Need ideas to keep them from killing each other

tovasmom ↓

Wed, Aug 26 2009, 3:49 pm

OK, day three of the vacation of my 8 and my 10 year old ds's. They have off for the next two weeks. dh and I both work full time and we are taking off next week to entertain them (together with the other kids -- we can only barely afford one week), but this week they are home with a babysitter (older Russian lady who has been with us for years). They are at the point when they are on the verge of killing each other! Anyone have any brilliant ideas as to how to keep them occupied until next week? We don't have a TV or a Wii or a DS. One has a gameboy which he has lost interest in. Truthfully, I'm not in favor of lots of computer time, I feel it promotes brain atrophy. We don't live near a park. I rented a bunch of appropriate dvds for them, but they have watched them already.

We make sure they dress, eat and daven in the morning before proceeding.

I sent them with the babysitter to the library today, because they were on the verge of coming to blows.
Their normal relationship is rocky, at best, and when they are in each others' faces it is worse. the situation is exacerbated by the fact that I am not home to referee or redirect, nor can I be right now.

Anyone?

bonnie

Wed, Aug 26 2009, 10:10 pm

Take turns and get one out to a friend. And, let another friend come over to play with the other one.
Or- can one of you take one of them to work, so one of them is always out of the house? ( Bring books, some toys, etc...etc...)
Set clear rules - No hitting, no biting, no destroying personal property..etc...etc...
Bribery- works great ( it doesn't have to be money- you can "bribe' with an extra
There's so much a babysitter can do.
For the week, lower your standards of not allowing them to play on the computer. It's only one week and they know it's a different time than normal

amother

Wed, Aug 26 2009, 11:32 pm

projects, projects and more projects. New legos, perler beads, model cars that require gluing and painting. They can work independently and it will keep them focused. Is it warm where you are? Can you put a sprinkler on in the yard and let them have a water fight with water balloons?

It's hard. I've got 7 year olds and a 10 year old. The last few weeks have been REALLY hard. I find that phyisical exercise really helps with the tension. We do dvds and computer games occasionally, but it usually makes things worse. If you do that, make sure you set a timer so there's no arguing about who had more time.

Good luck.

Merrymom

Wed, Aug 26 2009, 11:50 pm

Give them some old sheets and let them build a tent

Boys can cook too, get some non-cook recipes that they can make and enjoy

Let them make playdough and goo (go online for recipes)

Get them some waterguns and let them play outdoors

Get them some indoor bowling pins and balls

Get them science kits from the Discovery store

greenfire

Wed, Aug 26 2009, 11:55 pm

buy them some art projects that take time to make ...

find them other friends not yet in school to entertain each other ...

let them battle it out ...

tell me when you find the solution as my older dd's have a similar notion ...

↑ tovasmom

Thu, Aug 27 2009, 9:36 am

Thanks for all the suggestions. Separating them for limited periods is definitely recommended. Unfortunately, most of their friends within reasonable distance are still away and the ones home are with stay at home moms who are actively entertaining their kids with trips, etc. I would not have the chutzpah to insinuate one of my boys on someone else's family trip (unless the other mom asked first, out of pity).

They have thousands of Legos and Cliks and other building stuff which for some reason I can't get them to play with.

The project idea would work assuming I could get the babysitter to be more proactive in her supervision and her suggesting activities. She is older and is not used to occupying bigger ones full time -- more the little ones.

Maybe I can get dh to take one to work tomorrow because his job is more kid friendly than mine.