I'm 17, what am I supposed to do with these kids?

Ok, dad and Lori (step-mom) are out on their "valentines dinner" thingy tonight instead of tomorrow night (there's a parent meeting with my sisters volleyball coach tomorrow night). and i'm babysitting the kids. usually when i babysit, i have at least 1 of the older kids to help me out, but Derek's still in Iraq, Rilee is at college (won't be home till Friday night), and my 16 yo step-sis is out on her Valentines Dinner date tonight too since she has volleyball practice tomorrow night. so anyhoo, this is the first time in a long while that i've had all 6 youngins by myself. lori said not to worry about putting them to bed, they can stay up tonight. they were mellow from 5 (after dinner) until 8. then it's like a hyper bomb exploded. the 2 older ones (12 and 13) are banging on drums and electric guitars upstairs, Emma and Travis (9 and 7) are having a hardcore nerfball championship in the dining room, and Adam and Lily (4 and 2) are yelling "wake up jeff" in the living room.

It's been going on for at least an hour and I can't take the noise anymore. I've tried telling them to tone it down a bit, I mean it's almost 9:30, and they don't listen. I can't make everyone watch a movie because Adam and Lily will scream if they can't finish their "wiggle time", and i really don't want to call my parents since they don't get out and alone by themselves very often. jade isn't gonna be home till at least 11, i'm expecting the rents to be home at 10. what can i do? the noise is practically unbearable and i can't study. HELP!!!!

Well first of all, when you're babysitting you've got to meet the childrens' needs first. Unfortunately, unless they're in bed or quietly occupied, you can't get much done.

Now that we're focusing on the kids...what to do? A good idea is to get them all together and play a game with them. Hide and seek is a great one that most kids love. I know my siblings like to play it a lot. It'll keep them quiet and they'll have fun. You could also offer to read to them, but since they sound like they want to do something besides just sit, I still suggest a game. Some other game options are charades and Simon says. You could also be real creative and have them act a little bit. Some simple games we used to play in Drama when I was in middle school were "Crossing the Stage", where you can have the kids cross the room while acting like a certain animal or person; "Mirror" where you pair them up and have them copy each other as if they are reflections of each other; and then there's always the option of putting on some music (instrumentals work best) and having them act out what they think might be going on in a movie with that song as part of the soundtrack.

Lots of options...just be as creative as possible and have fun with them. I hope one of these works for you. I'll wrap this up so it might be of some use before your parents get back. Feel free to email me if you need any other help.

God bless!

Have fun with that. I feel bad for you :( Just try to keep everyone entertained so they are off doing their own thing and not bothering you too much.

Sounds like fun....... I dont know what to do lol maybe just give them some sleeping pills?

its time for a hard knocking lockdown

go Lieutenant General Sergeant on them..

cavity searches and all and keep em in a facility where no fun is allowed.

Have a movie night and have everyone help out to make some dessert to eat while watching. Ice cream sundaes or popcorn. Turn down the lights and let everyone chill out. Turn it into a slumber party in the family room. Make tents with sheets for the youngest ones & let the older kids dig out some sleeping bags.

put their asses to bed!!!

They are only acting like that because they think you have no control. Simply tell them that if you have to call the parents, they are going to be PISSED!! Threaten them...then follow through on it.

If they aren't doing anything harmful, or dangerous, or destructive, let them be, maybe....

Good luck..and i hope you're getting paid well

Get them all together in the living room and tell them" We are alll gonna watch movies, and you all can pick which ones"

It is too late to be making all the noise, so now we are gonna be quiet or ya'll can go to bed!

well first of all 6 kids and u have time to be playing around the computer? get off and go put a movie on for them/popcorn choose a few appropriate movies for them to choice from/agree on and have them settle down and watch a movie.

I dont think its ok that you got stuck with 6 kids. Six kids are alot of an older experienced parent to handle, much less a younger 17 year old. Do yourself a favor and put the little kids to bed, pronto. Then I would tell the older kids to go quietly to their room and watch tv. You deserve a break. Situations like this can get out of hand very quickly, so it's better to go ahead and diffuse it before it gets any worse. Good Luck, I really mean it.

the 4 year old and 2 year old need to go to bed. If the other 4 can't calm down and watch a movie or play a board game together, they could go to bed too .. or go and read a book. Take charge, don't be mean, but you need some order.. and they could be loud because they are tired.

Well, I am a lunch room monitor. When we have indoor recess the kids go nuts. This is what I do. 90 percent of the time it works.

Just take out a pen & paper. Every time you see someone doing a NO-NO. Write it down for the parents. Don't say I am writing you down. Do it non verbally. Kids respond to their mistakes. Yelling at them will only make it worse.

i would put them to bed - youngest first, put them in the bath, then say its your rules and your rules say its bedtime.
then the 7 and 9 year old get to go to bed, the older ones can stay up only if they play a quiet game.
dont try to do it all at once, start with the youngest.

you have a half hour to go
put headphones on and just keep an eye out and make sure e1 is ok.

your parents are due home in a half hour? deal with it, man

tell them you're calling the cops if they don't stop. "i'll call the police and they'll take you all to jail" but you have to say it like you mean it. then pick up the phone - use your cell, and pretend to call 911. have a conversation with the 'operator' remember to include your address and phone number so the kids can hear you.... it works i've done it.

Put them in timeout and take charge!

damm girl ok breath make a marching band gather them all up give them options on what they can do watch a movie story time drawing calm quiet games have them vote and decide what they want to do and promise them a reward for cooperation like a pretty sticker or something ok and honey you will never be able to study with all that going on up in your space so drop the books and good luck hope i helped

i would say out of the pure opinon and experience let 'em tire them selves out if u can just do wat u normally do make sure the house is clean and chill out make sure no one gets hurt but you cant controll evry one in evry age group at once it wouldnt help to put them to bed cuz the older ones would wake 'em up w. ther drums and guitar but they will get tired at least you wont get in troble for them still being up eh???.... lol
srry their is only one way to tone it down ear plugs so u know where they are but you arnt hearing evrything to its fullest extent i feel bad for u :((
hope my pity party helps you if its not too late
lol

I suggest that you offer cookies and milk..

Take the darn guitar plug, drum sticks, and the nerf ball away!!

Then tell them if they are not behaving then you are going to forced to ruin the valentins dinner for your parents!!

That should work!!

Look I got 2 kids and between my brothers and my sister and I their is 17 so here is what I would do give thim a choice to sit down watch tv or go to their rooms and sit on the bed with nothing. Make thim fallow through tell thimmom amd dad left me in charge and this is how its going to be done. Good luck to your brother my husband is in the army

make baby sitting fun go she if they let you play with them? suggest a pillow fight.... its alot quiter...

tell them all to go to there rooms and find a movie to watch because its time to settle down.....