Read the description for tips on how you can discipline your host children. However, with all of our advice, our number one rule is to have open communication with your host parents (which we know is easier said than done!)
Wondering why we have (sexy) husky voices, red noses and keep sniffing? Yeah, WE'RE SICK. Don't worry though, you can't catch it through the computer.
These tips and links on how you can start getting your host children to listen to you aren't miracles but small solutions which should help you out.
For example, reading hundreds of parenting books and blogs. These books are a God send and are worth reading while you're waiting for your host child to finish their afternoon club!
There is already so much wisdom stored away in these books which should help you out. Seriously, any book could help you calm yourself and help learn some tips and tricks. All parents have problems with their kids, au pairing is no different!
However, we suggest:
1. The hardest yet most realistic way you're going to know how to discipline a child is to speak to your host parents and try to develop ways to discipline the children together. If the child is really making you miserable, try to remember that you're not the parents!! It shouldn't all be up to you!
2. Find ways you can assert yourself straight away (and also finding out when you're OFF or ON!)
3. If your child is behaving badly, try to decipher whether they need a SNACK, water, are in pain or whether they've had a bad day.
4. Sending them to their room/the naughty step/trying to UNDERSTAND rather than simply shouting at them.
5. Set the line by not being flexible on the big things. Edwina explains how she had FIVE rules which couldn't be broken and then came up with reasonable punishments for those rules. (However, do NOT allow the child to hit/kick you without speaking to their parents about it!)
6. Confiscating things! (Making sure your host parents are behind you before you start implementing your own rules)
7. Try to remain upbeat around the kids until they're used to you - kids will often reflect your mood back to you!
8. Realise that the transition phase of having a new au pair is hard on both the kid AND the au pair! We definitely found that the kids are confused and (obviously) would rather spend all their time with their parents so they act up! But this usually settles down after a couple of weeks.
9. Kids are suckers for bribery, so by building a bond with your host kid (maybe through ice cream after school or by always being the one to read and act out a story) they should begin to settle down and get used to you...
10. Don't punish yourself when punishing the kids! For example, think out your punishments in advance! Do you want to be stuck in the house all day with crazy, moody children? No. Find a better punishment (but God forbid taking away their gouter!)
Ultimately, if you're really struggling with discipline, have spoken to your host parents and followed these steps then the best advice we can give is for you to try and remain calm as you can until it all settles down - which it will!!
If a child is behaving particularly badly, it isn't necessarily anything to do with you. Or, they may not be used to having you in their life yet. Kids will grow to like anyone but it takes time. Just try to remain upbeat around them, then make sure to call your family/friends or make some au pair friends so you can vent!
If you're currently in your first few weeks as an au pair let us know how disciplining the child goes and send us any tips if you figure some new ones out so we can share your ideas too!
We are currently in the third round of editing our book! So, if you would like to submit any of your child care stories or discipline tips, send them to aupairohparis@gmail.com
You can also download our Paris Bucket List from here which covers walks around the city and can help you get to know your new home!
www.aupairohpa...
Or, follow us on Twitter to see our ridiculous antics on a day to day basis! / aupairohparis
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