Babysitting problems; 8 & 5 year old boys?

Question

I just babysat for 3 kids today, an 8 year old boy, a 7 year old girl & a 5 year old boy. The oldest brother is constantly being mean to the little brother, saying mean things & basically testing him until he snaps just to watch him react. (As in watching him cry, scream & hit.) I don't really have experience babysitting boys his age so I ended up asking him to please stop when it got really bad, but of course the oldest doesn't like being told what to do & he'd do things just to be obnoxious, such as refusing to work the dvd player when he was the only one who knew how. He does NOT listen to me. He obviously likes having power over things. Any ideas on how I can get him to cooperate? Other than pretending or threatening to call his mom every 5 minutes? I thought maybe telling him that i'm making a list of every bad thing he does & showing his mom when she gets home.. I have to babysit for them this Friday so pleaase give me some advise!

Answer 1

You have to get control, not give a list to his Mom and NOT call her unless you absolutely have to!!  That's what she's paying you for, to be in charge, not bother her while she's out!  So he thinks you are mean, you have to MAKE him listen to you.  Make him do time outs or sit in his room alone til he can behave properly and if he acts up again, back to the spot or his room he goes!  As soon as you show him he can't push you around, he'll settle down and behave better!  Make him apologize to whoever he did something to before you let him come back and play!!!

Answer 2

Never make a threat you don't follow through with. Talk to his mom honestly about how it went at the end of the night. Come up with a treat (approved by mom) that the kids who co-operate can have so there is some incentive. And never wait until it gets bad to show you mean business. He will live up to your expectations of behavior and push as hard as he can to find out where you draw the line. Be firm and consistent.

Answer 3

I would start when you get there by talking to the older boy telling him that he is your helper & you need his help to keep the other kids in line. Make him feel like he is really important and gets to help. I would also tell him that if he acts badly to his siblings that you will make him sit in time out away from everyone else & he will miss the fun you are having. Also make it clear to him that you will report his bad behavior to his parents. Let him know that you are in charge while his parents are gone and as such he needs to respect you.  

Answer 4

Im not that experienced with older boys but I know when my younger boys misbehaive...most the time they are bored. Ask the 8 year old what his favorite sport or hobby is to do and make a game out of it. If hes having fun he wont have time to torture his siblings! and he'll like you too, and so will his parents! Im sure you can find a way to modify his favorite thing to include the 5 year old and the 7 year old as well. bring some yummers snacks that they have to make too, Its fun to cook and it helps teach kids to follow instructions, because if they dont...that cake they make will taste like c**p! just keep them all very busy and interested and you shouldnt have too much of a problem, if he starts being a brat as most kids do, have him sit out of the fun for about 8-10 minutes, he probably wont do it again.  

Answer 5

Mention it to the mom. Also you need to keep them busy and separated. Bring over a new movie you think the young ones might be interested in that they can watch in the living room. Then go play one of the older boy's favorite ps2/xbox/wii games in his room with him. Even if you know how to play the game play dumb and ask him a few questions about the controls so he has a sense of superiority or power. That way he thinks he has some control but he's away from his siblings and he can't really do anything to prevent you from watching a movie like before.  

Answer 6

I would tell him I would put him in the corner or like on "Super Nanny" I would put him on the naughty stool and use his age for the time that he's on there.When he's done tell him what he did wrong.Or when he's being mean tell him he can't do the fun things with you.Like if your gonna watch a movie tell him he can't because what he has done and make him go to bed.Also ask the parents how to work the DVD player and other things he knows but you don't.I hope these ideas work for you! :)

Answer 7

tell him to sit on the stairs if they have them and say your in time out calmly and tell him what he did wrong and why he is siting on the stairs but befor you set him on the stairs say im going to count to five and if he dosn't stop then set him on the naughty step and tell him thats what its called from now on. Also you can make hiim apoligise after like 5 minutes on the steps if he dosnt then he has to sit longer it works for me.

Answer 8

It is called sibling rivalry and is very normal.  If you watch animals shows you will note that in a family the children establish a "pecking" order and usually the first in line is of course the oldest child.  As a baby sitter none of the children really have to mind you.  You can not set or change the rules of their home.  What you need to do is discuss with the child's parents what is to be done about the "bullying" as far is him not working the DVD player for you...ask the parents to teach you how to work it.  But be fair warned, sibling rivalry doesn't end for years and the only thing you are responsible for is to make sure no real harm comes to the children, but basically they don't have to "mind" you.  

Answer 9

Tell their mother that the oldest boy is being like this. If she's a good parent, she'll talk to him, and he hopefully won't be as bad.  

Answer 10

MAKE A BOARD!(like a chart) put all the kids names on it on the top and down the side put things like behavor, helped clean room, shared toys, and maybe some other things you do with them. in each section under the kids name put velcro or magnets on it to attach things that show they are rewarded and not, Like a star for good and a X for bad, and if they do good and get lots of stars they are rewarded with like a candy bar and stuff, if they miss behave no treat. Have them all sit down and explain the rules no hitting, no fighting, and they have to listen (you could put these on the side as well as behavor and such) GL but you may need to talk to the mother as well and work something out together as well cause he maybe doing it with her as well.