Babysitting a three year old, help?

Ok. Well first of all.. There isn't much to worry about. If its a school night for the older ones, they will/should be in bed by 8/9ish and honestly, most 3 years old's dont last much later than that either.

First of all.... Not sure when their bed time is so not really sure what to say. BUT If she has trouble going to bed, you are going to need to wear her out. So, you need to play HARD!!

I recommend these ideas...

70's Theme:

1.Buy a mini disco ball (or a big one) and make a dance tape or playlist with songs like: The chicken dance, hockey pokey, Chacha Slide, Hoedown Throwdown, Electric Slide, The Macerana,The Twist, etc.

Also try to buy fun things like,

2. Glow sticks (NON BREAKABLE)

3. 70's dress up

-Dollar store usually has big sunglasses that kids love, also get an Afro wig, those party necklaces (like on New Years) or if you can... get a a solid white t-shirt for each girl and some SPRAY tie dye! Do not get any other kind for kids! If you do this idea, make sure it is the tie dye in the little spray bottles. You can take them outside and let them tie dye a shirt. (This needs a parent OK)

4. Get the game Twister!

Put on the costumes, turn off the lights, turn on the disco ball and music, then DANCE! The little ones usually dance forever, and then they just tire out.

Have a movie night:

1. Bring card board boxes.

2. YOU cut holes in the boxes, to make windows/doors

3.Let the kids decorate their "cars"

4.Bring many movie options. Set the movies out, let the kids pick and give them a ticket.

5.Have some popcorn and juice they can buy (Try to keep the sugar down)

6.They can watch the movie in their car!

If you are going to be doing this family permanently then you can of course, expect to be there a lot. I like to buy fake money (again, dollar store) and hand it to the kids when they do good deeds/something they are supposed to/etc. Remind them that once they have a certain amount of money, you will bring in your "store" and they can buy prizes. (again, get GOOD prizes at the dollar store. Not dinky ones, cool ones.) You can tell the 3 year old, "I will give you $20 fun bucks (thats what I call my fake money) if you brush your teeth, put on your pjs and get in bed before 9. You can buy nail polish, candy, or even a pair of slippers with that much money!" They are usually pretty enthralled.

With 3 kids, you can let them have a race to see who is in bed, and asleep the fastest. My 3 yo cousin, LOVES this game. She always runs straight to bed when she knows we are playing. With this though, you need to have to prize ready so they want to work for it. I once brought a small bubble gum machine with skittles in it (From dollar store), a mini white bored w/ markers (Target), Little girls love chap stick (OK it with mom) so you could do a small purse with that and maybe nail polish. Just show them the prize, and watch who goes to sleep first, then stick a sticky note on the prize with the winners name. Not to mention, that is fun for them to wake up to.

Remember, it might seem like you are spending too much money, but you are basically being paid to play with the kids for an hour/put them in bed, and then eat free food and watch TV. Hehe.

Lets see... Another technique is to give her a choice. "You can chose to stay up and I will tell your mom, or you can get in bed right now and I will give you (again... you need some sort of prize)." The little ones NEED something to work for. Ask her if she needs you to read her a story, lay by her, tickle her back, etc.

If she is scared to sleep by herself due to monsters, the dark, etc... Then bring "Emergency" tools. I always bring a babysitting bag and one pocket is the "Emergency" stuff. In there I have a night light, but not just any night light.. I got it at, again, the dollar store and it is like a mini lava lamp but it plugs in the wall. The kids are more than excited (and some how forget they are scared) to sleep with it. Just dont forget to pull it out when they fall asleep. For monsters, I bring a normal spray bottle and printed off a picture of the typical green monster (carton, of course) and taped the picture onto the spray bottle. It has normal water in it. I tell the kids its "Monster Cleaner" and let them spray it where ever they think monsters are. They believe it.

Its not really that big of a problem. Just keep her/them moving while they are awake, then encourage/bribe them to get in bed. Its fun, and easy. Think outside of the box. Also, don't worry just be prepared. :D

GOOOD LUCK!

If you need more ideas email me. gymnastjaiderz@ymail.com

Babysitting A 3 Year Old

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RE:

Babysitting a three year old, help?

I've recently been offered a permanent babysitting job, 3 - 4 times a week, 7pm to 11pm/12am. (It might interfere with some of my other activities but hey, $40 a night isn't bad, lol)

Anyway, I'll be sitting for three children at once - for the first time.

Three girls, ages 3, 6 and...

Oh wow that is quite the age range. 3 year old could finger paint with water colors on the fridge front. It cleans up easily. 9 year old could dig out all the leggos and show you how to build a house or car. I have 4 girls and 1 boy so I get pretty inventive with crafts. They like to make cards at 9. You could string up clothes pins from one room to another and create a post office game and they could deliver mail to everyone in the house.

Cut their food into smaller portions and sit with them while they eat

If they ask you to bathe the 3 year old just give them a bath...Water + baby + Shampoo on head with a jug or cup and wa-la clean baby. They may well bath them before you come over.

Ask what their bed time routine is and what time they want the 3 year old to go to bed.

Most already have a routine they would want you to stick to.

If the 3 year old fusses at bed time say clearly, its bed time now you have to stay here and go to sleep. then leave. If they follow you out keep putting them back in their bed and leaving.

Just have fun with the kids and make sure they like you. Try reading or making a bed time story, that usually helps or give the little one a stuffed animal to sleep with or something like that.(: