It is important that you discuss how the child should be disciplined if the rules are broken with the parents of the child. Ask them how they discipline the child, and what their expectations are when it comes to you taking care of the child and applying discipline if the rules are not followed. It is important to discuss this with the parents so that there are not any misunderstandings. If you don't discuss this, you may use different discipline techniques than the parents. Not only will this cause confusion and stress for the child, but it may also cause tension in your relationship with the parents. In all likelihood, the rules you use with the child will be the same as the ones the parents use. However, you might ask the parents to include one or two new rules to the list that relate specifically to how the child is expected to behave when you are the caretaker. For example, you might include a rule that explicitly states that when you're taking care of the child, you are in charge, and the child is expected to do as you say. It is probably also a good idea to sit down with the child (if they are old enough to understand), with the parents, in order to go over all of the rules (including any new rules). This will help the child understand that the rules apply in your presence, and will let them know that you are well aware of the rules, too. This is perhaps the most important thing to remember. Sometimes it will be easier to just let the child do what they want. However, it is important that you also follow all the rules, and apply consequences for the rule if it is broken. This is important because if the child knows you don't follow the rules rigidly, then they are more likely to misbehave in your presence. Additionally, it is also likely that they will begin to question the authority of their parents. If you find that there are certain rules that aren't working, or if you have suggestions for new rules that you think could help a naughty child learn to behave, then talk with the parents about it. When doing so, be respectful. Don't tell them, "You're doing this, and it's dumb. It's not working, you should do this." Instead, if you find a rule isn't working and want to suggest a new idea, say, "I've been working with [insert child's name] about not breaking this rule, but he seems to be having trouble with it. What would you think about trying out this approach?" You don't want to make the parent feel as though you are insulting their parenting. Rather, you want to show that you're interested in helping improve if there is a way to do so, but without treading on their authority. When you are finished with your caregiving duties, you should briefly chat with the parent about how the child behaved, and if any disciplinary action was needed. This will help the parents understand what is working and what isn't, and will also allow you a chance to suggest any ideas you may have. Just as you should never hit your own children as a means of discipline, you should certainly never use physical violence to discipline children you are taking care of. If the parents suggest using violence as a means of discipline, politely explain to them the problem with this type of discipline. Respectfully explain that you will not engage in this type of discipline, and suggest an alternative. If they insist, you should probably consider backing out of the agreement. If you're worried for the safety of the child, contact the authorities. Unfortunately, it is legal to hit children in all US states, but the law varies from state to state about what is legal and what isn't. If you're concerned, it is better to contact the authorities than to stand aside and let a child endure abuse.

Summary: Discuss discipline with the parents. Set rules. Be consistent. Make suggestions to the parents. Keep the parents updated. Avoid violence.

Even though most outdoor speakers are designed to withstand the elements, you will get a lot more life out of them if you protect them a little. Try to place your speakers under eaves or underneath the patio roof to help protect the speakers from the weather. Speakers should be about 8-10 feet (2.5-3 m) apart. If the speakers are too close together, the sound will be muddled and the speakers will overlap. If the speakers are too far apart, it will be difficult to hear and you will lose any stereo effects. A pair of speakers covers two channels: left and right. The two of these together creates a stereo sound. When installing more than a single pair of speakers, it is important to alternate left and right channels to ensure a proper stereo mix. This becomes especially important if you are installing a large number of speakers. If you are installing more than one speaker along a wall, alternate left and right channels along that wall. If you are installing speakers in a box around your patio, install the two left channels in opposing corners, and the two right channels in the other opposing corners. Make sure that the sound quality and projection is acceptable before mounting the speaker. Listening before installing can save you a lot of time and headache when you turn the system on for the first time. More speakers is better than higher volume. If you are having difficulty hearing the sound everywhere you want, consider adding another pair of speakers instead of trying to crank the volume to the max. Mounting your speakers high allows the sound to project much further, which can give you more coverage for less speakers. If you mount them near or above 10 feet (3 m), however, you will lose a lot of the bass. Try to keep your speakers between 810 feet (2.43.0m) off the ground. This will also provide a better listening experience, and help minimize noise pollution for your neighbors. Most brackets allow you to mount at an angle, and many contain swivels that you can position exactly how you want. The mounting process will vary depending on the type of bracket, but you'll usually need to drill into the mounting location. This may mean you will need a drill bit that can penetrate masonry. Only mount speakers on solid wood or masonry. Avoid mounting on cedar or aluminum siding, otherwise the speakers may start to sag. This can cause vibrations, which will lower the sound quality, or the speakers can fall entirely. Use the included brackets. Outdoor speaker brackets are already treated for weather. If you try to replace the brackets with ones not designed for outdoor use, they may rust and become weak. These provide a much more reliable connection than bare wire, which is essential for outdoor speakers. Banana plugs connect directly into the speaker wire clips on the back of the speaker and receiver. To install banana plugs, you will need to strip the end of the speaker wires. Each speaker wire has two wires: a red and a black. Pull them apart to separate them and give you some room to work. Each of these will need to be stripped about 3/4 of an inch from the end of the wire. Once the wire is stripped, unscrew the end of the banana plug and slip the exposed wire into the end. Once the wire is inserted, tighten the banana plug screw. Repeat this for the other exposed wire.
Summary: Place your speakers in sheltered areas. Space your speakers out. Alternate channels. Listen to the speakers before mounting them. Mount the speakers high, but not too high. Tilt the speakers down to promote drainage. Mount according to the instructions. Connect speakers using banana plugs.