Problems with kids today!!!
@messageme (2821)
United States
January 13, 2009 9:38pm CST
Today the kids didn't have school because of the snow and they have been nothing but trouble today!!
Not listening AT ALL!!
I don't know what to do anymore!! I am pulling my hair out!
Last week I started a super star system. They get a stars for everytime they do their chores.
We have 3 house rules that are posted too and if you break them rules you lose your star. (seen it on super nanny, thought I would give it a try)
Last week they did awsome! 
2 out of the 4 got all their stars and kept all their stars. 1 only lost one star and the other one, well I really don't have much hope for him yet. Sounds mean, but it is true.
This week not a one of them have kept any of their stars, it is like they are already bored with the star system. Forgot to mention they ones that kept all their stars got a reward for it.
I am out of ideas!! I know I kind of started a post like this a long time ago, it was a little different, but my biggest issue is to get them to listen....What can I do!! I tried many things, grounding, taking things away, time-outs, rewards for doing good, the star system, and NOTHING works!! It seems the more I try to get them to listen, the more they don't!
I would really like to talk with parents that go through this same situation, if your out there please reply!!! Otherwise others encouraging words should help, I hope 
4 responses
@sunshine4 (8703)
• United States
14 Jan 09
What are the ages of your children?
On days off of school their whole schedule gets messed up and it seems that the kids get bored and then start to get into trouble. Maybe on days off you should have things planned to do with your kids so they are happy and entertained.
As for the chart system, obviously it doesn't work for your kids. If rewards don't work, how about taking things away. If they have tv privledges, they get them taken away until they do what they are suppose to.
Otherwise, they can earn these privledges. Maybe the rewards they were getting with the stars weren't worth the energy for them to try to be good.
Supernanny is a great resource for this. Have you tried many of her techniques? What are the things your kids are doing that are bad and maybe we can help you find a solution easier.
1 person likes this
@sunshine4 (8703)
• United States
15 Jan 09
Maybe you can give your older kid, the 8 and 6 yr olds something special that they are in charge of and then reward them and praise, praise, praise, when they help out. This would at least have them giving a good example for the little ones.
Otherwise, call nanny 911!
1 person likes this
@messageme (2821)
• United States
15 Jan 09
the ages are 3,5,6,6 and 8 for the ones that go to school.
It isn't just the days they are not in school it is EVERYDAY that they don't listen. It can be something as simple as cover your mouth when you cough and they will look at you and cough with their mouth wide open. They don't listen too NOTHING at all!! I just don't understand it. They use to not be so bad, but it seems it keeps getting worse and worse. We pretty much do the same thing everyday so it's not their lives are not structured.
@dpk262006 (58679)
• Delhi, India
14 Jan 09
You need to involve kids in some little house hold work, which they can handle or ask them to do sort of drawing or some creative activity. I know it is difficult to handle little kids. Somehow,you need to keep them busy, else they will keep disturbing you.
@messageme (2821)
• United States
14 Jan 09
I did end up puttin them to work. All morning they fought, couldn't even play a board game with out fight about who was what color and then everything else after that. Finally I told them to pick up the house because everything laying on the floors was there toys. They couldn't even do that with out me or dad standing there watching them. Which is normal even when we ask them to clean their rooms, we actually have to be in the room or they will not do it!! Drives me nuts! Even in school the oldest one (8 yrs) the teacher says he has been doing much better this year, but as soon as there isn't an adult supervision around that is when he starts acting up and getting into trouble. Explain this one 
@dpk262006 (58679)
• Delhi, India
16 Jan 09
Somehow you are managing the show with your skills.
1 person likes this
@sudiptacallingu (10879)
• India
14 Jan 09
Yes I understand. I dread the days of vacations…they are almost month-long affairs and the kids stay at home and trouble the parents. I also feel like tearing my hair out…I give my son story books and colours and he can play at the computer too…but time does not seem to move fast at all. And the worst is kids just don’t seem to know how to keep themselves engaged. My words are not very helpful I know, but what to do…I am in the same boat!
1 person likes this
@messageme (2821)
• United States
14 Jan 09
I consider all words helpful! Thanks for the response. It is nice knowing I am not the only one. 
@Shar19 (8236)
• United States
14 Jan 09
I hear and understand your frustration. The week that my daughter was home all day for Christmas vacation I thought I was going to lose my mind. She was fighting with her little brother all the time. Sometimes I think we try to hard to get them to listen. I usually always go for the timeouts first, then taking away TV time. Usually the combination of the two will eventually work for me but it's just very exhausting getting to that point.
She was fighting with her little brother all the time. Sometimes I think we try to hard to get them to listen. I usually always go for the timeouts first, then taking away TV time. Usually the combination of the two will eventually work for me but it's just very exhausting getting to that point. 1 person likes this
@messageme (2821)
• United States
14 Jan 09
exhausting is not the word!! It is so nice knowing I am not the only one. I thought my kids were just horrible kids, maybe they are just like all kids! and having 6 of them just makes it worse.
and having 6 of them just makes it worse.