.00 for 10 hours and I can use the extra cash but how can someone deal with all of the arguments, lies and drama queen scenes. It seems like Josh and Kami are in need of some attention because they are always want a pat on the back. I feel so sorry for these kids.

Sorry about the long post. I have severe depression right now and I don't think that I can take any more of the kids drama queen scenes.

[MsConduct]

1. Send them to their rooms and tell...

them they can't come out until they can be human. Worked for my kids. Good luck, I don't envy you, fer sure!


Peace

[GingerSnaps]

2. I wished

They tell me that I am not their Mom and they don't have to go to their rooms because I am working for them.

[Shipwack]

11. That is so wrong and needs to be corrected!

" They tell me that I am not their Mom and they don't have to go to their rooms because I am working for them."

WRONG!

1) You do -not- work for them... you work for their parents.

2) You are the adult in charge, so they need to listen to you.

The next time you go there, before the parents leave, discuss this with the parents, and make sure the parents reinforce this, specifically reinforcing the going to room thing. If the parents won't, definitely find another job, because it's just a matter of time before you get an out right rebellion. What are you going to do if the 14 yo thinks he can leave the house on his own and ends up getting hurt? You'll still be responsible for his actions.

[MsConduct]

13. Shipwack is right! The parents need to make sure that...

the 'little darlin's' know that you are the parent when they are not there. Those kids are not the boss of you! LOL


Kick ass and take names and Good Luck!

[SoCalDem]

3. Okay.. I'll bite...

You just need to organize the time..

get them involved in a project...baking is always good, because when you are done, you have goodies to eat.. That should use up about 2 hours..and the little ones can help too..

Board games can be fun.. trivial pursuit was always fun and the older ones might learn something.

How about a group bike ride to a nearby park.. let them all run around and get tired..

Bring some movies..

show them home movies from their parents childhoods (if the parents approve)...or from their own childhoods.. Kids love to see those things..

If they can all write, have them write a story about a brother/sister..draw names....but the story cannot name the brother/sister.. have them read their story and make them guess who it is..

let the 14 yr old have ONE friend over, and let them "hang out" in his room (you would need to keep an eye on them occasionally)..
smae for the drama queen.. let her invite a friend..

It sounds like keeping those two occupied is the key here..

that's all I have for now :)

[GingerSnaps]

4. I like the idea of having them run around and get sleepy

I thought that I could buy a couple of pizza kits and some vegetables from the salad bar and let them make their own pizzas. (Hands busy LOL)

I have a bunch of magazines, a couple pairs of safety scissors, some construction paper and glue sticks and I will let them cut pictures out and make a collage out of them. (Hands busy again LOL)

I think that your suggestion for the eldest boy is a good one but I would have to clear it with his mom first. If he could settle down it would make everything much easier on all of us.

Thanks for the suggestions they are great ideas that I will jot down so that I can use them in the future. :hug:

[SoCalDem]

6. The problem is that , at 14 he doesn't feel like he NEEDs a sitter

He's got to be extremely pissed at having a sitter.. MY boys woould have been furious..

[GingerSnaps]

8. Your definitly right he is old enough the only problem is

They don't trust him with the younger kids.

[SoCalDem]

9. That's why having a friend over would lessen YOUR load

and give him a reason to leave the others alone.:) best case scenario? He has a sleepover at a friend's house:evilgrin:, but then you would probably be paid less too :)

[GingerSnaps]

10. A sleep over away from us sounds great

:evilgrin:

[DarkSim]

5. This guys advice is maybe a little extreme but.......

check http://maddox.xmission.com/beat.html for a guide how to take care of children

:P

[OneBlueSky]

7. duct tape . . . and 2x4s (to get their attention) . . .

sorry . . . couldn't resist . . . I have seven younger brothers and sisters and often babysat the brood . . . :)

[Dukakis88]

12. Ritalin, Ritalin, Ritalin

Tie 'em down on the sofa with IV drips of Ritalin and some tapes of Little House on the Prairie.

[HEyHEY]

14. Have you tried beating them mercilessly?

[Pithlet]

15. The best thing you can do

is to never take sides when the kids bicker, and crack down on any whining, yelling, fighting or hitting. No matter who "started it". Because you're the babysitter, and not their primary care giver, it's going to be an uphill battle, because it sounds to me like their parents may reward such behavior. But, they can at least learn to cut it out when you're in charge. Let them know you're the boss. Kids can sense that kind of thing.