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Babysitting Strategies
From The Work of God's Children
- Do not give eye contact when the child does something he/she knows is wrong. Reserve eye contact as a reward for good behavior. Use the "aloof" (no emotion, either positive or negative) look, posture, and movement. This shows the child you mean business.
- Give child the choice to either hold your finger or have you hold his/her hand.
- Use no emotion when the child encounters a "phobia" (something feared), such as water, noises, etc.
- Continue conversations about the noises the child dislikes. The child will eventually calm down or become "desensitized."
- Give 5-3-1 minute time warnings.
- Give time options, such as one or two minutes (particularly works at bathtime).
- Tell children to put their backs against the middle of the chair.
- If you need to send the child to his/her room, and they do not want to go, either lead them from behind guiding their shoulders or pick them up from behind.
- Pay attention to what the children eat. Some ingredients, such as food dyes and other additives, may cause a behavioral reaction (temper tantrum).
- When working with children, it is important to give them jobs, such as helping a younger sibling, helping clean a room, get you the supplies for changing a diaper, etc.
