How to Babysit Intolerable Children

This is a how-to on taking care of children you swear could be the offspring of Satan himself.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• PATIENCE
• Discipline
• Understanding
• Rules

1. THE MOST IMPORTANT STEP: Remain patient. Yes, the kids are crazy, yes your frustrated, but the best thing for you to do is keep your head as much as possible. Don't lose it in front of the little ones.

2. MAINTAIN RULES: Don't be overbearing with making rules for kids, but you need to have a set list of 3-5 rules that they can follow. Make them fairly generalized; so instead of "No hitting each other in the heads with spatulas and swords" make it "No hitting." Keep it simple. Going over the rules with them is always important when you first start watching them as well.

3. DISCIPLINE: Kids aren't stupid, they know how to work the system to their advantage and most likely you aren't the first sitter they've had. Have a discipline program set up for yourself mentally, know before hand "okay if the kids get out of hand, time-outs for 5 minutes". It goes really far, and the kids are less likely to try and test the limits.

Tips & Warnings

• One thing I found incredibly helpful when I was watching hard-to-handle kids is to take a piece of paper, write down their names, and tell them that any bad things they do will be written down on the paper under their names. It sounds silly, but it really helps. Because once something is written down on the list, it doesn't come off. Which means when Mom and Dad come home and read the list, they'll know everything and the kids can't play "perfect child".

[dalady]

on 9/15/2008 HA HA HA Good job! Too Funny this is your first & Only article.