Should I be allowed to punish my neice and nephew?

Question

So I babysit my niece and nephew. Ones 4 and one is 2. They both act out on a daily basis and all I'm allowed to do ia time out. And that doesn't really do anything.

Answer 1

I saw this question and needed to read the answers.  While I don't babysit my niece and nephew, they are the same age difference.  They will be 4 and 2 in the next few months.  I find myself SOOO frustrated with them and embarassed to be in public with them.  But I am especially frustrated with their parents.  They have virtually no consequences.  When there are 'consequences' the parents back out of them and the kids know it.  At least their parents HAVE given you an outlet for taking care of difficult behaviors.  I don't know how you handle the time out and how it compares with what they get from their parents.  That may be one thing to consider and to ask the parents about.  Another thing to consider is where you are babysitting.  If it is in their house, check again where the time out place is or ask for a new one if the current is not working.  If it's your house, then it's your rules.  OBVIOUSLY, I am not saying that you can spank or swat them.  However, if they are playing with toys and not using them correctly you can take them away and explain why.  I would think that there are many things you can do without resorting to physical consequences.  Again, at least you do have consequences.

Answer 2

2 words....cattle prod... jolt them once and then you will never have to again.....not really ...use it on the parents though ...and tell them if they dont allow you to get their kids act together then you will shock em again

Answer 3

You need to speak with their mother or father about their behavior and if it doesn't get fixed then I wouldn't watch them anymore.  There are other ways to "fix" their behavior instead of punishing them.  You need to set your boundaries with them.  Children will always test your limits as far as possible because they need boundaries.  Once you've established that their behavior is no longer acceptable then they should back down.  Also, they're still in that toddler stage and acting out is part of their development.  They have no other ways of expressing themselves.  I suggest trying to find out why they're acting out and cater to their needs.  Children that young need lots and lots of individual attention and safe outlets for their energy.

Answer 4

you can only do what their parents instruct. But I would suggest the following-

1. keep a log so that you can give the parents specific examples of what is going on. Even little ones can be manipulative and may be taking advantage of you. Perhaps the parents will instruct them that they will be more harshly punished when they get home if they continue to behave badly.

2. Assuming you do some activites with them that they look forward to (crafts, coloring, board games, etc.), tell them the special activites will not be done today if they don't behave.

Answer 5

dude. there 4 and 2! they can barely talk!!! y do u need to punish toddlers?

Answer 6

If you have been instructed that a time out is the punishment then you must follow the rules.  You are not the mother of these children.  Besides that, what do people expect from very small children?  They are not adults yet and cannot be expected to act as though they were.  You need lots and lots of patience to work with small children.  When they "act out" (whatever that may be) do something with them to divert their attention and to focus that energy.

Answer 7

If time out is the instructions their mother has given you for when they act up, then thats all you should do.

Answer 8

Within reason ofcourse. To be on the safe side I would ask there parents. Tell him the difficulties that you are having and ask them how do they handle it. This way there will be consistency in the childrens lives.