Worried Your Kids Won’t Listen to the Babysitter? Try This Simple, Fun Behavior Strategy That Actually Works!
If you’ve ever hesitated to leave your kids with a babysitter because you’re not sure they’ll actually listen, you are not alone. As a mom of twin four-year-old boys (and a Board Certified Behavior Analyst), I get it. My husband and I recently left our boys with a non-family babysitter for the very first time, and like many parents, I had that nagging worry: Will they follow directions? Will the sitter know how to redirect them? Will I come home to total chaos?
So, I created a simple and fun positive reinforcement strategy that helped ease everyone’s nerves — mine, the boys’, and the babysitter’s. It helped set clear expectations, motivated our kids to make good choices, and gave the sitter a super manageable tool to guide behavior in a positive way.
The best part? You can use it again and again with a fresh twist each time.
Here’s how it works:
1. Pick a fun theme together before you leave.
Sit down with your kids and choose a theme for a picture they’ll “build” throughout the night. Think:
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Seasonal: Build-a-Snowman, Build-a-Gingerbread Man, Build-a-Bunny
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Silly or random: Build-a-Robot, Build-a-Burger, Build-a-Dinosaur
2. Prep the visual.
Draw (or print out) the base of the picture. For example, if you picked “Build-a-Snowman,” draw just the snowman’s body ahead of time.
3. Set one clear behavior goal.
Choose a specific behavior you want to encourage while you’re out — something that might be tricky, like:
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Listening to the babysitter the first time
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Sharing with a sibling
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Using kind words
4. Choose a reward.
Decide what your kids will earn if they complete the picture. It doesn’t have to be a toy or treat — in fact, the best rewards are usually simple and relationship-based like:
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A family dance party
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Picking dinner the next day
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A special bedtime story
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A silly game together
5. Explain the game to your kids (and the sitter).
Tell your kids: “Every time you meet your goal — like listening to the babysitter the first time — you get to add a piece to your picture!”
For example, after cleaning up toys, they might get to draw the snowman’s hat. After washing hands the first time they’re asked, maybe they add the eyes. Once the picture is complete, they earn the reward!
Why this works:
This little system helps kids feel motivated, in control, and proud of their choices. It gives the babysitter a simple way to redirect behavior and celebrate wins without having to resort to power struggles. And most importantly, it helps you feel confident walking out the door, knowing you’ve set your kids up for success.
Bonus: It’s reusable. Just change the theme next time you head out!
