Rules for a 4 year old.?

Question

I'll be watching a 4 year old Saturday, possibly over night. So i was trying to prepare a bit. if he stays overnight we'll prolly both camp out on the couch. watching movies or something, we have a few kids movies, and when my boyfriend gets home from work that night we might go to the video store and let him pick a movie or two he likes. We have some games i know he will like, and i found some crayons, coloring books and paper we can play with. So theres plenty here for him to do. i don't think he really has any rules or boundaries at his house, which is why i agreed to watch him only at our house, thinking we can tell him this is our house and our rules. And if this goes well i might start watching him on a regular basis, so I'd like to put some house rules into play now so there not a surprise later. so i was trying to think of some simple rules for him, to help keep him safe and out of trouble i dont want a super long list that he'll never remember. just little things like..

Answer 1

well, if you have any things that are special or something put those in a special place cus when i was four i would touch everything!! also only feed him/her healthy organic things. and make sure everything is organizd.

Answer 2

Most important will be safety rules:

No opening cabinets and drawers (any place you store harmful chemicals or dangerous items)

No playing with electrical cords, plugs, etc...

No playing with kitchen appliances

And...  If you have a camping tent it can be great fun to set one up in the living room to camp out in over night.

Answer 3

The thing about house rules are that if a child has not been taught them at their own home, they may not carry over to someone elses'.  Try to make them simple.  The fewer the better.

Never underestimate the power of the word "STOP".  It is much more powerful than the word "NO" because it's a word that children understand and it gives direction.  Don't be afraid to try it.

Don't try to push any forms of punishment that have not been approved by his parents.  For example, if they don't do time outs, then don't do them at your place unless they have said it is ok.  However, telling him no running and not to touch certain things is fine.  Lock the doors to rooms you don't want him in and put things away you don't want him to find or touch.  Good luck and I hope it goes well.

Oh Yeah - and the #1 reason that children act out is because they are bored.  If he is acting out try an interesting activity.

Answer 4

No running/jumping/throwing things in the house

Say please and thank you

No bitting/hitting/kicking

Use listening ears

Answer 5

No hitting, No biting, Say please and Thank you....things like that

Answer 6

i watched my friends son when they went away for their aniversary for the night.  We set no rules, just went with the flow.  He set his rules where mammy always buys me that mag (€5),answer:  sure that grand mammy get it to you when she gets home.

If he did something we did not like we told him not to do it and he listened.  He knew we were taking him to the park, beach etc so when we asked him to stop, he did cos he knew we would not go if we were in bad form.

Just let him know he will have a great time if he keeps you happy,

His mum left his favorite foods, when we were cooking, if he did not want to eat, he was told, that is ok but we had ice cream etc to eat when we are finished so if your not hungrey you wont want the treat?

Answer 7

-sing the clean up song (this will encourage him to pick up)

-make up fun games for him to listen like try going to sleep before me or who can be quiet the longest

-tell him to ask first before touching things

- give him attention so he wont missbehave for your attention

Answer 8

No breaking anything, no hitting,, no jumping on the couch, and to say Please and Thank You!  :)  :D

Answer 9

I have a lot of rules, however, I thought it to be funny when, one day, a youngster who had already spent a lot of time with me and my children over a three year period told me that they only have two rules: don't throw eggs and don't p**p in your pants. I know her family and that sounds about right!

So, you could keep it simple like that.

Or, guide the child as you go. Be firm in voice, don't whimp out.

But, don't chain him down... Don't make him sit and watch movies and color. Give the boy a physical outlet - let him burn some energy! Can he bring a bike, help you walk your dogs, is there a park nearby?

Good luck!

Answer 10

if he doesn't behave them put him in the corner for 10 minutes. And if you don't want him to go in certain parts of the house tell him that. Oh and make sure to tell him to not go out of the house. And to tell you or your boyfriend when he wants to go some were.

Answer 11

Some of our house rules :

You get what you get and you don't throw a fit ( as in, you eat what's in front of you, you get whatever color bowl or cup you're given... etc.)

Keep your hands to yourself.

Don't touch ANYTHING that doesn't belong to you.

No tattling.

and.. my fave... Inside voices only. We all have volume nobs at my house.

Good luck.