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Confused First-Timer Babysitting a Friend
I'm eighteen years old and a high school graduate. I frequently help babysit my younger cousins (ages 2-12) for free or at a low price, and I am fairly used to the quirks, likes and dislikes, of behavior of my relatives.
A family friend has asked me to babysit their 7 (I think 7) year old son for about eight hours this Thursday (I write this on Sunday). I like the kid and he seems to hero-worship me, so I'm fairly certain I'm going to accept. However, he has a reputation for wild behavior, so I am going in guarded.
My problem is, while I've played with him and helped to babysit him before, I've never been the primary babysitter. While my mother will be home that day, I really want to be as self-sufficient as possible.
So, I was looking for some pointers for babysitting non-family. I'm thinking that I'll start him out on cartoons, since he'll be arriving at my house about seven, and break up the rest of the day with semi-healthy snacks every 2-3 hours, and blocks of toys, drawing, and video games. Movies if I get REALLY desperate.
If you could give me tips, crisis management techniques, and ideas for free or low-cost crafts and games, I would greatly appreciate it. Movie rental suggestions are also welcome, although my budget is very small, and my selection is limited to a single small store.
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First all talk to the family friend and ask them the child's likes and dislikes, any allergies, and activities they like. Some parents also limit tv time and certain snacks so that would a good thing to ask.
Wild behavior can be curbed by keeping the child busy with activities. If there's a park or playground nearby, maybe you can add that to your list. Cards (go fish, crazy 8s) are also good for keeping them busy. Reading a book goes a long way too.
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CRISIS MANAGEMENT - Stun guns work well.
FREE OR LOW COST GAMES/CRAFTS - Origami.
P.S. - I've noticed the "Rated X" stores go over well with the kids. Cheap, good, clean entertainment & they're easily fooled when you tell them its only an X-Men movie.
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look i think you have all the tecniques you need and you have set up a good scedual but just incase if this kid has a rep of being wild you should plan on changing the scedual a lil bit or mostly to wat he want to do like maybe if he gets out of hand while you are doin somethin if it is still light out you should take him for a walk to calm him down thats wat i do wen i babysit!!!
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You probably should ask the parents/suggest to them that he bring some of the things that he likes. Boys are hard. Like he should bring a bike/scooter (if you don't have one he can borrow). I babysit twice a week for 6 hours, and he likes to have friends over. Maybe if there's a boy close to his age that you know well that could come over or hang out outside with you two. He also likes video games *oh and he's like 10-ish i think* Maybe borrow some car/video game books/magazines from a library, card games, board games, basketball, tennis*, soccer, jump rope. I think that's all i can think of! Good luck!
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Being a babysitter myself, if he has issues, first of all tell him if he does whatever he does wrong again, he'll be punished. If he does this again, put him in his room and don't let him come out until he has promised you to be good. When he is really good though, reward him with a sweet snack that "snack hour" instead of a healthy one, and let him know why he got it. Other that that, you seem to have everything under control. Do let him do what he wants, but just suggest things he might like, don't MAKE him do anything.
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Danielle says ; It sounds like you have a good plan. To keep him from anything wild, I reccomend making a deal with him. Like, if he behaves for an hour (draws quietly or something) then you'll let him watch any movie he wants (that is avalible). Other than that I think your pretty much set. You have a good technique. Just, obviously make sure you have the parent's numbers, and you should be fine!
Hope this helps =)
danielle
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well i dont recomend planning things because it will prob get you annoyed and frustrated. Young kids don't like to follow schedules that much they like to do things when they want to and they tend to get crappy if u don't follow what they want. I think you best bet to to take him to a local park and let him play there as long as you possibly can. also scavenger hunts are a fun idea because they waste alot of time. Your main goal should be to do long activities that will keep him ocupied for the longest stretch of time possible. movies and tv work well but once they start its hard to get away from them. i would recomend saving those for last. Also another good idea is if there is a neighbor around his age invite them over to do stuff. Little kids like baking cookies and cakes and stuff too. Although you want to have heathly things you can buy/make colored cookie dough and have him make shapes and stuff then make them. if you want more ideas im me at dlr jazz machine.
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Well I babysit 3 days a week for 8 hours a day 2 kids normally what i do is they watch some tv in the morning becuse i get there early then after that they get around like brush there teeth eat some food then we normally play cards or i go outside with them and play games then come in and eat lunch it goes by pretty fast the kids normally have stuff in mind that they like to do so it isnt that hard to come up with things.
GOod Luck :) *KELL REKO*
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Sounds like you've got a great plan! I've never babysat by myself before so I can't help you much, but here are some craft sites just in case you need ideas for crafts. Sorry if I wasn't much of help!
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:: here are some tips ::
IF HE GETS HURT then take it lightly, if you freak out he will too. i often play "abulance" with the child by picking them up and kinda spining them around as i make the siron sounds and such. if he's ticklish then toss him down on the couch and tickle hiom until he laughs, laugh with him. this will make him feel as if he i actually having fun and he will soon forget about the injury. if you know it is a bit more severe make sure to give him proper care and lay him down in front of the Tv as you cator to him, he'll start to feel better.
FOR SNACKS ask him if he wants to help with the snacks, usually making a child feel helpful makes them behave better and feel better. make fun snacks! like ants on a log, (celery, peanut butter, raisins), or smoothies! things that excite them rather then boring regualr snacks.
SOME GREAT MOVIES FOR KIDS would be The Incredibles, Grease, Shrek/Shrek 2, Toy Story (always works for me), and any other disney movie.
SOME CHEAP CRAFTS would be coloring books, chalk (outside), play dough, watercolors, madlibs, or even a water sparkler can kill some major time.
IF HE GETS WILD then do not yell! yelling makes a child confused and angry leading to more wild actions. thus, a simple fake call to their parents or santa clause usually works just fine. (calling a guy friend to pretend to be santa and lettin the child talk to them is a great way to really make them listen!) also, saying something like "o well since your not listening i guess you aren't getting that super deliecious dessert i was making for you...." and they usually jump to be good again, but then again u must supply the dessert or treat if they behave.
good luck!
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Well, i think you plan is fine, dont go out and buy things. Tell his mom in advance to tell him to bring a few games he likes. You shouldnt start out with cartoons because you should leave the cartoons to when you are really desprate. Make a schedule:
7:15ish- breakfast
7:45is-quit games such as coloring, playing with action figures
8:15ish- i guess cartoons
10:00-swimming
12:lunch
12:45-vidioe games
2:30-3: get him ready for his mom to pick him up
(that was just an example)
good luck ♥ Michelle
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