GDing while I babysit....

[mamaduck]

I'm at a loss at the moment.

I'm watching a group of kids and there is one boy (about 7 yo) who keeps jumping on my furniture. I've redirected him about 20 times. (It didn't help that he came with fruit loops and carbonated/sugar lemonade for breakfast.) I have no car today and its wet and dreary outside. Its supposed to clear up this afternoon and we have plans to walk to a playground. In the meantime... I don't know what to do with this child! I've thought hard about the furniture -- wondering if maybe I should just relax and let him go. But the truth is I'll be upset if he breaks my furniture, his mother will be upset if he hurts himself, and I can't risk having ALL of these kids start bouncing on the furniture....

He also has a very gentle spirit and if I come down too hard on him it will break his heart. I did take him aside and asked how I could help him to remember... he turned bright red and ducked away without answering me.

Help!

[pamelamama]

story time?

give him a job to do? an IMPORTANT job?

ask him to help you keep the OTHER kids from jumping on the furniture? deputize him!

that's all i"M coming up with. oxox pam

[annettemarie]

Sometimes when my kids are extra squirmy we put the sofa cushions on the floor and let the kids jump, crawl, and hop on them

If you have jump ropes, you can lay them out and let the kids walk on them, or lay two out and play "jump the river."

Beanbags are always fun.

I would probably try to come up with a large motor activity for everyone.

When my little ones are really super squirmy, we have penny races. Our downstairs is a circular set up, so we clear anything that might be in their way and let them run laps. Everytime they pass me, I drop a penny in a pan, and at the end we count how many laps they did and put the pennies in their banks.
Annette

[mamaduck]

Thanks. These are good suggestions. I'll use them tomorrow. He's a sweet boy, really. I seem to have trouble connecting with him though. I don't know how to explain it exactly, but when I speak to him I feel like I am speaking right through him and he's missing it. We seem to be on different wave lengths. I'm not getting frustrated with him exactly -- I'm just at a loss.

I've noticed my own kids being quicker to understand and cooperate. I think its because we are bonded to each other. Maybe I'll work tomorrow at "bonding" with this little boy and see if I can't earn his trust.

[annettemarie]

Just checking in- how did it go today?
Annette

[mamaduck]

Wow! Thanks for checking - thats so sweet of you.

It went better but mostly because it was a gorgeous day AND I had a car today. So I was able to keep him active.

I tried to get him to warm up to me some by offering to read to him, trying to engage him in conversation, etc.... he just looked at me as if I have 3 heads and ducked away. Oh well -- I will have plenty more chances with him.

[annettemarie]

Glad today was a little better!
Annette